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Friday, July 13, 2012

Someday......

A few of you have asked "Why the gentle leader on Fred?"  Well........let me explain.


(Gloria's face there looks like King Julienne from Madagascar!)

With Fred just turning two and having the manners of something out of a thriller movie, our grandkids are afraid of him.  Lets face it puppies just want to play.  They jump, bite and scratch and trying to tell a two and four year old they're just playing....yeah...let's just say that didn't work.  I want them all to eventually see that Freddie can be a great friend and dogs are not scary.  So in the beginning, we gated him off from the kids that were scared.  Then we moved to having him on a leader and leash to get them used to having him around and him not get so excited. The gentle leader actually calms Freddie down.  Now we do it in steps. First the leader and leash while we hold him. Then we let him roam about with the leash and leader on. Next we take the leash off and if he's really good we remove the gentle leader.  But I do have to say this has only happened a few times so far. It may not be the best system but it's working for us.


This is what we want.


This is what we get! 
When your little and this face is running at you, let's face it you cry!


Having Gloria has been a big help with the grandkids because she is so calm. Freddie is slowly getting there. He's getting older and so are the grandkids.


Last Friday he actually laid under the lilac bush and didn't bother the grandkids while they played in the water.  He had the leader on and it was super hot out which helped, but he still did good.  Someday, hopefully, he will be completely gentle leader free!

For now.............baby steps!!

40 comments:

  1. I think some of your post got blocked out?!

    Fred's a good lad at heart isn't he?! Deccy x

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  2. We are thinking that maybe he will settle down...maybe it just takes a bit of time! xoxo Chloe and LadyBug

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  3. Wells, my mum just squeeled in my ear when her saw Fred runnin'...I thinks I is deaf nows.

    Puddles

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  4. Fred running... irresistable! :-D

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  5. I think you presented your case very well. Keep up the good work, Freddie! Be nice.

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  6. Freddie running is so cute. Hope you have a lovely Friday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  7. I understand it take boys a lot longer to settle down than girls! Wonder what my excuse is then, hehe.
    Lovies, Miss Mindy

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  8. This is what we want... this is what we get... I love that line and "When your little and this face is running at you, let's face it you cry!" is just epic!

    LOL. Every second spent reading this post is just well worth it.

    Huggies and Cheese,

    Haopee

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  9. Some dogs are just misunderstood...lol. After years of trying to convince one of my nephews that no, the dogs were not going to eat him, he turned 7 and finally loves them. The wilder they are, the more he loves them. He's not scared of their "sharp teeth" any more. If anything, the dogs now run from him! I loved this post and can so relate.

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  10. was just reading Gloria's comment and I think that just might be true. Also, some dogs are better with kids than others.
    I think it shows you are an incredibly responsible dog owner, not just for those adorable kids but for Freddie too!! It is hard to have all of that pent up energy!
    Dakota isn't the best around kids either, he isn't bad, but he isn't used to kids. Children are drawn to him when they see him because he looks like "Lassie", whenever they want to pet him we always make him "sit" first and we teach them how to approach him and we hold his leash.
    We often put Dakota's leash on in the evening when he is on one of his barking frenzies, it calms him down as well and gives us some peace.
    Dakota is 5...I heard that Shelties don't mature til between 3 and 5 yrs old.
    I think what you are doing is great and hopefully Freddie will be more mature soon, some "boys" never are though!
    xoxoxo

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  11. Yea I guess I can see how a running at ya Fred would scary a little peep a bit. I think you are doing it just right.
    Blessings,
    Goose

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  12. I love the comparison between what you want and what you get! That made me chuckle. Have a great weekend!

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  13. I love the real Freddy picture!! :)

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  14. The crazy vampire Freddie would scare any kid!
    Glad that the gentle leader works, the service dog trainers at America's Vet Dogs use them on most of the puppies in training.

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  15. Good work Fred! Great photos. The comparison one had us howling!
    Bella and DiDi

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  16. Hahahaha at Fred running. Hilarious! Hmmm, I think I am going to have to check into the leaders for my boxers. They also like to jump and get in kids faces when they visit. It's gotten to the point that we result to finding them babysitters when we are expecting company.

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  17. We like that picture of Freddie looking crazy fun! Our grand peeps are scared of us too. Actually, just one now, a 5 year old girl. It's just going to take some time with her. Our manners are getting better but sometimes we still go crazy too!

    Your friends,

    Stanley & Murphy

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  18. I've been thinking about trying the gentle leader for Zoe so she'll stop pulling on the leash every time she sees another dog on our walks. I'm glad to hear it calms the crazzies in Fred hehe. Though, I sure wouldn't mind that face running towards me.

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  19. If Freddie came running up to me with that face I'd be running towards him to give him the biggest hug ever. He's adorable!!

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  20. That photo of Fred running is just priceless!
    Dip Bridge and Elliot x

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  21. I hope the baby steps work! Fred looks awesome in that running picture- I'm sure the kids will love him in no time

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  22. I love this post!!! You pinpointed everything perfectly lol. What you "want" and what you "get"...and that picture of Gloria softly looking up at Emma is exactly how Gloria is....she's so sweet! I love Freddie, he has so much spunk and personality and you're doing an awesome job with both him and Gloria. He's come a long ways since he was a puppy and the kids have gotten so much better around him. Love them both!!

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  23. That sounds like a really good way to handle the situation. You certainly don't want Fred to hurt the kids in his excitement and if a kid is already afraid of dogs, that could really do some lasting damage. Best to be careful and socialize them all.

    Your writing about Fred and kids made me remember when Thunder was a puppy. He was a big puppy, but didn't realize it. (I still don't think he knows how big he is.) The neighbor kids would come over to pet him all of the time. The youngest which was about 4 or 5 and tiny in size just loved Thunder. She would come over and he would get so excited to see her, he would knock her over. She would always laugh and say "That's OK Thunder." One time she had on a really nice outfit. Sure enough Thunder knocked her over. Nice outfit all dirty. I said "What is your Mom going to say?" She laughed and said, "That's OK Thunder." She was a cute kid. Unfortunately they moved out of state.

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  24. EEEK! Fred you scared me a bit in that picture!! Be gentle with the little ones, buddy!

    Your pal, Pip

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  25. I love that shot of Fred running! Oh, thank you for that big grin!

    I think you have to do what works for you. We're working on Kuster's manners right now and it's a long process. He LOVES people -- just a little too enthusiastically!

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  26. I say use whatever system works for you :) Sounds like you found it.

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  27. Miro is 3 and we're still working on Do Not Leap on Visitors. I've always found it the most difficult thing to teach an Airedale. Miro will stand several feet away, stand on his hind legs, wave his front paws in the air and still make impact because he has loooong legs.

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  28. I wish the Gentle Leader would calm my Labrador Maya down. She won't wear it. I spent weeks beforehand with positive reinforcement and other techniques to no avail. I'm glad Fred took to it and that it helps him. Fred, perhaps you can give my Maya some tips. :0)

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  29. Oh my goshies!! I used to have that same turtle pool! Sad that it had to go and shrink. Teehee!

    Woofs & huggies, <3

    ~Bailey (Yep, I'm a girl!)

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  30. Hi Guys,

    Yep it's hard when you're just a pup to control the excitement, I get super excited when people come to the house (I'm only 2 as well) and when it's a child, well that's even more fun in my eyes - I just forget how big I seem to them…. I'm sure Freddie will realize over time and learn to control his excitement - the cool thing is that whilst he's training he still gets to hang with the kids, just under more supervision :)

    You can do it Freddie, I have every faith in you - what is he like when you meet kids outside the house? I'm really good outside, it's only when they come to the house I get excited :)

    Have fun all of you,

    Your pal Snoopy :)

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  31. Good moves, and great tips. You're right...we laugh seeing Freddie come at us but a little child would be frightened.

    He'll get there.

    Julie

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  32. Great photo of Freddie running! I can see how he might scare the little kids even though he is the most adorable Freddie that we know!!!

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  33. Ah, Fred! Slobber on me, please!

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  34. LOL I LOVE that photo of Freddie running at the camera! I'm glad you're getting the grandkiddies to be comfortable around dogs, it's such an important thing for them not to fear dogs and learn how to react to them. Great work! :)

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  35. It's good to see your getting great results with the gentle leader.

    love the crazy face though Fred lad ;)

    Slobbers

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  36. Freddie you were being so good with the granddaughter, just being quiet and letting her pet you. I think your training is going along marvelously.
    Sweet William The Scot

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  37. Well, I was one that asked about the gentle leader on Fred and I totally missed your follow-up post. Thanks for sharing and it maybe something I need to work with on Winston. He is very hyper as well and just wants to love everyone. But my great nephew does not like him as he is to hyper. Winston was kissing him one day and my nephew got this horrible look and looked at his Grandma and said "HE IS EATING ME". I would hate for a little one to be so scared so young of a fur-baby, so we gate the dogs when he stops over as well. HoundDogMom and The HoundDogs

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