Still Nervous

The park walk was good. It was empty however so no real challenge, but, that's not such a bad thing. I don't want to induce an anxious state in him by forcing an environment on him which he doesn't like. I'd rather confront situations as they arise, so in other words, not go out of my way to look for other dogs or the like but to be calm when he does come into contact.

The actual dog park we where going to go to next had two German shepherds in, unleashed, so I thought it not a good idea to take him in. It sucks that I can't or maybe wont let him go in there with other unleashed dogs but I've got to think of what is good for him and at present I don't know what to expect.

For example, to get him used to older men, I stand and chat in a shop on the way home so he can see me being calm and that there is no threat. However, he smelt a large dog outside before I could see it and his tail was right under his legs. Shows I made a wise decision about the dog park. He is getting better not pulling on the lead because he knows I'm his pack leader but on the way home he was pulling on the leash. He'd chose flight in this case. I kept stopping him, calming him, but it was only when we got home that he began to relax. The reason for me stopping him is that I didn't want to reinforce it by quickening my pace to get home quickly. Although I maintained a slow walk, it was too slow for him hence his pulling.

Either he has never been allowed to socialise with other dogs or he's had bad experiences. I wont give up on him though. It's cool because as I'm teaching him, I'm re-training myself too.