Dutch Shepherd Forum

Oh my. just when we are concentrating on not being dog reactive. (some success there) My Xena has started going crazy for wheels.

She always liked them, wheel barrows, carts, cars, bikes etc.... But *BAM* she has moved into high gear on the skateboard!!! Of course, my 11 year old son is a skateboard fanatic!!!! He also likes par qour (sp?). That makes her a bit nuts too! So today, she did a very unruly puppy thing... He was skateboarding on the street (our fenced, 125 yr old house is right on the street) and we were replacing the front porch. Well, I decided it was a good time to train her not to be so reactive to wheels and went inside to get a leash and treats.....

Then I hear barking and yelling. . Apparently, she knows how to unlatch the fence gate ( I should have known!) and ran after my son and latched on to his left shoulder. = It left a mark. Oh my. Thank God he had a jacket on. So we worked outside the fence with him skateboarding past us until she could behave....

Whew. Maybe I should have put this under DS not being for everybody???? I am so thankful that he was not smaller and that he was MINE.

My Malinois has a thing for wheels. When she was a few months old she chased a boy on a bicycle all the way down the cul-de-sac, and put a hole in his tire. She's improved a lot. I got her to not chase bicycles.

Ellie has never been off leash around skateboarders. She seems scared or maybe too curious about them.

I hope the "mark" she left wasn't too bad...that's no fun for your boy.

Good thing he was your son maybe its the quick movement that intrigues them? Like a small mouse running away, they see the spokes moving?

Geez. These darn DSs anyway. Unlatching gates, opening doors, going through doors....

Glad the boy's alright. How did the girl act immediately following the...um...incident? (This is one of those things that end up kind being kind of good that it happened...now you know and can prevent future occurance and work on it.)

Several years ago after first adopting my first DS, she and I were working in a HUGE and mostly VACANT parking lot and some little (I won't call them what they were) darlin's about 10-12 years old on skateboards just had to careen by and screeeeech around us on the tarvia (not circling--just to get around us in that HUGE and mostly VACANT parking lot). The little (I won't call them what they were) darlin's got a little surprise. I'd wager at least one inparticular had to go home and change his pants (diapers????).

Well little Miss Mini Sheppy (can't call her what I was thinking at the time) was TOTALLY oblivious to the trouble she had just gotten herself in. She was still jumping and nipping and having a grand old time. Keep in mind she loves her kids. All kids, really, the smaller the better. The itty bitty ones get the "awwww" ears and wiggle butt (then she lays down and tries to get them to come near her for pets).

So she was completely shocked that I was mad

We had worked earlier in the day with her on lead, and me pulling her back as she lunged at the skateboards and telling her "no". THAT did nothing.

So I worked with treats and engaged her nose to get her attention, then played the "whats that" game. But she would still lunge as he got within a few feet. Finally I lost it. I went to grab her by the collar and she flopped over on her side and I claw pinched her side (accidentally). She yelped and went all submissive on me.

After that she paid really good attention to me and ignored "the boy". She even stayed at a heel with me while I was on the skateboard (Geesh~ Longboards have LOTS of wiggle). So all in all it was successful. She ended up happy and earning treats for listening.

We will have to do this a lot. Any other ideas will be appreciated!

PS I had to giggle about the changing pants... I bet he did!