[goldendog]

I have been taking Ms. Z to the SPCA on Mondays hoping to get her used to other dogs and being around them. She has good days and some bad days.

I was so disappointed and assumed maybe I had bitten off more than I could handle with this dog I was trying to save. She is so sweet with people and getting a whole lot better with our cat; but if she could not deal with being around other dogs, things were not looking good for her.

So this past Monday when I took her with me to the SPCA I told myself okay, it is do or die time. So I asked my other dog walker to just hold her while I go and get a dog to walk even as he was holding another dog and then hand her off to me when I walk up to you.

So I got a little dog who is a sweet one and said okay, let’s go for this and I walk up and took Z on one side and the little sweet dog on the other and kept all thoughts of trouble out of my mind and walked them both into a pen together. To my extreme delight Z followed right along and did not snarl, bark, growl or anything. I then released them both and just watched. The little dog started to run and Z immediately went on the chase. I told her “gentle” and she reacted, much to my surprise, perfectly.

I am now realizing that Z does not know how to play as a dog. So we did this with four dogs. She did well with all but the fifth dog. Unfortunately, the fifth dog growled and advanced on Z who then growled back and then the other dog attacked Z who just stood and did nothing back. I was truly amazed. It happened so quickly and was under control in a split second and no dogs were hurt. Just one dog trying to assert authority over Z.

I have also been taking Z to the polo field for a walk and learning session.

I have been working on walking and then when I stop Z is to stop and sit at my side. It was not working in week one, week 2, only when I asked or tugged on the collar. Then I went back to Caesar, The Dog Whisperer, my fall back helper. I saw in one episode where a dog would not respond the way he wanted. So he said a dog first realizes smell, then hearing, then sight. So he said he was going for the “smell” sense and used pieces of cold cuts to get the dog to do as he wanted. So……, I tried this and week three was lots better and this week, she did it perfectly.

And now today, Wednesday, I said okay Z it is you and me only today and we are going to do this. So I picked my first dog to walk, just walked into the pen, took Z’s leash and off we all went without any incident whatsoever. Then I released both in the pen and she actually played with the dog. No aggressive moves or chase. She was chasing the dog but barking in a playful mode. After a few runs she wanted more but the little dog was not interested so she went on her own and found a nice wet spot on the ground and went down and rolled on her back wiggling around like a dead cockroach and barking at herself.

It was truly a happy event for me; she was actually finally acting like a dog; having fun and playing. After three other dogs she was exhausted and hot so I put her in a pen to relax and stay cool.

I am very proud of Z today; and she seems happier today as well.