Some of you know that I've hired a really great trainer/behaviorist to work with me and Ash in dealing with her aggression. I've had my moments where I've felt like it's not working and I'm not doing it right, but I have to say, that I can see the improvements now! I'm SO happy! It's actually working!
The last session I was told to add 3 more training things to my current list. One of them is a game almost. I take kibble or treats in my hand and I throw it and say, "Find it!" and when she has it I say, "Here!" and she comes back to me and gets another one. I have to keep moving and changing direction so that she always has to look for me. The other one is similar. I have her on my left side and I drop a treat on the ground and say, "Find it!" and I start walking away as I say, "Come on!" When she comes up to my side, I give her treats or kibble 3 times in a row. Lastly, I have to learn how to hold the leash differently and how to turn when someone is coming near us. She said this isn't really a training thing, but more of an emergency thing. If I see someone coming our way and I know we need to get out of there for whatever reason, I need to learn how to turn correctly so that the leash comes across my lap almost and doesn't even give Ash the opportunity to lunge.
So here's how I know it's working. I was outside with Ash a few days ago taking her to go potty. A stranger was coming and I said, "Look!" (this is another exercise I had to work with her on). Ash looked at me and I gave her a piece of kibble. The stranger came closer and Ash was looking out of the corner of her eyes, but not moving her head. So I gave her another piece. The stranger was able to walk by without even a growl from my baby! This is a HUGE accomplishment!
Everytime we're out there now, Ash pays attention to me. Strangers have walked by and Ash is either "looking" at me or "finding it". She is so focused on me that I can't believe it. There have been times when she starts to growl, but the minute I say "look" or "find it" she focuses on me. A kid ran by us the other day though and she lunged. It took me 3 times of saying "find it" or "look" before she calmed down, but she had been good until the kid started running. The kid had been walking until it got to us (the kid wasn't close) and then he bolted and Ash just charged. Normally, the moment Ash would've seen the child, she would've been growling and lunging. Barking and everything. So even though she lunged, I was still proud of her for remaining calm most of the time.
So yes, I am very pleased with how this is coming along. I love it. Ash loves this new scent thing and she loves that she gets treats when we go outside. [
] This is definitely money well spent.