I have been taking Bobby on a walk down by the local canal recently. It's a lovely walk, past houseboats, ducks and geese and the local cricket ground, really pleasant, and it gets him used to being on a short lead.

To access the footpath, we have to cross over a swing bridge. The road goes over the canal, but when a houseboat needs to carry on its journey it is swung sideways out of the way, the road is closed to traffic and then all is put back in place when the boat has passed.

Bobby is terrified if this bridge. When fights like mad not to go near it, like a bucking bronco, clearly scared stiff.

I think it may be that as cars go over it he may feel it move slightly - not perceptable to me but maybe to his paws he can feel it?

What's the best way to get him over this fear?

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I love this blog post from Boulder Dog on using treat and retreat technique for bridge crossing: Boulder Dog » Blog Archive » OMG! There’s a Troll Under that Bridge!

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Anne, owned by Rufus & Tripod

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"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts." - John Steinbeck

"If you don't want your dog to bite you, don't be an a**hole to him." ~ Dr. Ian Dunbar

What a great blog and good idea too!

Now I know how to remove the Troll from my bridge too

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