Just a update on Casey.

We have been working daily on obedience, methods of distracting him when in stressful situations, and got him neutered about 3 or 4 months ago.

Now he actually sits the first time we tell him, can be prompted into heel (with food as a lure right now), and will stay in a down position when there are distractions. I was so happy the other day when we came across joggers outside while walking, and he chose to look at me for direction!

Whether or not the neutering has affected his prey drive and hunting ability - I will have to agree to disagree with my fiance. In his opinion, he sees a decrease in drive, while in my opinion, this year we have spent a fraction of time exposing him to birds(a bird exposure every two or three weeks) compared to the previous year(birds two or three times a week.)

I do notice better focusing, less intense reactivity.

Can't wait to work more on the heeling....

A bit choppy on my part, I'm working on working on extending the time between reward markers... can't wait to see how it will translate to outside...

Thanks for the feedback! A year ago I never would have thought that he would have the capacity to heel on command. Yes, we need to work on turns with him on the inside, and varying speeds, moving backwards, and ultimately increased distractions, but we've just started.... the last few months have been about focus/eye contact excersises, which has finally led up to focus while moving(heeling). Thinking of introducing a heeling stick later on at some point.

I'm getting info from a combination of videos clips on Michael Ellis and Brenda Aloff's book on Aggression in Dogs (although at this point, I would not label casey as being truly "aggressive" as much as he is insecure, which had led to moments of aggression.) The book offers *very* detailed steps using reward/non reward markers, which is similar to methods/ideas from Michael Ellis.

I tend to like videos more because they are quicker than reading, and I can see body language. The hardest part I am finding is learning to be consistent - almost robotic - with my own body. Videotaping myself is helping as I can see myself (something that pixie bee had suggested).

Here are some video clips that have helped me out. I thought the first video here from Ellis was pretty neat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em57CqUZ2bE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtUYnR5RYz8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjAghoeFiXE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56cojEaFmDs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QolHDV1TCw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxii1H0waGY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUJxyARzav8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktCG0vI_sqU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktCG0vI_sqU

For known commands, I try my best to say it only once. If I have to say it again, I physically enforce the command, for example, if he doesn't sit the first time, I hold the collar up under the chin until he begins to sit, then release pressure once he begins to sit. The next hardest past is making sure us humans are on same page.

The bowl I use just because I do this stuff during feeding time, and it gives me a way of measuring how much they are eating.