There's a lot to unpack here.
This dog is a little over a year old. He started out as a private training client of mine, and after 3 very unsuccessful weeks of the owner working through some issues, we took another look and I conned Dave into taking him as a boarding and training client. My days of wrestling big dogs with attitudes are pretty well behind me, and although I might be able to muster a solid "OUT!" correction if needed, it is unlikely that I could sustain that over a 20 to 40 minute long session with this guy.
Anyway- so now the dog is with Dave. I received a very poignant letter from the owner a day before they decided that he may be a bit more than they bargained for, that explained pretty clearly the reasons why no real progress was being made.
The owners had sought training from several places known to both Dave and I, and based on the information the owner provided, there was no real wonder why this dog was becoming increasingly defensive, even though the owner was doing everything they had been instructed to do.
It's a sad state, really, when a client is actually DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS and they fail to make meaningful progress.
Well, when you're told to broadcast food on the ground so the dog leaves your feet alone, or to try and distract him by waving toys in his face, then squirting him with vinegar every time he tries to grab your hands/sleeve/pant leg/feet/etc., it's no wonder the dog is turning into an unrepentant snappy, barky, jumpy asshole.
Dave is already posting the details of this dogs' work daily on live broadcasts from his public Measurable Standards group on FaceBook, so much more can be seen there, for free.
These videos are here because they are part of a larger project. I have been compiling images and creating copy for publications that will be released as they are completed. It gives the end user an opportunity to see exactly how we get from point A to point Z in an organized, non confrontational fashion.
This is the entire 8 plus minute segment of Boh's work on the table for the Very First Time. You can clearly see where the exercise causes enough concern for the dog to encourage protest, but not full-blown defense, although there are a few times when he seriously contemplated using his mouth to deter Dave from touching him.
This dog will be joining us in Minnesota for our 2021 Measurable Standards Tour kickoff on March 25th through the 1st of April. Expect to see more from the road!
See if you can pick out some of the sticky spots! Let me know what you think!