I'm so proud of both my guys today.
I havn't talked about it much here (simply because around the same time the issue popped up, life got too busy for much Chaz) but about 6 months ago it became apparent that Quinn had become quite intolerant and fearful of others dogs up close. Awesome, the exact issue that in trying to avoid, I caused by being too paranoid and over protective.
She's been doing well, I can take her to work with me most days and put her in the yard with my bosses GSD, I don't know how he tolerates her BS anymore but he's just one of those goodhearted dogs that just seems too forgiving. I couldn't ask for a better confidence builder for her.
She's not yet at the stage of playing activley with him (after all he's about 3 times her size) but she is pretty comfortable around him.
We've been progressing to more interaction with more well rounded dogs and some offleash time with the right dogs as time goes on and she's been doing well. Yesterday she had some offleash time with new dogs and no reacting past hackles and growling, she's re-learning that just leaving a situation is actually an option.
Today I took her and Buster down to our Brisbane centre to train. I did have the day off originally and wanted to see how Buster did in that environment now that I'm more confident in my handling of him. As it worked out we were busy so I worked but after class we let all the trainers dogs have a bit of a social session.
I was so impressed with Quinn, she's happy to play ball with my boss's GSD, she met a boxer she's never met before and handled it well, she got boxed in the face by a 7 month old lab puppy she was greeting and didn't let it bother her, she even got told off my the GSD for trying to steal his ball, didn't retaliate and then came back to him shortly after without a worry.
After a while I got Buster out. Not in his whole life have a put him in a position so close to other dogs. I could have cried he did so well. At first, lots of intense staring but he very soon relaxed even when only a few feet from 3 other dogs. The GSD even walked within a foot of him and with no reaction from Buster.
I just needed to post this. My fear of turning Quinn DR made me so worried about dog2dog interactions that I caused the very thing I was trying to avoid. I can't thank my boss enough for just putting me out of my comfort zone and I am so grateful to have someone I trust enough that when he says "just let her off" I know it actually will be okay.
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, I can see her actually becoming that dog I always wanted and me becoming a much more relaxed dog owner in the process, which is what she needs me to be. I didn't realise how uptight and anxious I'd got about my dogs and how much tension I have let go of.
So there is no real point to this other than I'm happy right now. My dogs did normal dog things today
I havn't talked about it much here (simply because around the same time the issue popped up, life got too busy for much Chaz) but about 6 months ago it became apparent that Quinn had become quite intolerant and fearful of others dogs up close. Awesome, the exact issue that in trying to avoid, I caused by being too paranoid and over protective.
She's been doing well, I can take her to work with me most days and put her in the yard with my bosses GSD, I don't know how he tolerates her BS anymore but he's just one of those goodhearted dogs that just seems too forgiving. I couldn't ask for a better confidence builder for her.
She's not yet at the stage of playing activley with him (after all he's about 3 times her size) but she is pretty comfortable around him.
We've been progressing to more interaction with more well rounded dogs and some offleash time with the right dogs as time goes on and she's been doing well. Yesterday she had some offleash time with new dogs and no reacting past hackles and growling, she's re-learning that just leaving a situation is actually an option.
Today I took her and Buster down to our Brisbane centre to train. I did have the day off originally and wanted to see how Buster did in that environment now that I'm more confident in my handling of him. As it worked out we were busy so I worked but after class we let all the trainers dogs have a bit of a social session.
I was so impressed with Quinn, she's happy to play ball with my boss's GSD, she met a boxer she's never met before and handled it well, she got boxed in the face by a 7 month old lab puppy she was greeting and didn't let it bother her, she even got told off my the GSD for trying to steal his ball, didn't retaliate and then came back to him shortly after without a worry.
After a while I got Buster out. Not in his whole life have a put him in a position so close to other dogs. I could have cried he did so well. At first, lots of intense staring but he very soon relaxed even when only a few feet from 3 other dogs. The GSD even walked within a foot of him and with no reaction from Buster.
I just needed to post this. My fear of turning Quinn DR made me so worried about dog2dog interactions that I caused the very thing I was trying to avoid. I can't thank my boss enough for just putting me out of my comfort zone and I am so grateful to have someone I trust enough that when he says "just let her off" I know it actually will be okay.
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, I can see her actually becoming that dog I always wanted and me becoming a much more relaxed dog owner in the process, which is what she needs me to be. I didn't realise how uptight and anxious I'd got about my dogs and how much tension I have let go of.
So there is no real point to this other than I'm happy right now. My dogs did normal dog things today
