QY10
Well-Known Member
J and I took Angus and Cache to a walking trail. Firstly, I thought the trail we were on looped back around to the parking lot, but it didn't. So, what I thought would be a quick 3 kilometre walk turned into a 6 kilometre walk. >_<
I kept Angus on a short leash, but for the most part the short leash DID stay loose. So, I was very, very happy about that because he does have a tendency to try and do zoomies on leash and drags me around. He stayed calm for the majority of the walk. He also got a lot of exposure to people, dogs and bicycles. He is afraid of bicycles, but he did pretty good and didn't get too stressed out as they passed. I tried to ensure that I was between him and the bike and tried to pick up the pace and talk to him to keep his mind off the bikes. He didn't bark, growl or lunge at anyone. I have to attribute that to J being with us. When J is with us, he doesn't feel the need to protect me. I would almost be willing to put money on the fact that had J been absent, Angus would have felt the need to ward off any potential enemies.
Of course, we had some issues with small dogs, which then translated into Angus having issues with most dogs that he saw on the walk. We were walking along the trail and a long-haired dachshund barked, growled and lunged at Angus. Angus didn't respond to the dog, but then the next dog that he saw, he started to growl at and had very stiff posture. After that, he got really uptight around every dog that we passed. When a dog passed, I ended up having to put him into a sit, back to the dog, and putting his head into my legs as he was trying to look around at the dog.
At the end of the walk, he did sniff noses very politely with a chocolate lab.
We will be going back to those trails for regular walks as they're very peaceful and it's a very dog friendly place. Ideally, I would like to get Angus out there 3-4 times a week for a good walk.
I found it funny that someone mistook Cache for a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Thalia is a Staffy and looks NOTHING like Cache. The guy was like, "Wow, you don't see Staffies around very often!" We were kind of like, you'll have to keep on looking because she's not a Staffy.
Another couple had a VERY large black and white dog. The dog was mastiff sized. I asked if he was friendly, thinking it would be a good dog for Angus to have a positive experience with to offset the small dog problems, but they didn't seem keen on the idea. J asked if the dog was part American Bulldog and they said, "Bully.... Pit Bull crossed with a Staffy to make him more powerful." First of all, wtf kind of statement is that... "to make him more powerful"? What do you do with the dog? Secondly, from my understanding that is considered an "American Bully" and that dog DID NOT fit the American Bull breed standard. The dog was HUGE (and overweight), but seriously way too tall to be an American Bully. I actually doubt the dog had any Staffy in it at all. Thalia fits the breed standard and is about 12-14 inches at the withers... this dog was well over a foot taller at the withers than she was. I think the guy was just trying to show off, but seriously failed, IMO.
Anyway, Angus is now curled up on his chaise sleeping. He is one pooped out puppy, which is my fault for doubling our walking distance. WHOOPSIES. All in all though, it was a fantastic walk and Angus is doing very well with his leash manners, which shocked me because he doesn't often go on structured walks. Like I said though, I'd like to see them happen 3-4 times a week from here on.
I kept Angus on a short leash, but for the most part the short leash DID stay loose. So, I was very, very happy about that because he does have a tendency to try and do zoomies on leash and drags me around. He stayed calm for the majority of the walk. He also got a lot of exposure to people, dogs and bicycles. He is afraid of bicycles, but he did pretty good and didn't get too stressed out as they passed. I tried to ensure that I was between him and the bike and tried to pick up the pace and talk to him to keep his mind off the bikes. He didn't bark, growl or lunge at anyone. I have to attribute that to J being with us. When J is with us, he doesn't feel the need to protect me. I would almost be willing to put money on the fact that had J been absent, Angus would have felt the need to ward off any potential enemies.
Of course, we had some issues with small dogs, which then translated into Angus having issues with most dogs that he saw on the walk. We were walking along the trail and a long-haired dachshund barked, growled and lunged at Angus. Angus didn't respond to the dog, but then the next dog that he saw, he started to growl at and had very stiff posture. After that, he got really uptight around every dog that we passed. When a dog passed, I ended up having to put him into a sit, back to the dog, and putting his head into my legs as he was trying to look around at the dog.
At the end of the walk, he did sniff noses very politely with a chocolate lab.
We will be going back to those trails for regular walks as they're very peaceful and it's a very dog friendly place. Ideally, I would like to get Angus out there 3-4 times a week for a good walk.
I found it funny that someone mistook Cache for a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Thalia is a Staffy and looks NOTHING like Cache. The guy was like, "Wow, you don't see Staffies around very often!" We were kind of like, you'll have to keep on looking because she's not a Staffy.
Another couple had a VERY large black and white dog. The dog was mastiff sized. I asked if he was friendly, thinking it would be a good dog for Angus to have a positive experience with to offset the small dog problems, but they didn't seem keen on the idea. J asked if the dog was part American Bulldog and they said, "Bully.... Pit Bull crossed with a Staffy to make him more powerful." First of all, wtf kind of statement is that... "to make him more powerful"? What do you do with the dog? Secondly, from my understanding that is considered an "American Bully" and that dog DID NOT fit the American Bull breed standard. The dog was HUGE (and overweight), but seriously way too tall to be an American Bully. I actually doubt the dog had any Staffy in it at all. Thalia fits the breed standard and is about 12-14 inches at the withers... this dog was well over a foot taller at the withers than she was. I think the guy was just trying to show off, but seriously failed, IMO.
Anyway, Angus is now curled up on his chaise sleeping. He is one pooped out puppy, which is my fault for doubling our walking distance. WHOOPSIES. All in all though, it was a fantastic walk and Angus is doing very well with his leash manners, which shocked me because he doesn't often go on structured walks. Like I said though, I'd like to see them happen 3-4 times a week from here on.
