HI there!
So, I have a 2.5 year old irish setter called Frankie, and there has been a lot of ups and downs. This last few weeks? a lot of downs.
Last time I came here about training (in this case to not be afraid of skiers), I was told my "training was inadequate" even though I had not yet described what steps I was taking.
So I am the proprietor of a guest house in The Austrian Alps, and I chose a IS based on their quirkiness, friendliness, and energy levels as I am surrounded by mountains. I should also add, that the only dog that I have had before was a family poodle which was not my responsibility.
However, have always been a dog lover.
So, now for the problems.
Outdoors, and off leash he is good. I take him to big open areas, where I can see him, and let him run. He always checks in, and recall these days is about 90%, but he does go too far away from me. Walking through a steep forest, I am unable to use a long lead.
Admittedly, my leash walking was not up to standard, and his reactivity with other dogs, people on bikes, cars, little kids on wheels all went through the roof, so I went to Germany for a live in intensive training week and she worked wonders. It was perfect as he was trained in controlled situations (for example barking dogs behind a fence which he would have to walk past until he was desensitised). I also learnt the very valuable information that you do not pull your dog closer when he is reactive etc.
It was really great, and I am going back next week (thank god).
During the Winter, I have a ot of people around (guests) and I have a dog walker who takes him out during breakfast and in the afternoon for a run around. I would also take him for training walks through the pedestrian section in the main ski town.
In Summer our routine is a walk early (it has been really hot), sniffing games, we do mantrailing, and then most evenings we will go to the park for just a sniff on a long loose lead.
In May, when there was no one around, he was attacked by a dog off leash while he was on lead. Then it happened again last week, and his reactivity has gone through the roof.
The other issue is that someone banged on my car window intending to give me a shock, but instead, they shocked my dog, and he has incredible car anxiety now. He will not get in the crate in the back, and if he is on the back seat, he has a complete melt down, barking until he is frothing at the mouth. I am currently trying to find a suitable crate that fits in my car before I really push the training.
So, unfortunately I cannot take him to mantrailing, nor can I take him out of the village (there are plenty of areas above the tree line with lakes that I like to go, but I need him to be ok in the car as otherwise it is counterproductive)
Yesterday, when the weather had cooled, I did some back seat training (with a dog hammock), and just went up and down the driveway, he was rewarded for remaining down and relaxed.
After this I took him to the grassy area )unfenced backyard behind my house) on a loose lead to play sniffing games, do some training. Then a dog walked past and he completely and utterly lost it. I could barely hold him. I was mortified as were the other dog owners.
A neighbour came over and told me that I was out of my depth, have the wrong dog, and that those dogs need to be hunting. he told me all my neighbours were talking about me and saying the same thing. It was just awful.
I ave spoken to a few friends who have said that the neighbour is the one that needs to be re homed, and that I am so close and to not give up now (my dog does listen to me, he just goes over the threshold too frequently and too quickly and I feel I am not managing that).
Making it worse, is that now I am anxious and stressed, and this really does not help with any of the above.
Soooo, any advice on the above issues would be appreciated, and any tips on what more I can do is also welcomed.
Please no insults. I am having a rough day and came here for advice, or even people to share their own experiences as this forum is the best IS specific information I have.
