Bummer...

[gsdstewart]

...got up today and went to put Shebas collar on (half check).. It's covered in rust!.. Found a beach yesterday in North Queensferry .... Sheba loved it.. it was really peaceful..anyway wondered what would be the best collar to change to?..and wondered what would be the best way forward with the following:
>chasing motorbikes (would always give her a ball,treat... something to distract)
>eating horse poo ( have been putting her on lead)
>still biting lead!... Have been stopping and saying off..and praising when she stops..however this does not seem to work now..resorted to just ignoring and pulling along, as she does not seem to keep up the biting.. I have noticed that she only bites the lead when I am walking round my estate.. If I go to a different area she doesn't bite the lead..I can however stop the biting if I give her a squeaky ball to walk or give her commands to sit..stay etc all the way on the walk..Sometimes I think that she seems like she needs more...almost bored but unfortunately I have to walk certain paths to get to fields etc ...sorry for the ramble folks..but I am feeling that she should be walking without nonsense...and have been wondering about dogs living in the present?

[claire_88]

Originally Posted by gsdstewart

...anyway wondered what would be the best collar to change to?..and wondered what would be the best way forward with the following:
>chasing motorbikes (would always give her a ball,treat... something to distract)
>eating horse poo ( have been putting her on lead)
>still biting lead!... Have been stopping and saying off..and praising when she stops..however this does not seem to work now..resorted to just ignoring and pulling along, as she does not seem to keep up the biting.. I have noticed that she only bites the lead when I am walking round my estate.. If I go to a different area she doesn't bite the lead..I can however stop the biting if I give her a squeaky ball to walk or give her commands to sit..stay etc all the way on the walk..Sometimes I think that she seems like she needs more...almost bored but unfortunately I have to walk certain paths to get to fields etc ...sorry for the ramble folks..but I am feeling that she should be walking without nonsense...and have been wondering about dogs living in the present?

Hi there, i can't help with all these problems but il see what i can muster up for you and what i think it might be, if not some-one will definitely come along and correct or further advise.

A lot of people on here recommend a gencon, i think thats what its called.
I have never used one so don't know, i use a harness or collar.
Maybe one on the nose might help? i don't know what there called.

The motorbike........hmm sounds like a drive kicking in there. If it is this can be one of the hardest habits to overcome because it is so rewarding for the dog and especially a herding breed to chase an object. You sound like your doing the right thing by rewarding with a ball or treat but it has got to be higher in value than the motorbike.

Eating other animals faeces......this is dog just being a dog. You could try teaching the leave it command though.

I have no experience of a dog biting the lead, but i think if either of mine did pick up the habit i would probably just run with them on the lead and try to redirect the behaviour.

Dogs love to have a job and the ball carrying is a good idea. Hope you get this sorted, keep calm and consistent

[sams mum]

horse poo. cow poo!! part of the dogs diet when we are out.. ive given up driving myself mad and chasing them off it like a mad woman..

[Sylvieliz]

Hi don't know how old Sheba is but does sound like a typical teenager. Wanting attention getting into mischief etc;
I would get her another half check collar I always use them for walking and they seen to suit the purpose.
Try a chain lead for a while a shorter one as well with a padded handle.
Can't jump so much if a shorter lead and the chain may well distract her from biting it.
She sounds full of fun, as regards motor bikes its just the prey drive kicking in. Natural behaviour but of course cannot be allowed. Actually she ought not to be off lead where there are motor bikes. If she is on lead tell her leave, make her sit she can't chase sitting. Have you tried a tugger toy for her to carry on walks, throw it for her when she gets to a safe place to run free.
As for eating horse poo difficult some dogs do. Not a good habit to encourage. Enforce the leave command, try giving her a treat when she obeys. Got to make yourself more important than horse poo and bikes. lol.
Honestly think the jumping and acting up walking through the estate are because she is impatient to get to the fun places. Try talking to her while walking, keep calm if you get wound up it will only wind her up more.
Like having a child who can't wait to get to the beech, woods etc;

[J&J]

Some good advice all ready..

Motorbikes one..

Check-out to see if you've got any large motorbike shops, prev one with a cafe attached to it, hope you might have one on an industrial estate type thing.. (we have one of these near us) then work out your distraction method you are going to use... Then take her down near to a distance she not particularly responding to them.. Then use distraction etc and slowly work near to it..

If you haven't I would be tempted to see if you have a small motorbike repair place on a local industrail estate, and have a word with the owner see if they will give you an hand, by allowing you to just take her down so she can see several bikes parked up and have a sniff around, then perhaps starting up etc..

As for lead chewing, try a chain lead as often this helps not as nice munching on metal as it is is rope or webbing

[GV9297]

I can tell you how I cured Diesel of motorbike or any bike chasing but it has to be done carefully!

This is what worked with Diesel anyway :-

Private or secluded road - friend on bike.

You walking dog down road - dog has muzzle on - friend comes past on bike slowly - Diesel reacts and goes to chase I threw the lead to my friend who then pulled dog along (slowly of course) as I went in other direction screaming.

Diesel could not get away from biker and did not like being pulled away from me.

Biker let go of lead and Deez came running back to me.

We did this twice and he has never reacted to a bike again - however in time the excercise may have to be repeated.

I must stress however that this has to be done carefully and on a road where you will not be interrupted (plenty of country roads in gloucestershire).

[gsdstewart]

Originally Posted by GV9297

I can tell you how I cured Diesel of motorbike or any bike chasing but it has to be done carefully!

This is what worked with Diesel anyway :-

Private or secluded road - friend on bike.

You walking dog down road - dog has muzzle on - friend comes past on bike slowly - Diesel reacts and goes to chase I threw the lead to my friend who then pulled dog along (slowly of course) as I went in other direction screaming.

Diesel could not get away from biker and did not like being pulled away from me.

Biker let go of lead and Deez came running back to me.

We did this twice and he has never reacted to a bike again - however in time the excercise may have to be repeated.

I must stress however that this has to be done carefully and on a road where you will not be interrupted (plenty of country roads in gloucestershire).

..I would love to try with someone and a bike, however I dont't know anyone that has a motorbike...may look out for a workshop...I have been using a gencon lead for the last 6 weeks and it is brilliant..however the lead biting has been regular...Sheba is 11 months...and hope that she stops the lead biting...as for poo eating this is a habit that she has always frequented in...the other day I thought she may have over dosed on horse poo....she is good with the leave it command but she finds the poo more interesting....she is not foodie at all re treats...maybe I should start carrying poo!!!lol...I suppose sometimes you do become frustrated...but like children they do make you smile...

[Stuart]

I had each of these problems with one or more of my three, but I found them all easy to get out of,.. but its up to you to have good word control with them

Kee and Jazz loved poo of one sort or another,.. I cured it by saying `No` every time I saw them even look at poo,... they never go near any now.

Kee also had a thing about motorbikes,..[ though I admit not much of a thing ],.. the same cure though, `No` each time she even looked at one

Both of these is down to antisipation,..if the dog has already licked poo, then looked at you and you say `No`, then you have told the dog not to stop licking,.. you need to get in with a good command just as the dog is thinking of going for it,.. but the obedience has to be good

I have used the Gencon,.. glad you like it, to stop the dog biting the lead, keep the lead short for a while, if it is short he cant get to it,..as he turns his head tighten the lead,...again antisipation,...as he start to turn his head before he gets hold of the lead, give a sharp `No`,..and repeat as often as its needed,..some say you need to repeat something like this 30 times before its done

[gsdstewart]

I have used the Gencon,.. glad you like it, to stop the dog biting the lead, keep the lead short for a while, if it is short he cant get to it,..as he turns his head tighten the lead,...again antisipation,...as he start to turn his head before he gets hold of the lead, give a sharp `No`,..and repeat as often as its needed,..some say you need to repeat something like this 30 times before its done[/QUOTE]
...walked a good number of miles last night...different walk...half being biting of lead, then a battle ground...anticipated and gave a strong NO...had my hand near Shebas head...lead being very short...anyway..she started to mouth my arm...and I have to say I went from calm to frustrated..told her off and ignored..as soon as the ears go bad I know that she is going to be defiant..bit like me I suppose...anyway ...needed a bit time out..so tied her to a lamp post and hide behind a bush...I know that this is not the done thing...but I could have swung her round it...you should have seen the looks that I was getting from the road...anyway I came out the bushes, after a minute or so..and untied her and went on my way...had nae biting off the lead on the way back....it was maybe that me and the dog were calmer...she is my best pal...but I have to say she "ripped my knitting"...as they say here!!

[GV9297]

[...walked a good number of miles last night...different walk...half being biting of lead, then a battle ground...anticipated and gave a strong NO...had my hand near Shebas head...lead being very short...anyway..she started to mouth my arm...and I have to say I went from calm to frustrated..told her off and ignored..as soon as the ears go bad I know that she is going to be defiant..bit like me I suppose...anyway ...needed a bit time out..so tied her to a lamp post and hide behind a bush...I know that this is not the done thing...but I could have swung her round it...you should have seen the looks that I was getting from the road...anyway I came out the bushes, after a minute or so..and untied her and went on my way...had nae biting off the lead on the way back....it was maybe that me and the dog were calmer...she is my best pal...but I have to say she "ripped my knitting"...as they say here!![/QUOTE]

I think you did the right thing some dogs need consequences - need to be told that the behaviour is just not acceptable and you can do this without any extreme force etc. I am all for positive reinforcement and rewards method etc but constantly shoving treats into a dog is not always the answer.