Hello Justine and doggies.

Well I thought I would drop you a note and tell you about the day that
Shelby and I had. It was time to break a few dishes. My friend and I took
the horses to Linear Park and I decided I should take Shelby. If It didn't
work I would just kill her or whatever. 

Now you know Shelby is a rescue. She came to us at seven months. She is a
willful Lab/Red Healer mix. Which means she is a large herding dog. She is
now about 2 years old going on 1 year.

Well on to Saturday. She was "Exceptionally" wonderful! I couldn't have
asked for a better trip. Especially since you and I had talked about the
fact that after only 3 sessions with you last summer, some aggressive/
herding tendenancies and an "I want to do it my way" attitude. She was not
ready. 

She stayed with us or near by, came when called, did the "down command"
whenever asked. Even though she had trouble with me being up on the horse.
She was off lead the entire time---surprised you huh?

We came upon 2 riders and a dog about 10 minutes out. She started
to play with the dog---old dog. But we kept moving and she came along. We
came upon one lone hiker, a man. She did not mug him or even try to
investigate.
The only really problem was every time we stopped, she would whine. She
wanted her herd to move on.

We had to stop at a road on the way back to check for traffic, she came to
me and waited, but wanted to lean on my horse's front legs while we looked
for cars. The horse did not like this any more than I do when she leans
against me.

I had the ranger talk to her and pet her and she is was great. He was
wearing a uniform. 
Maybe the agression is only a problem at home??

Well if it wasn't for you dear girl, this dog would be history. As you know
when we started, she was ruling the roost with us. The yard was dug up, she
learned to climb the fences. You had to walk around her where ever you went.
She was difficult to take for walks, the choak collar was worthless. And
she was constantly into everything, in the garbage, on the counters, on the
couch and anywhere she wanted. I hated her! I was yelling at her all the
time. And I was very sorry we had taken her. 
And so were the cats. She chases cats! 
And this dog had a lot of training before we got her. But it was all
negative reinforcement.

On Sunday she and Harley, the cat were about 2 feet apart and she did a down
stay . Harley was talking up a storm. 
Do you think that helped?

You gave her a job to do. There was a change in her after ONE session. And
she has proved to be a willing partner. 

We are gong to try her on leash next time out, because the Forestry Dept. is
proposing a leash law for wilderness areas to keep dogs from attacking other
dogs and stock.

And just to add a new twist there are now Mountain lions and a bear in the
Linear Park area. 
I am not sure "leave it" would be useful to me under these circomstances if
she was off leash.

Cleo