Two weeks ago at training Izzy got bitten on the hindquarters by a March fly, and if you have been bitten by these suckers they hurt. Because the training centre is near a beach and mangrove area you get sandflies and these suckers in the summer months. Whoever said dogs forget they are so wrong. Two weeks later Izzy is terrified of the training ground and freaks everytime she hears one. She literally shakes and uses head avoidance as if to say I am not here. We went to a completely different area closer to the house she was a little bit better but still refused her treats, this is a dog that I have nicknamed hoover in the way she can suck food down her gullet. I introduced the clicker, as this is for fun training tricks, slight improvement and she worked well for 5 minutes and then I stopped. Worked Ceejay and repeated again with Izzy for 5 minutes.
Next week I will bring their ball with me and play in the training area, so she may realise it is a fun area (that is the trainers idea), and maybe use the clicker and do a few tricks when she starts getting worried to distract her. Any other suggestions? I think this will be a long process to get her confidence back up. Ceejay is fine she just wants to get the March flies, she looks like a snapping turtle. But Izzy is my sensitive little petal. So any ideas of what else I can do would be great.
By the way Ceejay is doing extremely well at obedience, even at the stay when someone is throwing a BALL. She shakes all over but stays. And her recall, she runs at full pelt all the way then just stops right in front of you, I keep thinking she is going to run into my legs. lol.
Think we may have solved the problem. I introduced the ball, their favourite toy. Played a game with them and as soon as that is finished, clip Izzy up and away we go, we can work a good 5 - 10 minutes before she starts thinking about those sneaky March flies and as soon as she closes down, we take her off the grounds. Then we repeat the whole process later, by the end she was a lot more relaxed. Her body wasn't tucked up and she wasn't crouched even at the post where they get tied up. I also use the clicker instead of the yes word as she associates the clicker with fun treats and trick training. It will take a while longer but I am lucky I have the patience.