Please share your experiences. I know from reading there are some good handlers out there...
I wish I could tell you that I see great progress. There is an
art to helping dogs with behavior issues such as being scared. This experience has taught me one thing, I need to take an
art class. I really want to find a place and learn more. I am not sure where to do that, but it is something I will look into during retirement. I still watch Cesar shows, I am blown away by his ability to remain calm, how he takes a dog and just drops it into his pack and uses the pack to tell him about the dog. I would be afraid Z would be eaten as my timing and ability is way off. Like in golf, the word 'afraid' cannot be in a dog handlers vocabulary.
I do see certain progress with things like thunder. There were quite a few storms while our favorite pack member was away. Z would head under the end table in the corner of our living room (Wisteria style home). My approach is to do nothing, I go about my business as if nothing is happening, the whole time hiding the fact that I hate thunderstorms also. During storms, I will occasionally train her; for example, stand in the kitchen and issue the ‘come’ command. It is the one command that once it leaves my lips MUST be obeyed. She is excellent at it normally. On days where it is stormy I may have to say it twice and she comes slower, but she comes, gets praise and a little cookie, then saunters back to the safe end table
Z will still bark at certain dogs. If I am walking her I ‘leash correct’ her to be sure she cannot advance, but I also body correct her. What do I mean, I touch her in the side until her focus changes to me (I do not hurt her), then I make her sit and watch the dog until she relaxes. I do not know if this is perfect, I am no expert.
As my lovely posted, Z now stays in my office while I am working which is nice. Do not forget she is a world class sleeper, so when she is there it is like having a new rug. I have yet to cut a nail on her. I am able to hold her paw and pick at her nails with my nails, this is progress albeit slow. I would like to use a dremel so I can just sand a small bit off, but I know the sound will be an issue. I have an old electric razor, so I have been holding her paw and running the electric razor over her nails and reinforcing the ’stay’ command. I see progress, but have yet to just get in there and cut a nail.
Happy fourth folks, today we may get thunder and fireworks. I know she will be fine…