Usually when I miss a blog entry I have a good excuse. I was sick, or (more likely) the internet was down or crawling, some sort of technical difficulty. Well, my excuse for missing yesterday's post was...I forgot. I was having a perfectly normal evening that somehow neglected to include blogging. My apologies.
Here is what Luko did yesterday-
Yesterday we did a lot of off leash obedience. He did very well. I let him really stretch his legs and sprint (he looks like a gazelle) for a while and then we worked and worked. His last workout of the day only required a few verbal reminders of what he was supposed to be doing. This dog is so sensitive to tone of voice that it really isn't difficult to get him back on track. His issue is getting distracted. He will actually stop on his way into a Down and squat strangely as he stares in the direction of a noise he thinks he heard. If he is extremely playful he has a difficult time restraining himself. For instance, hypothetically, at the dog park he is the type of dog who might not even hear his owner call him if he is having a great time running around. He just needs practice and for this obedience to become a way of life.
Yesterday I also tortured him with Creepy the Doll. I invited him to curl up on the couch (happiest dog ever, by the way) and get comfy then had Creepy crawl towards him. He did not growl but was very uncomfortable. He would give the doll a whale eyed look (where you can see the whites of his eyes). I did not allow him to run away but made him stay laying down while the doll crawled toward him and then I made it crawl on him. He hated it but after a correction for trying to run away he eventually allowed the doll to move on his back. I am not convinced he thinks it is an actual baby but it is something that scares him and I hope that is close enough.
I am going to recommend that he drag his leash in the house for the first few days and wear it all the time (unless in his crate) to allow his owners to bust him for any inappropriate behavior. He responds very well to simply being told to cut it out and calm down. His owners need to feel confident in their ability to lead him and let him know when to be afraid and when not to fear something.
Today is day 10 and I am confident he is ready to go home and spend time with his family. Dogs think in pictures, not in words and because his mental image of his house includes fearing the baby and any bad habits he had before he came here it will not surprise me if he tries to backslide into old comfort zones and bad habits. Constant vigilance will be needed during the first few days and as he realizes that the new rules apply at his house too things can become more relaxed.
Here is what Luko did yesterday-
Yesterday we did a lot of off leash obedience. He did very well. I let him really stretch his legs and sprint (he looks like a gazelle) for a while and then we worked and worked. His last workout of the day only required a few verbal reminders of what he was supposed to be doing. This dog is so sensitive to tone of voice that it really isn't difficult to get him back on track. His issue is getting distracted. He will actually stop on his way into a Down and squat strangely as he stares in the direction of a noise he thinks he heard. If he is extremely playful he has a difficult time restraining himself. For instance, hypothetically, at the dog park he is the type of dog who might not even hear his owner call him if he is having a great time running around. He just needs practice and for this obedience to become a way of life.
Yesterday I also tortured him with Creepy the Doll. I invited him to curl up on the couch (happiest dog ever, by the way) and get comfy then had Creepy crawl towards him. He did not growl but was very uncomfortable. He would give the doll a whale eyed look (where you can see the whites of his eyes). I did not allow him to run away but made him stay laying down while the doll crawled toward him and then I made it crawl on him. He hated it but after a correction for trying to run away he eventually allowed the doll to move on his back. I am not convinced he thinks it is an actual baby but it is something that scares him and I hope that is close enough.
I am going to recommend that he drag his leash in the house for the first few days and wear it all the time (unless in his crate) to allow his owners to bust him for any inappropriate behavior. He responds very well to simply being told to cut it out and calm down. His owners need to feel confident in their ability to lead him and let him know when to be afraid and when not to fear something.
Today is day 10 and I am confident he is ready to go home and spend time with his family. Dogs think in pictures, not in words and because his mental image of his house includes fearing the baby and any bad habits he had before he came here it will not surprise me if he tries to backslide into old comfort zones and bad habits. Constant vigilance will be needed during the first few days and as he realizes that the new rules apply at his house too things can become more relaxed.
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