I had a lovely walk with Buster yesterday there were 2 different things that made me thank myself for all the work I've put in with training :)

As we were walking down the road a cat started to stalk Buster, as it got out in the open and close to him, he spotted it, but I didn't even have to say a word, he looked away from the cat and carried on walking :)
I noticed the cat was following us (looked about a year old and appeared curious rather than predetory!), as we got to the field and Buster was busy crashing through the thigh-high grass looking for the best spot for a wee, the cat caught up with us and started inching it's way toward Buster again. I put Buster on his short lead (I know he likes cats but would rather not take anything for granted), Bust spotted the cat behind him. He was very happy at the potential play-mate, started wagging his tail and even cried with excitement doing a little play-bow, but again I didn't have to say a word, he looked away from the cat and carried on walking :)

A little way on, we met a woman with a JRT, she stopped for a chat. It's a rare treat for Buster to be so close to another dog (they're normally dragged away from him :( ), he offered a couple of polite play-bows. The JRT was not impressed and started growling & barking at Bust, so Bust stepped back a bit and sat down, side-ways on to the JRT, who then stopped his barking & growling. I was chatting to the woman for about 30 mins (isn't it great when you meet another dog walker that like to talk 'dog' :) ), as we were saying our good-byes, she realised her dog had been well-behaved the whole time, she said he's never been like that before (he's 7yrs old) as he's usually trying to jump all over the other dog and 'dominate' it - getting himself in trouble, she was very suprised how realxed he was.
I looked at Buster, sitting like a couch-potato in the long grass with a dopey expression on in his face and wondered how much his behaviour had influenced the other dog, 'chilled out' was oozing from him :-D
That doesn't seem like much of a big deal, but when he was a youngster I had trouble staying on my feet if he even spotted another dog and now, without me having to give him any commands, he can be with one for ages and behave himself so well that his good behaviour  is commented on :) I thought the breed-trait of 'calm' was missing from Buster at one stage, when it comes to other dogs, but it appears that it is in him - it's just got much more obvious with maturity!

Neither of those things seems like much of a big deal, but with a dog the size of Buster the smallest bit of 'poor' behaviour from him is a really big deal - he only has to step forward to sniff another dog and it can pull me over if I'm not expecting it, we rarely get to be close to anybody or other dogs so I tend to forget what a really good boy he is. Good Boy Bust :)

For anybody training thier dog - stick with it, it all pays off, and if you're interested in how I've trained Buster - it's all about rewards, little cubes of cheddar cheese (as food rocks his world!) :)

> I looked at Buster, sitting like a couch-potato in the long grass with a dopey expression on in his face and wondered how much his behaviour had influenced the other dog, 'chilled out' was oozing from him

I would agree that this rubs off.  We can transfer emotions from human to dog in the same way.  I have proved it with an uptight tiny (other end of the scale to Bust :-) ) bitch of mine.

If I put her on my chest, and purposely slow down my breathing and heart rate, her tension slowly dissolves.  And I have done this when she has been to the vet, and he has commented on how relaxed she is.  She is NOT a relaxed dog!

You have put so much in with your lad - I've always thought that you get out what you put in, so your (and Buster's) success is well deserved, and I fully get it if you pat yourself on the back.  :-)  :-)  :-)

Well down to both of you. Its great when you see your hard work cometo fruition. My Whispa has not been the easist dog in the world and being a gsd that means he is automaticallyin the wrong first. Now at five he is actually maturing into a dare I say it into a calm dog and a gentleman who will meet dogs appropriately on most occasions.
Again well done.  

Well done, Buster, you and the cubes of cheese :)

Well done Buster!! I know exactly what you mean and I nearly wrote a similar post myself today after a nice walk with Nando- who had great recall the whole time :) He has started to hate cats with a passion though so perhaps I shall get the cubes of cheese out ;)

Thanks everyone :)

Jean, that is amazing how you can calm your little girl down for the vets like that :)

furriefriends, Buster is just comming up to 5 years old too, isn't it great seeing them settling into maturity and behaving so nicely :)

stooge - the cheese is like little cubes of magic LOL

parrysite, I thought of you when I was typing, with all the hard work you put in Nando is going to make you so proud, I'm sure he does allready, but give it a couple of years and everything starts to fall into place. WELL DONE to you & Nando for having an entire walk with great recall.

I must admit that Buster has an advantge of learning to behave around cats as we have our own tiny little moggy that will NOT put up with him pestering her, from her he's learnt that cats are nice if you're nice to them and if you're not nice to them you get sharp things shoved up your nostrills that make your nose bleed! 

ETA parysite -I've just checked your other posts to see how old Nano is, I know he isn't an adult but wasn't sure how young he is - WOW - look back through your own posts and only about 6 weeks ago (socialising large breed dog) you mentioned his re-call wasn't great and look now - an ENTIRE WALK with great re-call - well done, what great progress  :)

ETA parysite -I've just checked your other posts to see how old Nano is, I know he isn't an adult but wasn't sure how young he is - WOW - look back through your own posts and only about 6 weeks ago (socialising large breed dog) you mentioned his re-call wasn't great and look now - an ENTIRE WALK with great re-call - well done, what great progress 

Thank you :)) It is like the training has finally paid off and some sort of lightbulb moment has happened with him! :yes:

Cherish those lightbulb moments! Not wishing you any setbacks, but if they do happen later on you will need to remember the lightbulbs, maybe to work back to if things have gone awry, and they are the signals you do have a capable dog and you are a good handler.

Well done, as you know from my previous post I get very proud of my boys and Its always nice to be able to tell like minded people.

Thank you! Today we had a minor blip where he wouldn't recall from a dog. However, the owners were too busy fussing over him and trying to get the 'big scary GSD' away from their precious doggy (who frankly was enjoying the interaction with Nando) and I think it was a bit TOO much distraction for him. However, later on in the same walk he recalled from running full-pelt after a squirrel! He was absolutely showered with fuss when he got back to us!