16th November, 10

We did a small amount of heel work yesterday due to work commitments, however I make up for it today taking Dusky to the park.

We did quite a bit of left and right turns whilst walking to heel, unfortunately, Dusky is still very much distracted by other dogs, he does well when they are not about. We did a quite a few downs, stepping to one side and then walking to heel, he is getting better at this but only does is sporadically without me putting him down to the heel.

The recalls on the lunge were better, he didnt get himself as tied up as before. It still needs quite a bit of work.

15th November

I took Dusky out later on today and concentrated on his heel work and asking him for Down now and again, which I am pleased to say he is beginning to get the hang of. We weaved between the bollards at varying speeds, and I did a few recalls (this definitely needs more work over the next week or so) I ve also started to work with him in the house a little more, just asking him every now and again to lie down.

Friday 12th November

We didnt get out at all yesterday due to the heavy winds. However, we did do a few sit and stays in the house, along with some watch me exercises and asking him to lie down.

Dusky and I went out today, he was a bit excitable on the way to the park, however, he soon settled down. We did some zig zagging between the bollards at different paces, and walked to heel at different paces. He is still being stubborn with regards to asking him drop down, it almost as though he see's it as dropping to a submissive position. He did get a little better at it.

Towards the end of the session I spent a lot of time doing recalls on the lunge, although he still gets himself tangled when we do it.

I believer I need to concentrate a little more in the house asking to down and do more work with the recall.

10th November

I gave Dusky the day off from training yesterday and took him for a walk, he did try and point every pigeon in the town centre he could find Grrrrrr.

Today we spent 20 minutes in the park, he did try it on a bit on the way there but soon settled into his routine of walking to heel. We did 5 mins heel work through the cones at different paces. Then I put him on the lunge, he still gets himself tangled up in it, but this bit definitely needs more practice.

On the walk back I tried to get him to lie down and step away but he was being a stubborn little bugger, I didnt let him win and towards the end it was getting easier. I'll start practicing this in the house with him every now and again, as well as in the park.

I took Dusky out later in the evening, we again did some heel work, but without the cones. We spent the first 5 minutes changing the pace etc which he did really well. We did a bit more on the lunge line, Dusky got himself tangled up again a couple of times and i have difficult getting away from him. Whilst at the park, Dusky sat and stayed for quite some time whilst I packed the lunge line away. On the downside, he is still being awkward about going to the Down position.

8th November, 10

I took Dusky to the park and he walked like a perfect gentleman on the way there, in the past he would have been bouncing and shouting his head off. We walked a little then put the cones for him to weave through, this time I put them a little closer together. We did them at 3 different paces.

After the cones, I put him on the lunge line for the first time, however, I found it really difficult to get away from me as he kept following me. This part of the training is definitely going to take some practice as poor Dusky kept tying himself in nots due to me having to change direction in order for me to get away from him. On the plus side he did recall almost imediately.

Whilst putting everything back in the bag and changing his lead back to the normal lead, I asked Dusky to sit which he did for a good two minutes without moving. We then walked back home with Dusky walking to heel.

Saturday 7th November

I took Dusky to the park for the first time to do some training, again we did some heel work through the cones which he did really well considering this is the first time we had been to the park since last Monday. He didnt pull once on the way to the park, however, he did pull towards a couple of dogs on the way whilst crossing the road.

6th November

Poor Dusky is in a deep state of frustration at the moment, due to Holly being on heat. However, we went for a longer walk today and did a bit of weaving, walking to heal, this has vastly improved. There was no tension on the lead at all as Dusky anticipated every twist and turn. We have bought some small bollards for us to train in the park tomorrow and I will introduce him to the lunge.

Friday 5th November

Again did more heel work with Dusky. He seems to be watching me a lot more whilst he is walking to heel, although he did wimper quite a lot whilst he was walking but this could be due to Holly being on heat and he is acting like a sex starved teenager!

We did more turns today and mixed the pace a lot more. Each session this week has lasted approximately 10 - 15 minutes. We also did a lot more watch me today.

Thursday 4th November

Unfortunately, due to work I could only get Dusky out twice today. On both occasions we did more heel work, as I d like to concentrate on this before moving onto the lunge line.

The morning walk was really good, he is starting to try to anticipate the turns now and I believe I ve got the hang of the nudge before turning. However, the evening walk was slightly different as he did try to raise the energy up a little but soon settled down. The difference in walking him is vast.

Wednesday 3rd November

2.00 pm Unfortunately, I only had time to take Dusky out once today so carried on with the heel work, it is steadily improving and I ve noticed he has started to look at me every now and again. We've bought some bollards to start zig zagging in the park.

Throughout the day I ve asked Dusky to sit and used the watch me command. I think this is going to take a little while

Tuesday 2nd November

This morning we changed everything around for Dusky. I ve insisted on feeding him from now on and have instructed everyone that he isnt to be be petted or stroked without doing something for it first.

Before letting him out this morning, I asked him to sit and watch me before opening the door. Before I fed him, I repeated this but also asked him to sit and stay before releasing him for food.

10.00 am I spent 10 - 15 minutes working with him on heel work walking in the road which he did really well. He even spotted a cat but never lunged towards it.

1.00 pm Took Dusky out again. Again we went up and down the street at a very slow pace. What a difference! He didnt once lunge forward and is beginning to look at me to try and read my direction. We did quite a few left and right turns, I am still struggling a little with the nudge, I just need to remember to swivel as opposed to stride.

8.00 pm Took Dusky out for a walk up and down the street. He is getting alot better, I did some heel work and changing directions zig zagging between cars in the cul de sac