Spur: Training the Beast, Part 3

Class Day 3, April 13


When we arrived at the facility, there were a lot of cars there already. Come to find out, there was a group class going on at the same time as our private class. Spur was over stimulated and over anxious. He barked uncontrollably in the car. He barked uncontrollably outside the car as we prepared to start our class. Courtney told us she was helping with the group class, so Seth would be working directly with us this day.

Seth asked for our remote and told us to walk Spur toward the group class and turning at a safe distance away to return to Seth. Around and around we went. I could tell Seth had really turned up the dial on the remote; as I walked the wildly barking Spur, I heard him yelp a few times. This made me tear up, but knew I needed to keep with the walk. Back and forth, back and forth. When I gained enough composure, I handed the leash to Doug. Doug walked him a bit before Seth asked for the leash. He walked him alongside the group class and back. Then, he walked him along the back side of the group that had their dogs sitting next to them, in a line. Spur walked by about 9 humans and their dogs without issue until he got to the last dog. I didn’t see any indication, but Spur went nuts and LOUD at the last dog. That dog responded with the same. The owner of that dog pulled his dog out of the line and over to the bushes to get control of it. As Spur kept barking at that dog, it cowered in the bushes. Seth continued to keep control of Spur, using the remote as necessary, and trying to continue going near that dog to get Spur to realize he needed to settle down. It was a tough exercise for Doug and me to watch. But Spur settled down and Seth returned to us. I told Seth that I didn’t see any movement or cue from that other dog to set Spur off. Seth admitted to us that that dog is a problem, anyway, so it was good practice for all Spur, us and the other dog’s owner to practice some methods to get the dogs to settle down.

The other owner directed his dog over to the sidewalk and Seth told Doug to walk Spur along the far edge of the group class. Seth had control of the remote still, so this was just an exercise of heeling. Another pass along the group class, about 5 feet closer; and another pass, even closer; and another pass, right in front of the line of owners and sitting dogs. Spur didn’t make movement toward any of them! Next, it was my turn. 4 passes and Spur did fine. I handed the leash to Doug.

By this time, the owner of the “crazy” dog had walked it up to the other end of the parking lot and they stood in the grass, watching their group class. Seth had Doug walk Spur up the covered sidewalk next to the building toward “crazy dog.” “Crazy Dog” would lunge at Spur, barking when they got close and Spur would respond in same. Seth still has the remote at this point, so he’s controlling Spur’s collar. Doug would walk out into the parking lot toward the group class, around a few cars and back up to the covered sidewalk to make a circle toward “crazy dog.” It was good practice for all. They probably did this about a dozen times. Until the reactions from both dogs simmered down to a more reasonable “oof” and sometimes Spur wouldn’t respond at all.

By this time, the group class had split into two, each lined up facing each other; leaving their dogs in a sit-stay, they could walk to the other side and call their dogs to them. We were able to weave Spur, at a heel, through this group class and it’s activity, with no issues from Spur (again, Seth had the remote, so we really don’t know how much he was having to use it while we walked.) But, it ended a very rough class on a very good note. Our instructions for the week, get out and find places with people, dogs, distractions and get him used to it (it’s not like we haven’t been doing this for the previous 8 months, but now we have a way to give a quick correction without having to choke or yell at him.)