Timber refuses to go anywhere near the trail where he got attacked. Plus the neighbors still haven't fixed any issues yet. So we found a new walking route. Each lap around this block is a mile. So six times and we got our 6 miles in. It has a few dogs on it,but they will be inside the houses at the time we will be walking. For dog socialization, we can get that down at the park in the evening hours when we walk our 3 miles in the evening and on the weekends when we go off and try other trails.

He has healed up nicely and was a little shy about walking. Took about 1/2 hour or so for him to warm up to walking like he was. At first he pulled a little, then he settled down and showed signs of nervousness. We just took our time. towards the end he was perfect again. We took him to a place where there wasn't any dogs at first. then he got play time in and then ended it with another loop of almost perfect walking. Alot better than the beginning of the walk. So with time his mind will heal.

He seems very happy this morning.

As for Gizzy, she likes the new walking route and she loves the park. right now she is laying on the couch. she is such a lazy beaver in the morning. Gizzy won't be going out for walks in the morning as she can't make it the 6 miles. but she will be getting out in the evening when she has more energy. she is quite content playing squeeker in the house every morning before her morning nap. She usually takes that when I get my shower and internet stuff done. she is such a good chi.

Hope everyone has a happy dog filled week

[wishbone]

Dogs really have good intelligence and memory, they can remember someone who hurt them for their entire life. And it's nice to hear Timber was recovering and get so well into socializing, with your new walking route. Way to go Timber.

It didn't go as well as I had hoped this morning with the new route. he didn't get attacked. so that is a plus. but boy does he freak out with dogs barking. he use to walk past squirrels, chipmunks,birds without a hitch. now he freaks out with them. so going to go back to basics this week and walk our dead end road. not to the neighbors with the pitbulls though. get him back into leaving it and on by commands. get him use to the squirrels and such. it is hard to do it when you are getting pulled into light traffic. I live in a town where there is no post office and only one light. so I live in a very rural area.

we will get it though. we did make two loops and I had to call it as he was just impossible. I told him lets get a drink. so he would be easier to get home. later today I will go outside and retrain like I did when we got him. just the two of us.
But, with patience and time we will gain it back.

I just didn't expect it to be this bad with a new route. dogs yes, you hear a dog you are going to remember the incident. but I truly didn't expect the wild animals to bother him so bad. he acts like everything is out to get him. if it moves "you are going to hurt me" and I need to rebuild the trust with him and wild life. good thing we have squirrels and chipmunks , birds and worms and frogs by our house.

training on our road I can stop and get him to be calm and let him watch the animals for a bit. I am also going to sit outside with him today too so he can watch the birds and not be afraid of them. hoping this will all work out.

good thing I am as stubborn and patient as needed. I can do and redo steps for years if needed. when most would give up I try new things and keep going.

any way, thanks for the support and have a happy doggy day.

timber&gizzy,

I am glad your Timber healed better after attack. Like you stated in your post,with patient,baby steps,Timber can become a dog who look for the walking time.

I think dogs connect things each other and act accordingly. For example, one afternoon, I got hit by frozen solid hunk of Emu back bone when I was digging the freezer.It hit my head,and scraped the skin and I actually draw blood.
Palette was near,but she got freaked out on this and barked so frantically til my husband comes up to treat my head skin. Its injured area healed better,but now I got scary Palette. She hates freezer door when I go open the door.

I did little by little try to let her connect yummy treats with freezer door,and she is fine now. I think it took her about 3-5 months to recover from trauma I have made in her.

What I did was..
1.called her while I sit near freezer.She comes,click and treat
2. after 1 is done with no fail,I extended to open the freezer door slightly just about an inch and if she stayed at the spot,click and treat
I kept doing this by opening more more.

Possibly with Timber,you can just sit outside the porch,and every time you two see the squirrels,click and treat,and try connect treats and squirrel.What do you think? You probably can do this with everything.

I also have done clicker training while we are on walk too. I brought treats and clicker,and when she was more of bark back dog to dogs in the fence, I did short training with her for "Leave it" command. Now,she is careless with dogs inside the fence. More likely,barking is from dogs inside the fence,Palette ignore them,and keep walking. I think clicker training is great.
It might take long time to achieve a goal depending on what you are walking on,but I think someday,you can make it to the goal.

Good luck,and keep us posted on your progress.

Yassy, thanks for that. I have been doing clicker, but instead of treats( where he won't take them no matter what I have) I give lots of praise. I did discover yesterday that a light soft clap and a big Yay helped alot and he was understanding that some. so that is our new praise thing we are doing. hope that will continue to work.

I plan on taking as many baby steps as needed. He is the world to me like gizzy, the cat storm, and my kids. My husband fits in there too. he is such a trooper. we train pets together and discipline kids the same way too. everything is a team deal in our house. we compromise and if I can't get something to work and he can I try his way and vs. I love my man.

any who, hope everyone is having a dandy doggy day. I am waiting for the pouring rain to let up so I can go outside with Timber and work with him some more. he is worth every bit of my time and training.

thanks for the replies.