My (Foster) Dog

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Quote:
Thank you for sharing your experience. I have fostered dogs before, but never one that I was considering keeping for myself. This is harder for me. And my husband is not really thrilled with her being here, but he's tolerating the situation. He's quite against us keeping her because he wants a Doberman.

 

[KlaHaYa Gardens]

Quote:
You're right

If I was ignorant to the behavior it wouldn't bother me. But resource guarding is a potentially dangerous behavior and shouldn't be ignored. I see some improvement of the guarding today, she only barked at our Papillon once during breakfast and she seems more relaxed.

I have a feeling that she might work the resource guarding out on her own after she knows that she doesn't have to guard. The insecurity might go away. But more often than that, it doesn't go away on its own.

I understand the guarding issue. I had a dog with whom we had to address this. You understood my point, so now we can celebrate that you can recognize this and are knowledgeable as to how to address it (when you choose).

The guarding behavior would naturally be exhibited in a more unfamiliar environment. In the future, as she trusts you more and more, in an unfamiliar environment, she'll lean to you rather than that behavior.

Keep up the good work, Jamie.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Thanks Kla Ha Ya

Shyanne is gaining weight. I have cut back her meals to twice a day and upped her intake of total food to about six cups. She's now got a slight pad of fat over her ribs and her backbone is less lumpy and bumpy. Her coughing is almost gone completely. Oh...and since she feels good, she's a naughty little siren!! Chews on my plants, shoes, outdoor garden lights, furniture, and ME. This is a dog that has such an active brain and she has really learned to get attention any way she can. Negative attention is just as good as positive attention (and maybe better since negative attention is on her terms?

).

Good news is that she isn't stubborn, is respectful in a general sense, and responds well to "No!" if I also use some body language. She is learning hand signals for wait and stay. She now understands what "get out of the kitchen" means. Tonight we had our first lesson in "sit" which she does not know at all. I find it amazing that she doesn't even know that command. Prior to today I had tried a few times to lure her into the sit position, with no success, instead she wants to come up on my hand with her front feed and chew on my fingers

But tonight I was feeling like she was relaxed enough to concentrate a bit and she lured three times. Each time easier than the next.

Progress!!

 

[KlaHaYa Gardens]

Nice! Keep it up.

I know I sound like a broken record, but there is something about abused/neglected dogs that causes them to be so grateful, loyal, and outstanding dogs to the "rescuing" new owner who loves them.

(I notice you recognize the proper spelling of Kla Ha Ya!)

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

LOL yeah I did