Molly wasn't properly socialised in her previous life and doesn't really know what to do with other dogs and so spends the first few minutes in any other dog's company barking her head off- and believe me, she doesn't bark like a girl!

When she first arrived, it was 10 minutes of rushing at the other dog and their owners with the biggest barks she could muster. Most of the true doggy people don't have any worries about her because they can all tell that there's no aggression in the way that she approaches them, and most of the dogs interpret her approach as a request to play- but it does scare some people and some dogs, and I'd like her to be able to meet other dogs without her insecurities and the earache.

Over the last couple of weeks, the amount of time she barks and the speed and duration of her running towards other dogs has reduced gradually and the people that we meet regularly are noticing that things are getting a bit quieter around her.

Today, we had a major breakthrough. All afternoon I whispered her name every few minutes and gave her a tiny morsel of treat when she came and sat paying attention to me. Late on this afternoon, she spied another dog and started the barking and running off- but listened to me when I called her back for a treat and then walked off in the other direction with me, quiet as a lamb!

I'm so proud of her and how far she's come with this in the last 3 weeks. To trust me to tell her that it's ok to not warn me of the other dog was fabulous. I'm not expecting it to happen all of the time, we've still got a long way to go, but this is a young lady who sits faultlessly at kerbs without needing reminders, so I know that she's clever enough to work out what I'm asking of her.

So yay Molly! Even though I know she can't read.

aww bless i knew she wud be great wiith you so glad ur both really happy together x

Well done Molly! :clap:

Well Done - I thought you had cats!!!!!

I do- I also now have a big daft german shepherd with ears big enough to receive radio 4!

I always nip onto this section for a bit of light relief. Molly came back to you , yes ? :)

I do- I also now have a big daft german shepherd with ears big enough to receive radio 4!

Ah!!! She still young? Just I think big breeds always take a while to grow into their ears!!

Not just coming back (she does that all the time) but coming back to me and stopping barking when met with the thing that normally makes her bark and run about for ages. It's the way of the future I hope. Big dogs can't get away with being agitated and scared like little dogs can.

Ah!!! She still young? Just I think big breeds always take a while to grow into their ears!!

According to the vet she's only 14 months (ish) so there's time to grow into her ears, paws and tail. Personally I kind of hope that she doesn't- she's cuter this way.

Not just coming back (she does that all the time) but coming back to me and stopping barking when met with the thing that normally makes her bark and run about for ages. It's the way of the future I hope. Big dogs can't get away with being agitated and scared like little dogs can.

Little dogs can't in my eyes either :suspect: I hate it when people think it's ok for their little 'cute' dog to come running up to mine barking and snapping because 'it can't do any damage' and 'it's cute cos he's only little'...

Sorry - stepping down from my soap box, I agree with what you're saying, you need to have control of big dogs because of the way they look and the potential damage they could do. I just wish people would start taking responsibility for their little 'harmless' dogs. :mad:

Little dogs can't in my eyes either :suspect: I hate it when people think it's ok for their little 'cute' dog to come running up to mine barking and snapping because 'it can't do any damage' and 'it's cute cos he's only little'...

Sorry - stepping down from my soap box, I agree with what you're saying, you need to have control of big dogs because of the way they look and the potential damage they could do. I just wish people would start taking responsibility for their little 'harmless' dogs. :mad:

Yes- I agree entirely. I merely meant that less people are scared when a little dog barks than when it's a GSD foaming at the mouth therefore it is seen by many to be less important.

I know - I did get what you mean (and agree), but you know what I'm like :D