Update on Scrappie

[sherrie west]

Scrappy is doing fine now. There were a few times we werent sure he was going to make it. But now the only way you can tell he was sick is by some dark spots around his mouth where there were blisters and around his nose. The Vet thinks that his hair will grow back though....He is running circles around Shaggy outside and in the house. They are both a joy to us. Making us laugh everyday,enjoying them so much.Now to figure out how to get them to not pull on the leash so much and walk with us......:) help anyone? haha Thank you everyone for your concern,thoughts and prayers....it meant alot to us.

[Kathy Spyker]

So glad to hear Scrappie is better.. Now you can enjoy both your puppies..=)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am very glad to hear that Scrappy is well.

[sherrie west]

Thanks so much for the advice on teaching them to walk on the leash. I can use all I can get!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It is such wonderful news that Scrappy is okay now. This must have been so frightening for you. I did the "loose leash walking" a little at a time with Guinness. For at least the first month we were right in the driveway or on the road right in front of our house. There were lots of treats involved and it was all about getting him to focus on me. We would go a few steps at a time and continued to build up from there. If he pulled at all I gave him pressure by pulling on the leash to the side. When he responded by stopping the pulling and walking with me (even for a step or two), I let up with the pressure, praised him (in a really sickening, high pitched voice), and gave him a treat. We just did this over and over. After a while I only gave the treats intermittently. I'm guessing it was at least two to three months before we could go on long walks totally with a loose lead. It takes lots of patience, but they do "get it" eventually.

[Lisa {Zoe's Mom]]

So glad to her scrappy is doing so much better. When your walking on lead and he starts to pull, stop walking, make him come to your side "place" and start walking. Heeling him as you go. when you anticipate he will start pulling, pop his lead up, say your heel command and make sure he gets back into "place". Praise, praise, praise when he does it right. BTW, did I mention having a couple treats on hand? Maybe give him one, then keep one in your hand waist high, he will be concentrating on you and not running ahead, remember treats and praise do wonders!

[Diane Denney]

For pulling I have been switching directions abruptly to keep him beside me. Everytime he pulls ahead I do a 180, and walk the other way, and so on and so on. He will eventually get that I need him to be beside me and not in front. I had to have the gentle leader though as Scott always pulled my arm out of socket, and so can Lincoln. I also will stop and put him back in a heel position, and start again. Scott does much better now, but can still pull, and well Lincoln is still in the learning phase. It takes time...good luck

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Supposedly the magic pulling rule is "Every time they start to pull, stop them and make them sit. Then start again. If you take 2 steps and they pull again, stop and sit, repeat repeat repeat and repeat again until they stop". Takes a lot of patience to do it, but it will be worth it in the end. We switched to gentle leaders when ours were 4 months and I wish now I had just had the patience to make them stop back then. Glad to hear Scrappy is doing better.