The Woofer and his ball!

Wednesday morning saw further practising of the 'pass and say hi' exercise.  This is to help Sonny to desensitise to coming into close proximity with other dogs and their owners.  Next we move onto the 'startle exercise' of Sonny getting used to people suddenly appearing from behind bushes at him.  Part of Sonny's hyper vigilance when he is out on walks results in him being particularly jumpy around narrow openings, successfully mirrored of course by his erstwhile owner. We are Siamese twins when it comes to tracking danger, as Sally keeps reminding me (I have to say with endless patience!)  Of course now it is relatively easy with Sally and Rocky as I pretty much trust him not to react adversely to either of them.  However this would not be the case at our local shopping centre where anyone coming out from a side-road could be anything from a small child to an elderly adult, all of which I studiously avoid if at all possible.

Next we step up the tempo and go back to the ball throwing.  Throwing for each dog individually whilst the other is on lead.  Sonny is sooooo happy when he sees the ball and the ball launcher, yes he remembers from last time.  Ball means FUN!!  I cannot describe the moment of pure joy of seeing my dog really running for the ball full pelt after so long. One of my great joys about dogs has always been their pure unbridled zest for life.  Dogs never worry about how they come across to others, how their hair looks in the morning or, whether anyone will like them.  They just ARE and how I would like to be if I had anywhere close to their sense of purpose and confidence!! This dog has hardly been able to be let off lead free running for probably the last 7 years?  This is a great moment for both of us as I am reminding of how it used to be when I could take him to the park and keep him focussed on his ball, rather than his fear of other dogs. See the video!!  However, at some point that strategy stopped working and I became too fearful to risk it any more. A little chink of light is beginning to emerge...

Rocky again today teaches me his view of Sonny's readiness to be close to him, namely, not very.  Sally notes that when he retrieves the ball for me he lies down a little way off.  Why won't he come to me?  He knows Sonny won't tolerate it, that's why.  When he gets closer that will tell us that Sonny is becoming more tolerant. Aren't dogs just amazing, they can tell us things that us humans cannot see for ourselves?  There is much to learn about this secret language of dogs and I feel like I am just at the beginning of my apprenticeship.

Sally tells me that these positive moments can be generalised to experiences with other dogs, eventually he will  have to meet other dogs and dogs with issues like him.  At present Sonny is being treated carefully.  Like royalty, he cannot be introduced to anyone without the right credentials, namely 'balanced'.  The wrong experience now could set him back.  Sally is organising 'diplomatic relations' and carefully assessing what he and I can cope with, she is not getting it wrong so far.

The finale.  Sonny and Rocky BOTH OFF LEAD racing down the field, we had debated the possibility of confrontation and decided it was a possible but acceptable risk.  Sonny is still muzzled so cannot do any damage.  Rocky is aware of Sonny's issues and is cautious in his body language and proximity.  Off they go, Sonny tearing along, beside another dog, both off lead both excited.  Recipe for disaster?  No, Sonny recognises he can't pick it up so doesn't try but careers back to me full pelt.  He looks so alive and I am sooooo proud of him and tell him so, he looks at me with those melting soft eyes and gives me his paw.  Doing great isn't he?

Watch him go!

Wednesday is training day, Sonny and I headed off the local park to meet up with Sally and Rocky.  Today we are going to challenge him by having to tolerate Rocky being off lead and running for the ball.  Fortunately Rocky has one of those ball launchers which even with its aid shows up  my complete ineptitude with hand eye coordination. (the bug bear of many a school netball team that had to have me on its patch)!  Fortunately in the dog world, if the ball is unpredictable it makes life more interesting so Rocky was very tolerant of some rather peculiar throws, how he loves his ball!  Sonny of course, now being detained at Sally's side, is beside himself for two reasons, one his beloved mum is more than a stone's throw away and to add insult to injury playing with another dog,

secondly we suspect he would love to join the ball game but cannot.  Next we challenge Sonny's sensitivity to having people and animals coming in close proximity to him. Sally reminds me of the unpleasant feeling that being on a packed train on the underground can have, unpleasant for a lot of people, so we can fully understand how he feels.  But for a guy like Sonny, who is so hyper-sensitive this feeling must be multiplied many times.  I am tasked with running up and down, getting closer each time, with Rocky in tow, putting myself between the dogs, he manages this but I acknowledge that people appearing out of narrow openings unexpectedly is very much a source of my own fear because I am so worried he will react.  Sally suggests I get my partner to practice this as an exercise, so in a way me being startled which is natural, is nothing for him to worry about.  Again I get the question, what am I afraid of when it comes to these situations? I KNOW he can't actually hurt anyone, he could knock a child over, but I would not let that happen, so what is it that bugs me?  Hard as I try I cannot get to the bottom of it, I am even wondering if I should try hypnosis to desensitise myself to these encounters, but still thinking about that one as would be another expense.  How much money is this dog going to cost me over his lifetime, rather like parenthood, best not to think about it!!

Finally Sonny get's his chance, we agree it's safe enough to let him off lead as there are no other dogs around.  Sonny is still muzzled but running for the ball, he loves it, he's totally not worried about Rocky and in future we might even get to a point where they can be off lead together.  At present I'm trying to find a muzzle that would allow him to just be able to pick up the ball so the whole game has some reward for him.  Let's stop it on a good note, Sonny has a positive association of being around Rocky and having a game which will serve him well for next time.

What this dog really needs is to go and live with a pack of dogs but as we know they would need to be balanced as further trauma is not what he needs right now.  My sense has always been that if Cesar Milan had seen Sonny he would have suggested taking him into his pack for several weeks, that would involve intensive work and being around other dogs to the point that he learns the language of dogs.  At present his levels of fear are so great that he is unable to differentiate between non-threat and threat.  Much as I love him I do not propose to ship him off to LA however we may come across a situation that we can put him in here, we will let you know.

Before I finish can I just have a rant about insurance?  It has come to my attention over the last few weeks that it is impossible to get any third party liability insurance for a dog that has bitten, even if he is being muzzled AND on medication AND being rehabilitated by a professional trainer who will vouch for his behaviour and diagnosis.  This, as Sally and I have discussed is a serious issue for anyone with a dog that develops problems with aggression or, considers taking on a dog from a rescue organisation who might have these type of issues.  The future for these troubled and difficult dogs, often presenting with such challenging behaviour through no fault of their own looks very bleak and potentially even more dogs will be euthanized as no one will dare to take a risk!  My best offer was that 'he had to be free of aggression for 2 years' before they would consider it. Thanks a lot Petplan!  Bearing in mind that he would be 12 and a half by then it really wasn't worth it.  All I can say is GRRRRRR!!!

Dogs are like kids really...

I had a bit of an epiphany today, I was thinking about what it's like for children when their parents are very anxious.  Children need parents to tell them that the world is an OK place to be, otherwise they develop fears and anxieties, picking up on the parent's body language and behaviour.  So then, it's the same for our dogs and particularly for Sonny who is such a sensitive boy to changes in his mum's mood, flick of the leash, change in step etc.

It made me think, so I'm really not being fair to you by panicking every time I see another dog.  I've got to convince you that I'm not bothered about it.  You may react because the other dog is the feisty type, can always happen but at least if I don't tune into it, you won't be getting that lack of confidence from me.

Today we practised this, not always successfully, I met a 15month old black lab who was also rescue, Sonny lunged, I have not even looked at the other dog but suspect he probably invited a reaction since his owner described him as a bully to another dog he previously lived with, which is why he's been re-homed.  The owner looks nervous, I stop get Sonny to sit and ask her to do the same.  I find myself going into 'dog trainer mode', explaining why we are doing what we are doing, letting our dogs know 'we are not bothered' and are not going to let them avoid one another, I'm beginning to become a bit of an evangelist, total dog bore.  But the whole thing really is fascinating.  Mission accomplished and two calmer dogs later we move on. 

Up the road a field with horses, good opportunity I think, putting Sonny in a sit and treating him whilst watching the horses on the other side of the road.  On the way back we go in closer.  The horse (fortunately  safely behind his fence) is curious and comes to us, perhaps he thinks he's going to get some treats as well.  Sonny is a bit spooked by his snorting sounds, but I reposition him, he calms down and we move on.

What I find now is I am looking for opportunities to desensitise Sonny to almost anything, loud noises, pneumatic drills. Bring it on world, I've got my treats ready.  I even took him down the 'scarey' narrow passageway where we met our West Highland friend last week, remembering Sally telling me about how dogs can begin to associate certain locations with bad things happening.  It's all good and another step on the journey....

Diplomatic relations!

As promised today Sally and I up the anti on Sonny by taking him to an unfamiliar park where he will meet DOGS OFF LEAD!!!  This is a biggy for both of us as I am very used to avoid such situations, knowing that Sonny and therefore I, cannot cope with them.

However, today it's not raining which is a plus and after a bit of confusion about finding the venue, we manage to meet.

Sally notices that Sonny's body language is altogether more relaxed than before.  In fact, he even looked happy to get in the car for me today, a sense of anticipation that there are good things to come when I take him out in the car.  We are building up good associations with the walk.

Today there are not too many dogs about and we are in a big field which helps me because I am able to see what is coming.  We notice a particularly feisty terrier, who, Sally points out, is totally in charge of his owner and himself, in fact, he owns the field.  He takes an interest in us but does not approach immediately.  Eventually he gets bolder and starts to arch around us.  I am convinced he will make a beeline for Sonny because he will pick up on his anxiety and maybe want to put him in his place.  Apparently if you are walking with two dogs rather than one, this makes it less likely that other dogs will want to approach you, so safety in numbers is the order of the day.  The little terrier never approaches Sonny, relief.  We move on and follow another couple of dogs walking around the field, again the interest is from a distance and they do not approach us or us them.  Sonny is able to walk behind and pick up on their energy.  He is not phased, nor is he phased by walking next to Rocky because he is on lead and this has become OK.  Time to challenge him again then...

Sally decides that it is time to let Rocky off lead and see what happens, Rocky, a different dog with freedom and also on his own patch is happy and excited and approaches Sonny to say hallo.  Uh oh, Sonny launches himself, fortunately muzzled so no damage done.  Rocky has been told, get off or, else!  As usual, I am nearly pulled over in the process, perhaps I need to practice ballet to improve my balance as this dog is adept at cutting across me and wrong footing me during incidents, I want to look cool and unruffled, not managed it so far..As a result of Sonny's reaction Sally suggests that we jog with both dogs on lead so he gets used to dogs running around him, this is successful and there is no reaction.

Important we end it there, on a good note.  Next week same again but this time Rocky will have his ball.  Sonny will be told to sit and be given treats whilst Rocky runs around him.  Sonny is very reactive to any dog exhibiting this kind of excitement and it currently sends him into a lather.  But we have to get him used to it because this is normal dog behaviour.

By the time this is over I shall feel like I have a masters degree in dog ownership,. there is just so much to it.  To all those owners who are lucky enough to have a non reactive dog, I envy you, but I also think you might be missing out on an amazing journey, talk to you soon.....

The famous hoodie!!

 Due to technical ineptitude I couldn't get blogger to accept more than 2 photos, so here is the famous hoodie which goes with the very fetching reflective vest.  Coming soon in a field near you!!!

Visitors and advertising

Last weekend we had a visit from the brother in law, being a laid back kind of chap he cycled over and duly wandered in the front door.  We weren't expecting him!  Taking charge I insisted (in the nicest possible way) that he went out and that Sonny and I met him on the doorstep for a walk!  We sauntered down the road and I explained the training programme.  You will recall that Sally's advice is that all visitors go through this ritual with him so that he learns that visitors mean walk, so therefore something nice will happen!  We walk back into the house having bonded as a pack! Later on my partner said that whatever I had said to him had really made an impact, explaining he was frightened so the very worst thing you can do to a fearful dog is invade his space. Apparently he had said that in the past he (and others in our family) could never understand why we persisted with Sonny and didn't just get rid of him if he was that bad.  Somehow the reframing of his behaviour as being a fearful boy had really helped him to understand why we bother.

Anyway I can report the walk worked and Sonny laid down and didn't bother at all,

It did help that my brother in law was not fearful.  An energy that makes Sonny much more likely to attack.

I've been thinking a lot about how to help people understand what Sonny needs.  I came across a company that would produce customised reflective dog vest and this is the result.  He looks really cute in it and it makes it clear to the world the kind of dog he is, if they decide to pet him anyway, they have been warned!  Incidentally I have also acquired a matching hoodie so that I can stay warm and also advertise my own trainee owner status.  Hopefully it will spark people's curiosity and make them want to find out what we are up to.

Rocky wins again!!

Today's training session did not have a very auspicious start.  The day dawned with a blanket of heavy grey drizzel, and I've been nursing some sort of flu virus for the best part of a week.  I take Sonny out for a brief walk around the village this morning to see how I feel, I feel crap actually.  I deliberate over whether I should phone Sally and tell her that I'm crying off today.  I'm worried that I won't be transmitting the right energy for Sonny and that the extra stress will mean we have a bad morning.  It's already 9 o'clock, so it's too late.  I decide to brave it out, after all probably better that I don't miss a week as my anxiety tends to increase if I don't keep at the exposure work.

As we drive up to the lake it's clear there are not many people about but the lovely Rocky is there waiting and Sonny does well, not reacting to him as last week.  We set off around the lake, the heavens open, both owners now looking like drowned rats.  However, nothing daunted we do the passing exercise, first with owners in between, then allow the dogs to be next to one another.  We up the anti, now Sally gives me Rocky's lead and I am walking both dogs up and down, including a turn.  No reaction from Sonny, brilliant!  Yet again, Sally reflects that Sonny is not aggressive, but uses aggression to avoid situations of which he is fearful.  With Sonny it's all about the approach, if he meets a dog who is a bit 'up there' or, they come too close, or, he is surprised by them, he just can't cope and responds by lunging at them.  This is a 'get off, get away' message and also telling them to get away from his missus, due to him thinking I am scared of the other dog, if he is.  For this reason it was particularly important today that Sonny got to see me walking Rocky in a calm and relaxed fashion, the message being Mum is OK with other dogs then, so maybe I can be too.

Rocky is the most amazing dog.  He is just so attuned to what Sonny needs from him, which is no contact basically.  The dogs walked in closer proximity today but Sonny was OK with it.  At one stage Sally also walked Sonny, to start with he was tense, as his main focus is usually to get back to my side as fast as possible.  After a bit he relaxed more and seemed less bothered about what I was doing. 

The next step is to take Sonny and Rocky to a busier place where he is likely to meet more dogs and some off lead.  At present I am really scared of handling this situation by myself.  However Sally says what I need to do is to keep walking if we meet this situation, as to stop is likely to put more focus on the situation than we want.  If we keep walking the loose dog is likely to get fed up or, it will start walking alongside us.  I have yet to put myself in a situation where this could happen since I tend to avoid field walks where we are more likely to meet dogs off lead.  However, we'll see what happens....

Go West young man!

It's been a mixed bag of experiences this week.  This started with a brief encounter with a feisty Westie boy who whilst looking very sweet was intent on giving Sonny enough eye contact to send him into a lather.  Doing my now tried and tested ritual of not allowing Sonny to avoid with an aggressive display, I invited the Westie's owner to get her dog to sit.  She gave me a somewhat quizzical look, maybe she's in a hurry I thought, not keen on spending any more time with my boy whose not exactly welcoming at the moment.  However, as I watched, few seconds soon showed that the idea of sitting on owner's command for thisWestie was not something he seemed to be used to doing, or maybe he was used to getting away with not doing, who knows.  The Westie's  owner suggests she comes over to me, I suggest I come to her.  We have our dogs in reasonable proximity and I do my usual spiel, explaining why I am putting her and her dog through this and how it is going to benefit Sonny.  What I don't realise is that this dog is not going to give up on eyeballing Sonny, his owner tells me he is 'very protective'.  Not good then, I think.  However, Sonny is able to focus a bit and will take treats from me and give me his paw.  However the next minute he is yet again launching himself at the other dog, with this other dog behaving in such an assertive way, he is clearly not going to calm down.  We agree to leave it for now and I keep him sat as she leaves us.  Along come another couple of little pooches which are a regular sight around the place.  Sometimes they are also keen to eyeball Sonny, but today, I keep him sat and he manages to hold it together.

The very next day, I take all my courage and march Sonny down a narrow path which is blind at either end so no way of avoiding another dog if it comes along.  As I am just mentally visualising what I would do in this situation, guess what , we meet the Westie.  It's no good both the other owner and I have a 'here we go' moment and Sonny does his lurch towards Westie who is unfortunately due to the narrow path, closer than we would like.  In order to be helpful I try to arch around him, Sonny more fierce than ever, launches himself across me, putting me wrong-footed, I am about to go sprawling into the road and a car is coming round the corner, potential disaster.  The other owner is really worried about me, however I am concentrating on Sonny so not really in touch with the potential danger to me.  Afterwards I think about what could have happened and have a cold shiver moment.  I feel bad that I put Sonny in this situation because clearly he is not ready to meet this type of doggy energy without responding, yet...