[goldendog]

I just got back from a small vacation to Martha’s Vineyard. My husband and Z picked me up at the airport and I was excited to see Z, and my husband of course. She seemed happy to see me but not as excited as my past dogs have been.

When we were on our way back home she did let me pet her and she even gave me a lick or two and then settled in for the ride home.

Back home she seemed a little excited and I petted her and gave her a back massage and chatted with my husband. Since it was close to midnight we decided to hit the sack and to our surprise Z came into the bedroom and went to sleep on the floor beside the bed.

We were unsure what this meant and I was a little apprehensive as the cat sleeps with us and gets on and off the bed several times during the night. And where they are still not 100% comfortable together had me keeping my eyes on any movement. Z slept there for a few hours and then I noticed she got up and went back on her bed in the living room.

All was back to the normal routine the next morning. But I have noticed that Z is now going in my husband’s office to visit a bit more and sometimes even sleeping on the office floor while he works. She is still barking a various dogs, but mostly walks on a loose leash without any problems.

She also seems more comfortable in the house when it thunders outside. She is still a work in progress but little things will hopefully add up to a dog that can lead a happy and normal life.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by goldendog

I just got back from a small vacation to Martha’s Vineyard. My husband and Z picked me up at the airport and I was excited to see Z, and my husband of course. She seemed happy to see me but not as excited as my past dogs have been.

When we were on our way back home she did let me pet her and she even gave me a lick or two and then settled in for the ride home.

Back home she seemed a little excited and I petted her and gave her a back massage and chatted with my husband. Since it was close to midnight we decided to hit the sack and to our surprise Z came into the bedroom and went to sleep on the floor beside the bed.

We were unsure what this meant and I was a little apprehensive as the cat sleeps with us and gets on and off the bed several times during the night. And where they are still not 100% comfortable together had me keeping my eyes on any movement. Z slept there for a few hours and then I noticed she got up and went back on her bed in the living room.

All was back to the normal routine the next morning. But I have noticed that Z is now going in my husband’s office to visit a bit more and sometimes even sleeping on the office floor while he works. She is still barking a various dogs, but mostly walks on a loose leash without any problems.

She also seems more comfortable in the house when it thunders outside. She is still a work in progress but little things will hopefully add up to a dog that can lead a happy and normal life.

Sounds like Z is becoming more loving and trusting.
Thanks for the great update.

[ajbrown]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

Sounds like Z is becoming more loving and trusting.
Thanks for the great update.

Actually the only thing I saw in that post was her husband was an after thought when she came home... "I was excited to see Z"

[ajbrown]

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…

[shrink]

I don't know if this is helpful or not, but we have a dachshund/beagle that we adopted at age 6 months (she is now 8 months). She is also fiercely lunging and barking (but not snarling) when we encounter another dog, and the bigger the other dog, the worse. We took her to Pet smart for private lessons with Jen (very good). She felt our puppy was responding out of false bravado to cover fear. We started giving her multiple tiny treats every time she encountered another dog. We would do the "watch me" command (distracting her), then pop her a quick chicken treat while saying, "nice friend" (trying to hook up the works with a treat when she encountered another dog). We are starting to see progress on our daily walks. The combination of positive reinforcement when she accesses the "watch me" command, and negative (spraying water into her face while saying "NO") when she is lunging and barking and too crazed to listen, definitely has brought improvement. Maybe worth a try? BTW, Jen did not suggest the water thing, but we found that positive alone wasn't sufficient.

[Schaumburger]

I have really enjoyed reading this thread. Please continue posting on Z's progress. A shout out to all people who foster and adopt rescue dogs and cats.

[ajbrown]

Z is still here. I do not have any interesting update at this time. My wife sent me this which I thought was interesting.

Pit Bull Breed Profile

I take anything I read with a grain of salt, but a few things hit a chord for me with regard to Z.

[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.

[ajbrown]

For reasons that are not important, my lovely's update did not show up as a new post, so bumping thread.

[Mrs. Robinson]

GoldenDog and AJBrown:

A wonderful, wonderful rendition of events.
Z is changing and coming along.
Her future is so promising.

You are two incredible and exceptional people.

[marianne237]

AJ Brown, the Village dog whisperer! Love your stories of Z and the other dogs you and Z have encountered. Lost my Jack Russell almost a year ago and not ready to get another dog, but you and your stories are sure working on me. Thank you.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Robinson

GoldenDog and AJBrown:
A wonderful, wonderful rendition of events.
Z is changing and coming along.
Her future is so promising.
You are two incredible and exceptional people.

I agree 100%. You are both exceptionally compassionate. Z is a lucky dog.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by 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.

Wow. I am just amazed at how astute and creative you are with her. You are just what she needs. Your ability to dissect her behavior and start at the ground level with tiny steps is so impressive. A lot of people don't have that kind of patience. Or intuition. Brava!

[ajbrown]

We are glad you enjoy the posts of our everyday challenges and joys of working with Z. She is a good dog and is coming along, and hopefully one day she will be part of a forever family.

My first reaction to these compliments is thank you. Who doesn’t love to hear wonderful accolades about themselves occasionally. This is quickly followed by… it just ain’t so…

I do not want this thread to come across as a self-promoting ‘look at us’ thread. I started this to share our experience as people who love dogs, but ARE NOT experts at dogs. It is from that perspective we write these posts.

Exceptional? Hardly. We are fostering one dog because I hated hearing she was not being adopted. So many people do so much for dogs that I flinch a bit when we garnish praise because we post about it.

Nail update coming ...

[ajbrown]

For those not familiar with a Dremel, here is a picture with a sanding bit on the end: Product Details - dremel.com

I do not want the perception to be that I work on trimming Z’s nails daily. I do not, life gets in the way. It may be a few days a week when I feel the urge. If you have ever used a Dremel you know it is loud and whiny. Reminds me of a few …. hmmm let’s not go there. I really want to trim this dogs nails. It is embarrassing for me to be fostering a dog and have to bring her back to get the SPCA vet to do it.

When hanging around watching TV I would get out the Dremel and have Z come over and be curious about what it was, she would sniff it and occasionally lick it. The next phase is the same deal, but this time the Dremel is on at the lowest speed. The first thing I notice is that the fan on the Dremel scares her, so I face it in such a way that it would not blow on her face. She is clearly scared of the thing, like many things quite frankly.

Since she arrived we have worked on the stay command. It will be this command that will greatly help to shave a nail or two someday. She is also becoming more confident in all situations. I give my wife credit for this as she spends a lot of time with Z.

Finally I took a chance as she was sleeping next to an outlet. I plugged in the Dremel turned it on and held her back leg. Her immediate reaction was to get the heck out of dodge, to which I told her to stay. She was clearly nervous, licking her lips, eyes darting for an escape route. The stay needed to be reaffirmed several times, and when I could see she was going to stay I shut the Dremel off without doing a nail. I did this a couple of days later, and then the third time I touched a nail for a few seconds. I remained as calm as I could and more important, Z survived.

I doubt Z was too pleased, but I was darned psyched.

More to come…