Sorry I didn't realize that dogs aren't accepted in businesses down in the states like they are here. I even see dogs sometimes in the grocery store. Hotels all take dogs here too. I think the only place I don't see dogs are restaurants. I also forget that everyone doesn't have miles of off leashes trails in their towns.

Have you tried just getting out walking around town on a leash? Maybe go into a downtown area that has more people and traffic? What about just finding a park bench and sitting down for awhile and let your little one just observe everything around them? They are so happy at this age and so curious!

I will have to try taking my 2 in the next time I am in the States. They have been in Borders, which I understand no longer exists. They do not wear their training jackets when in the bank or bookstore.

Most of the Best Buys, Future Shops and some Canadian Tires, let them in and so does our local Bed, Bath and Beyond. I have also take mine into Michael's occassionally. I live in the west end of the GTA, so hopefully, you will have no problems in your end.

One of the only places I had trouble was the Rain Forest Cafe at Yorkdale. One of the servers got ridiculously upset they were in the restaurant, after we had cleared it with the manager, and they were wearing their "in training" service jackets and we had already eaten and were in the process of leaving.

It sounds like Bear just got a little over excited. No big deal, mistakes happen. I suggest working up to it. A pet store with so many people and dogs was probably just too much at this stage of training. Start by working on a sidewalk with people passing by, then move to maybe a shopping district but stand away from the stores, etc. Basically, step up the distraction incrementally and set him up for success!

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-Valerie

We're volunteering at a booth set up by Golden Rescue of Canada at the Pickering Markets. Because she is greeting over and over and over as people come over to the booth, this has been wonderful experience for her. We went 2 weeks ago and since then I've noticed a huge difference in her excitement level when greeting people both at home and out on the street. We are going again today so she'll get even more experience with greeting over and over. I wonder if there is a way for you to set up an environment like this where you are greeting over and over until Bear gets more used to it.

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Liberty - 10 months




Kim - Mommy to fur-baby Liberty and 2 human daughters 12 and 14 years old

I have also started working with Rose on greetings. She used to be an angel but lately she has become a complete brat.

I have to admit it but yesterday I broke down and got a gentle leader. She hates it but it is the only way I can walk her straight for a half an hour.

She heels perfectly in the house on and off leash. The moment we are outside she is HORRIBLE. I was happy when she was loose leash walking but that went down the drain too.

I can put her in a sit with no problem but the moment I say heel she charges thru. I can give her the around command and she comes into heel position with no problem. The moment I say heel she once again charges thru. I say come back here and she comes right back with no problem. And she is so proud of herself in her sits and arounds and come. The other day she even corrected herself, the leash got tight and I stopped. She came around and plopped her but down, pushed her chest up on my left so proud of herself. I could not help myself but giggle. We walked like that for one mile in a little over an hour.

It has worked better with her to make her sit and whoa when anyone was approaching her at the store. I also used the leave it command as we passed by people in the reptile section. (most of them were not interested in petting a dog and it worked great). One would think that people who shop for dogs know how to behave around a dog. Rose went to this dog woman and I was trying to put her in a sit and the woman said "It's OK mine does the same!" I zipped my mouth and turned around with a stern "This Way" to Rose. I was amazed that she followed with no questions asked (or should I say - no tight leash pulled)

This weekend, we spent about 6 hours out in the public. Today, we went to Petco after an hour long playdate with a littermate and OMG he was the most perfect angel. He walked w/o pulling and sat before greeting everyone. Most without asking!!! And I was more confident to direct people into waiting for Bear to sit before greeting him. Alot of people were amazed with how well he was behaving. We were looking at upgrading his collar and harness (from the ones we bought at the dollar store, that he is outgrowing) and he sat or laid down while I was browsing and was immediately responsive when I told him "let's go".

Afterwards, we walked down at Balboa Park (very large, public, crowded park with museums, galleries and grass areas). He did FANTASTIC! He walked w/o pulling 95% of the time and when he did pull, it was a lazy pull and he responded well to my correction. He met alot of people and dogs and ignored even more!

At the tail end, we sat down and people watched, which I think did tremendous good. He heard a saxophone for the first time (OMG his expression was priceless!!!), and I convinced him to splash around in a shallow pool.

BEST DAY EVER!

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It sounds like he did great. I wish we had something similiar to your park, and the weather to enjoy it.

I have read through the thread and am happy to see that things are going better for you.
I would like to respond to the original question of what I do when my dog is misbehaving in public. I usually remove my dog from the situation pretty much the same as I would a child. No one wants to see a dog misbehaving any more than they want to see a child screaming and throwing a tantrum. Nothing good can come from trying to force the issue. You get frustrated, the dog gets frustrated and the vicious cycle begins. I would just take my dog home and start over on a new day. No sense beating my head against a stone wall trying to control a bratty puppy. They all have their good days and their bad days just like us.

This is great news. To me the most pertinent thing you said was that he played for an hour before starting all the other activities. A tired puppy is a well behaved puppy!

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Kathleen, mom to one human, age 17, three canines, and a bunch of fish.