Famously, young dogs start good then get a little worse then come back to being good... all other things being equal. Perry is such a strong personality I must admit I was worried but he is turning out well. Whereas a few months ago he would be inconsolable when seeing or hearing another dog somewhere, anywhere, including on television, and therefore barking like a maniac, he is now finding ways to reflect and reassess. So, yesterday when walking at Darebin Parklands we encountered a couple of dogs who not that long ago would have sent him spare but now he can tear himself away and focus on me instead. It's very encouraging and pleasing that I have managed to effect this change, which still has to be reinforced (perhaps forever! I don't know) but the beginnings are implanted.
That was yesterday, and it was good. Then on the way to doggy daycare this morning we came out of a lift and he saw a dog go past and he went mental. But while that is a drag, it's also just the next thing to work on - stop him feeling like he's being ambushed. That's when the worst effects come on - when he feels that a threat (or whatever another dog specifically represents) has dropped out of the sky in front of him.
