Luko had a very big day today. He has turned a 180 with his attitude towards me. He has gone from avoiding and near hostility to being my little orange shadow. This is positive because it means he will be more receptive to my direction and my corrections and praise will be more meaningful. This relationship change would likely not have happened had his owners been present.
Luko met my husband, Claven, today. Luko was growly and scared but not as badly as he was with me. The rest of the family will remain strangers to him in case I need to do a collapsing circle with him.
I have decided to purchase a Thundershirt for him. If it is beneficial to him and helps decrease his anxiety his owners can buy it from me (at cost, of course) and use it at home. If he hates it and it is not helpful I will keep it for the next dog that may need it.
(Random note: Luko just placed his bone in Claven's lap in an invitation to play! Yay sharing!)
I hope his first field trip into town will happen on Sunday when we go to the pet store to get his Thundershirt. Cross your fingers!
On the obedience front he did a good job today. The cold is a big issue for him. He was not a huge fan of the vest (it was a bit too big) but it allowed him to be outside for longer than 20 minutes. His Heel is very nice but he still needs me to tell him to Sit. He will lay down if it is dry. If the ground is wet he will do this strange bastardization of Down where he scrunches up and tries to look like he is laying down but not actually touching the ground. Goofball.
His Implied Stay is pretty good. I was able to get to the end of the leash just fine and walk in front of him. He gets up if I go behind him but that is extremely common and it IS only day two. His progress is nothing if not impressive. He does get anxious sometimes and looks over his shoulder constantly looking for "bad guys."
Luko is a special dog and I am enjoying working and learning from him very much. I am becoming more and more confident that I can help him. It won't be done in 10 days but it is looking very positive.
Luko met my husband, Claven, today. Luko was growly and scared but not as badly as he was with me. The rest of the family will remain strangers to him in case I need to do a collapsing circle with him.
I have decided to purchase a Thundershirt for him. If it is beneficial to him and helps decrease his anxiety his owners can buy it from me (at cost, of course) and use it at home. If he hates it and it is not helpful I will keep it for the next dog that may need it.
(Random note: Luko just placed his bone in Claven's lap in an invitation to play! Yay sharing!)
I hope his first field trip into town will happen on Sunday when we go to the pet store to get his Thundershirt. Cross your fingers!
On the obedience front he did a good job today. The cold is a big issue for him. He was not a huge fan of the vest (it was a bit too big) but it allowed him to be outside for longer than 20 minutes. His Heel is very nice but he still needs me to tell him to Sit. He will lay down if it is dry. If the ground is wet he will do this strange bastardization of Down where he scrunches up and tries to look like he is laying down but not actually touching the ground. Goofball.
His Implied Stay is pretty good. I was able to get to the end of the leash just fine and walk in front of him. He gets up if I go behind him but that is extremely common and it IS only day two. His progress is nothing if not impressive. He does get anxious sometimes and looks over his shoulder constantly looking for "bad guys."
Luko is a special dog and I am enjoying working and learning from him very much. I am becoming more and more confident that I can help him. It won't be done in 10 days but it is looking very positive.
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