Hello All
Well the time has come, Dolly is seeing Ann Bussey tomorrow for the first time, I am really nervous, what if she says she's an awful dog???, I dont think she will but I guess I'm just going through the motions. I'm trying so hard with both my BC's and they are much better but we get the odd day when they are a nightmare!

Me and my Mum walk them early in the morning before we go to work and they are normally fine, but for some reason last week they were in a really hypo mood (6.30am!!) they saw a man walking across the field and both ran up to him barking, we ran over, then they saw a boy on a bike and they were eager to go and bark at him! yes I no you are probably thinking they are out of control and on that occassion they were!, they dont do that normally I can assure you. Dont know what came over them both, they have been so good lately.

I'm looking forward to seeing Ann, it'll be nice to have some 1 on 1 training and maybe be told that we are doing a good job.

Wish me luck!, I'll let you know what happens :)

Jo
x

Good luck for tommorow Jo I hope everything goes really well.

Don't be nervous, Ann is a very, very nice lady and the last thing she would ever say is that your dog is awful!

You are going to her for help and that is just what she is going to give you.  Lots of people need help with their dogs but not everyone will admit it, let alone ask for it.  Just remember the advice you get is only as good as how much you follow it! :D

Good Luck

Good luck, I am sure you will feel better tomorrow night.  Let us know how you got on.

Sandra

1-2-1's were the best investment I made Jo. I also understand your unfounded nervousness - by way of reassurance, mine vanished within seconds of meeting the trainer, as I'm sure yours will. You'll be inspired with confidence and probably feel as elated as I did after the first session.
Tohme is right though...the advice is as good as the pratice put into it. I'm lucky I have a neighbour who 'grasses' on my husbands' handling of Rosie when I'm not around. She watched some of our sessions with the trainer at our home and now takes great delight in telling me that "He's getting sloppy on the heel work with Rosie!". Of course, with her curtains twitching now....I certainly can't be seen 'slacking' :D
Best Wishes & Have Fun
Jo
x

Don't worry, i've been having some one to one sessions recently and they are great fun! I'm sure she won't think Dolly is an awful dog, i'm sure a behaviourist sees many different problems over and over again, so they are unlikely to judge, at the end of the day they do it because they love dogs. I know what you mean about hyper, i think its the weather, megan was really mad the other day, even worse than usual! (It doesn't even bear thinking about really!) ;-)

shes lovely! shes helped out alot of dogs with problems & really loves & understands the collies!!! hows it gone?

Hello All
Thank you for all your messages, it made me feel better.

Well all I can say is what an amazing woman!!, Ann was great and we saw a difference in both our collies within an hour of her being in our house.

The outcome is really positive, Ann thought they were both lovely well behaved collies with just a few issues which she said if we put the dedication in they should be 100% well behaved by there 2nd birthday!!! yipee :)

Basically Ann came in the living room and sat down, Dolly and Rosie are mainly in the kitchen as we all work but come in whenever we are there. When I let them in I was very nervous because I thought 'oh no they are going to bark at her and go mad!!', well what a joke they both came straight up to her and said hello!! me and mum were amazed. Dolly backed off after 2 mins and started barking and looking to me for reassurance. Ann's outcome was this:

The collies have won the lottery with us, we love them , feed them, walk them, play with them, but all when they want to, not on our terms. She said that she could tell they were constantly seeking attention from us and instead of us ignoring them and just playing when WE WANT TO we give in. They dont see us as the top dogs, they are controlling us.

1st exercise-when they try to say hello and jump on us totally ignore them and look bored, it took 3 attempts from them for attention and they both went and led down and chewed there bones!, amazing, peace at last!!

Ann thinks that the running up to people and barking when we are over the field and barking at people when they go past is all to do with them feeling they have to protect us and us not protect them. it's very true because if we go a different route they are fine-like Ann said they are away from 'their patch'. She thinks that by doing the exercises in the house and showing we are the bosses, will stop them territory guarding when out.

Ann's words were all 4 legs get demoted and all 2 legs get promoted!!!!

We do shut them in the kitchen as I said when we go to work and they only come in the living room when we want them to, so Ann said they are confused who is the boss, as we make them do this which shows they cant have the run of the house etc but then we give in to their demands all the time which makes them think they are top dogs!!.

She said they were super collies and very obedient, so that made us really happy.

Anyway sorry to go on and on, but I just had to let you all know :)

Thanks

Jo
xxxx

Can't express how pleased I am for you Jo.
The outcome was a fascinating read and I just wish you'd typed more !!
Well done and best of luck with the rest of the training.
Take Care
Jo
:)

Thanks Jo
I know what you mean about writing more, if I'd had time I would have done. Ann was so interesting I could have listened to her all day!!!!

:)

Jo

she haS A FANTASTIC WT ch & obedience dog! maybe she ll covert you into doing abit of competing????

Hi Michelle
Sorry to be dopey but what is WT ch???

Jo

Excellent Jo,  are you having another meeting?

WT Ch - i think is a working trials champion - no mean feat from what i have heard! Incredible!
Congratulations on your good day. It's amazing isn't it, alot of what a good behaviourist says makes such sense and you wonder why you haven't realised before!

yes thats right!& C only in obedience which is no mean feat either!!!!