Flicka

Unfortunately I still cannot get her out of the front door, we did get a little way yesterday, then a car came by and that was the end!
That’s difficult if you have to walk near traffic. Do you walk her round the garden on the lead, just for her to get used to it and feel safe and secure with you on the lead? It may help her then if you come across traffic or other scary things in the road. :hug:
 
That’s difficult if you have to walk near traffic. Do you walk her round the garden on the lead, just for her to get used to it and feel safe and secure with you on the lead? It may help her then if you come across traffic or other scary things in the road. :hug:
Yes, I do walk round the garden with her on the lead, at least I have a lead on her now as she was scared of that as well! she is very scared of a slip lead, so wonder if anything happened before I had her, though her breeder is a kind trainer and she loved him when he visited. I have the leather clip on lead, which she will now accept.
 

Jacqui-S

Moderator
Location
Fife, Scotland
Do you have a lightweight harness Sonia, I wonder if she would be more comfortable with this? A bit risky to pay for one as she may be as averse to it as a collar and lead, just wondering if you or a friend may have one for a trial? If you think it's worth it?
 
Sonia, I was just thinking something strappy like The Haquihana rather than a more solid one like a perfect fit, given she is quite slim. I think Sue @edzbird used to use one.
Yes, Meg (also very slim) wears hers for walks all the time - it's light, doesn't sit too far forward so no chafing under the arms. It does have to go over the head though.
Coco still wears his when OH takes him. It's our favourite harness.
 
Something light that she could step into P71539
Homer had this one mantrailing-dog-harness.html for mantrailing. just a thought, maybe a mantrailing type harness with a clip lower along her back would help as she wouldn't feel the same tension around her neck. How is she is you touch her collar without a lead nearby, take her collar on and off? Gentle practice with her geting used to you touching her collar and lots of treats if she lets you may help build positive associations for her. Little and often.
 
Flicka's breeder has been over a couple of times and he has managed to walk her a little way down the lane and actually let her off in the field to fetch a tennis ball ! He told me not to let here off! The weather here is dire today so I couldn't even attempt to see if she would come with me. She will now fetch a tennis ball off front lawn. I discovered she had round worms yesterday, vet and nurse came out and gave me one pill, cost £149 ! However, vet very kind and gentle.
 
I can now walk Flicka down the lane! Though the second time we went, an enormous tractor which filled the lane came by, then an enormous cement mixer on a lorry was making the cement for the sewer down over the fields, and she shot under the gate into another field. On the way back I had to let go of the lead to get her through the style and she took the opportunity to rush off and hunted the field out and refused to recall!! Thank heaven no one came as it would have spooked her and she would have run out onto the lane. My neighbour over the lane lives in the Old Rectory and it has a large garden which is dog proof, so twice she has been invited to run free there. She is confident in their garden and we were invited in for a coffee and she lay on the mat and was a very good girl! She is still nervous in the lane but at least I can get her out into it now.
 

HAH

Moderator
Location
Devon, UK
This is fantastic progress @Jelinga !! Really really well done to you and Flicka, I know how frustrating it is when you want to be doing the ‘normal’ things and have to take baby steps, but this is really brilliant. It sounds like you’ve got a good friend with their secure garden too, that’s so helpful. You’re doing so well x
 
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