My Dog in Rehab

As long as we live, we keep learning how to live it.

Category: Everyday life

sniffing

Sometimes we have to give up our training plans

By

On 01/10/2018

In Everyday life, Soul-searching

This is one of those awful days when I have to give up on our training plans.
– Rosie, come on, we are going out! We are going to practice some heel work and play with a ball. You like games, don’t you?
– Ma’ I love you so much that I’ll lick your hand here where you are holding the leash. Will you hurry up if I jump on you?!
– Rosie, sit down for a moment and stay there.
– Ok, I’ll just sit here and wait until you take on your shoes – wagging her tails.
– Let’s go! It will be so much fun!
– You taught me to sit at the door until you say ‘come’, so I’ll just sit here again.
– You are a good girl – I’m praising her. We are in a good mood.
– Ma’, Ma’ you are so slow, why can’t we just run down the stairs outside?! I have to pee! I want to play! Wait, what’s that noise?
– Rosie, it’s OK, there is someone in the building. Let’s just ‘sit’ and wait until he leaves.
– Ma’, who is that? I want to go outside! I always have to sit!
– It’s okay, look what I have here – yummy treats.
– Maaaaaaa’ Go, go, go!
Gate door opening.
– Who are these people at the gate?! 
– I don’t know, sweetheart. Please, sit behind me, so they can pass by.
– I don’t know who they are – Rosie is sniffing. One of them is familiar, sometimes I scent him outside of our door. I don’t want him to come inside our home. Ma’ I don’t like these people.
– I can see that. Your tail is under your belly. Look at me!
Treat, treat, treat.
– Ma’! They are dangerous! WE MUST ESCAPE THE BUILDING NOW.
– Rosie, stop. You are pulling the leash. Look what I have! I have something extra for you. You got so nervous.
– I don’t want treats – Rosie is spitting out the treats.
– Come on, let’s run, it’ll be fun! Let’s run to the dog park!
– I don’t want treats! I don’t want to run! There is someone at the corner don’t you see?! Let’s just stay here. There is an interesting smell here, just right here…
We are only a few steps away from our house, and Rosie is already in panic, calming herself by sniffing. She has already eaten almost all the treats, but quickly reached the point where she doesn’t accept treats any more. 
… and that’s the moment when I gave up all my plans about training outside.
– Rosie, let’s just go to the dog park.
– Ma’, I don’t like it outside. These people are all coming towards me, they are staring at me! They are following me! I just want to go home. Take me home.

Dog Dangers at Christmas and How I Avoid Them

By

On 12/23/2017

In Everyday life

I love to include Rosie in our Christmas celebrations. After all, she is family, too. However, I have to take steps to keep her safe during the holidays.

1. Christmas Tree and Decorations

I haven’t got a tree since I have Rosie. My daddy doesn’t let me have one, nor electric stuff or candles in the house. ‘It is too dangerous’, he said – no objection. My Mom, who is the Queen of Christmas Decorations, couldn’t let it go. She makes me wonderful, tiny, little trees every year. I love them, they are more than perfect (and enough).

2. Family visits

Rosie can be quite anxious around people, even if it is my family who she loves. She gets exhausted in a pretty short time, and becomes nervous and uncontrollable, just like a little kid. I’ll have to remind my family to give space to the dog and let her chill out whenever she needs it. I’m not planning long visits, and we won’t have guests. I’ll also provide her enough time for mental recovery during the holidays.

3. Christmas Meal

Oh, this is my favorite… In my family, it goes like this: ‘Look at those eyes, she is so hungry! Let her taste the cake, too! She is so cute, she put her head in my lap! She can’t wait until dinner time, it’s too much for her… We are eating, and she can’t? You are so cruel, let that dog have one bite!’ … and it goes like this on and on and on… I can’t change the ‘grandparents’, so I spent a day faffing with doggy biscuits 😀 (For reference, check the Dehydrated Dog Treats Facebook group). My plan was to prepare dog treats and biscuits that my family can give to Rosie, instead of feeding her with human food and leftovers. If nothing else works, she won’t get dinner. I’m cruel, am I not? 🙂

Left forgotten

By

On 10/24/2017

In Everyday life

I never believed the stories of dogs literally left forgotten waiting patiently for their owners to say a command until it happened to us.

We were preparing for our walk. Rosie usually sits in the door waiting for me while I put on my shoes and jacket. This time I went back to the kitchen to grab some treats. I also remember drinking a glass of water, and my phone beeping. I answered my friend on Facebook, we chatted a bit, then I thought it was time for our walk. I said ‘Rosie, we are leaving’, and went back to the hall looking for the dog. And there she was, sitting exactly on the spot where I left her about ten minutes before… That is a pro stay command!

I realised I completely forgot about her! I’m so stupid sometimes! She got a huge-huge hug and a dozen of treats. She was unbelievably patient! I’m sure she didn’t understand why my tears were running, but I was so sorry and so happy at the same time.

It was an extremely positive reinforcement for her, but I hope it will never happen again.

run

Run! Run! Run!

By

On 07/25/2017

In Everyday life

Recently, I came to an idea how to release the frustration of our everyday walks with Rosie. To be honest, I used to hate dog walking.

We live in the city center. The average stimuli on the street – people, dogs, traffic wardens in yellow jackets, kids running – is just too much for her. Very often she becomes stressed in only a few minutes that ruins the whole activity. I’ve tried lots of things to take the pressure away, and avoid trigger stacking. If I manage to keep Rosie in a relaxed mood, she doesn’t have to feel that her life is in constant danger, and has to react to everything and anything. We are in a much better place than we used to be, but it is still a struggle.

One thing I’m trying these days is that we run home from the corner of the street. I show her a treat in my palm, and start running, calling her ‘Com’ on! Com’ on!’. This is so much fun! She loves running! Her tail is finally up, her whole body is less tense after running a few meters. It makes her so happy, jumping all over me when we stop, paying full attention to me, and even calling me for play sometimes. She becomes even more obedient for the last minutes of the walk.

It’s a really good feeling to finish our walks in a good mood. It makes dog walking much easier for me, too, so I won’t think next time sighing: ‘No, not again…’. Her last memory of the action will be positive. Probably her hormone levels stay normal, too. I suppose she will be less aroused next time when I grab the leash, and slowly learns that walks can be fun, too.

I’m experimenting, but it seems to work pretty well so far.

Intro

I am a dedicated dog owner who believes that everything can be possible by staying optimistic.

My four-legged best friend, Rosie is a mixed-breed rescued dog. I promised her that, after a troubled puppyhood, I would provide her a joyful and fulfilling life.

I write this blog to share our lessons learned on the way.

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christmas dehydrated dog food dog biscuit dog rehabilitation dog training dog walking equipment extinction fear fear-based aggression harness learning theory mantrailing obedience reactive dog rescue dog reward stay command training plan trigger stacking

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