Started Talon's new training program. We are going to walk 3xweek just around the neighborhood working on focus and his reactivity issues. There are a few spots I know there are dogs that are at least contained, so we will be working on focus mainly around those areas. Than 1X week we will go to someplace more challenging for him (ie petstore, lowes, a "new" park, etc).
Today we started it, he did really good for the first time! We went towards a house with four stone statues of dogs pushed up against a chain link fence. Talon is convinced they are real, if just very quiet, dogs. He was super focused on them at first, but after a few times of rewarding for his focus on me we walked right by them without even a glance at them.
Unfortunately it's right next to a semi-busy road so we got to work a lot of sitting and looking at me while cars went by, which he did really good at! We didn't go to the school like planned as two dogs were playing frisbee in one of the fields off leash and Talon was pretty done anyways, so we headed home.
We had to go past a yard that has a very loud, fence running doxie and chihuahua, but they didn't seem to be out. Well, we found out they were in fact out as soon as we got right next to the yard they started barking. Talon didn't freak out, but was very "OMG OMG *whine!! WHINE!!****" as I kept pulling him backwards. We had to halfway down the block before I was able to get his focus back.
The part I'm really proud of is after getting his focus back I was able to keep his focus as we walked past the yard with the other dogs barking! He only lost focus on me one time, but after just two steps back he regained it. I'm so proud of him! This really gives me hope to continue his training! I just wish I hadn't been so anxious about starting this sooner, he could be so good by now lol
David took Art as well and Art is just amazing. He didn't react to a single person or the dogs.