posted 10-31-2003 09:43 AM         

The cat chasing is going about the same. If she is tired, she is calm and then she can ignore them and listen to me. If she is not, then she chases them or tries to eat them if she catches one.

When I walk out of the room, she goes up the chair and onto the table - I think it is a bid for attention. She won't get down unless I walk into the room and then she hops right down. It is her way to get me to come back. It's not like I leave her unattended, but occassionally I do need to walk into the kitchen and cook or something.

She seems to have regressed on walks, but I think all the leaves blowing around have something to do with that.

I stopped carrying food with me at all times, and I need to start that again. She listens much better when I have food in my hand. I worry about that, because I can't use food with her forever. I am hoping some of this will ease up as she ages and mellows.

I also worry that I expect too much of her when she is just a pup. I am waiting until 6 months to really get firm with her about some of her obedience. Then we will go for faster response, longer wait times, etc. I wanted to get started with some beginning agility stuff, but now it's getting colder and I have a feeling it will get put on hold until spring. By then she will be old enough to join a class.

She still lunges and jumps and nips, but I am trying to be consistent in sitting her down and making her be calm before I do anything toward giving her what she wants. Once she is calm I ask her if she needs to go outside, or whatever. If she is nipping because I am making her leave the cats alone and she won't calm down, then I put her outside alone for a few mintues to cool down.

I am still considering a remote training collar. I think this would be just the ticket to get her to stop doing things when she knows I can't stop her - like getting up on furniture when I am out of the room, or chasing the cats. If she thinks the behavior itself is causing her unpleasantness, then I think she will be more inclined to stop. She is not terribly motivated to please her people. I was all set to pick one out and get her used to wearing it so that after 6 months if we need to use it we will be ready, but her trip to the vet for her hurt foot sucked the collar money out of my wallet.

She is really good when she is sleepy. I hope I am seeing a glimpse of the dog she will be when she mellows out a bit.