~This is not Georgia, just a example picture~
~Another example picture~
Last night Georgia and I met C at our local PetsMart for a training lesson. It’d been over a month since we’d seen C and probably just as long since I’d taken Georgia out in public. I’d taken her to some friends’ and family’s homes during this time, but not out and about with the general public. It is an understatement to say that Georgia was excited to be at PetsMart. My hand is still feeling the effects as I type. She was pulling SO hard, probably the hardest she’s ever pulled me. She wanted to see and smell everyone and everything. We had trouble calming her down, so we told her to lie down and stay. She’d lie down but get right back up (continuing to work on stay and what it really means). We went outside the store to give her a break from all the smells and to hopefully calm her down and walk back in without pulling me. My hand was really, starting to hurt so C suggested she go get her dog’s Gentle Leader from her car to give that a try. The Gentle Leader is an approved piece of equipment to use for testing as a Pet Partners team and visiting people as Pet Partners, but I had never planned on using it because it reminds me of a muzzle. I thought if people saw her wearing that they would assume she was a biter and would be fearful of her. I also worried that it would hurt her. Well, I was wrong! It is all cloth, there is no metal causing her any pain & it doesn’t completely restrict her mouth, it’s all about pressure points. It was like night and day!! With a bit of correction she was easily under control and NOT dragging me around. My poor left hand was very grateful!! Don’t get me wrong I still need to work on using the Gentle Leader with her because I was probably being a little too gentle, but we’ll both get used to it I’m sure.
With the Gentle Leader on we went back inside and there was literally no pulling. Then we worked on stay some more and she did well. C was doing all sorts of crazy things to distract Georgia, but she never left her sit – stay position. I was such a proud mom. I also learned how to get her to remain in a lay – stay position using the Gentle Leader. Since I was there and the Gentle Leader was working so well C held Georgia’s leash while I paid for a Gentle Leader and new leash. I decided to go with pink so it was clear to others that Georgia is a little girl dog. We had several people at PetsMart refer to her as a “him” or a “he”. I don’t correct them….probably for the same reason I don’t correct people when they call me Susan or Suzanne. Wish I knew what that reason was, I just know it makes me feel awkward. Oh well! I doubt people will call Georgia a “he” with a bright pink head collar and leash; however, I’m sure I’ll be surprised.
So, that wraps up our lesson. We have two more with C, which makes me kind of sad. I’ve enjoyed my time with her and I know Georgia has too. She’s helped us to come a long way. If money grew on trees I’d continue to work with her. When it’s all over we’ll have had one consultation meeting and 10 lessons. Time flies when you’re having fun I guess. I would also like to point out that C said she’s never had a dog take to a Gentle Leader so easily. Georgia didn’t mind or resist at all, just let us put it on her. Even though the lesson started off rough and I was worn out by the end, I think once again we took some positive steps forward. Now we need to continue to use the Gentle Leader with Georgia and make her like it i.e. she gets treats when she has it on! J
*The two pictures above are not of Georgia, though in one picture the dog looks very much like her. I forgot to take one of her in her pink Gentle Leader before I wrote this blog post. I will post one of her though; she looks good in pink. At first I thought really negatively of the Gentle Leader, but I promise she can still pant, eat, bark, drink and BITE with it on. It is NOT a muzzle!
