Foster Dog Update - Rocky Week 2 Rocky is a very smart dog! It is obvious from his behavior that he is used to making all of the decisions in the home. Rocky has tried to control who is allowed into his space in the past by trying to nip people if they reach towards his collar. If a dog is afraid the last thing you want to do is reach towards their neck. It is the most vulnerable place on a dog and they are left with no option, but to bite in an effort to make you go away. Rocky was nipping because he was making the decisions about who could touch him and when. As dogs cant talk they use different ways of communicating and if they feel uncomfortable, scared or threatened, by instinct, they try to make the perceived threat go away by biting or growling. Knowing that Rocky is uncomfortable being touched on his neck it is important to help him feel safe with a persons touch. I have leaned over the puppy play pen that he is in with the slip lead in a big loop to put his leash on, which is a comfortable way to approach him. Rocky sits or stands and stays still as I slip the leash on and is learning how to behave when on the leash. He has already learned to wait for me to go in or out first upon leaving or entering the house. This is important so that he doesnt try to dart out of the door when someone is arriving home and escape running free and in danger of being hit by a car or getting lost. He is continuing to learn that if he is on the leash he doesnt move unless the leash is loose, no tension, so that he realizes that I am leading the walks, not him. When Rocky is spending time with me outside of his puppy play pen he is on a very long leash so that I am easily able to correct him if he starts to try and get my attention by chewing on something. He likes anything cloth and will grab it, start to chew on it and look up at me with those big eyes asking Is this going to get your attention? My answer is always a calm reaction as I ignore and correct his behavior with no fuss. If I react to Rockys efforts in trying to get my attention he has won, as he is looking for any attention, any reaction and trying many clever ways of seeing what my reaction will be. Once he has tried getting my attention for 5 minutes or so he finally gives up and lays on his side, with a deep sigh, total relaxation! It is only after he has given up trying that I then call him over for a calm, gentle snuggle and tummy rubs, which he loves! For the first two weeks I slept in the room with Rocky to give him company and as he is doing so well at letting go and relaxing I will start leaving him to sleep alone now. I am proud of Rocky, he is a playful, sweet boy and just needs time to learn what is expected of him and how to behave acceptably in a home. I look forward to sharing more progress next week.
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 19:27:43 +0000
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