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I took everything into consideration and made a plan from there. On Tuesday they'll pick her up. They're going to work on the things I haven't had time to instill (leave, touch, loose leash, muzzle). They predict 3 weeks, I think it will be longer. 1st week is intensive training using science-based force free (hooray!) methods. If she's ready then the 2nd week will be socialization work which will include trips to pet-friendly places and we can go watch her in action. The 3rd week will be non-pet friendly places. This will be interesting . . .. They have miniature horses, too, that they train for service animal duty. Sounds like a thorough plan! So great that you were able to find a place that does board and training using science-based force-free methods! I hope they'll help with the re-integration process too. She Was going to go with them this Tuesday, but guess who got sick because Everything goes in her mouth?! Gertie had outgrown that phase by now. Esther is, by far, the mouthiest dog I've ever met. I had to scoop a bunch of wet leaves out of her mouth, and retrieved a lava rock (mulch) from her mouth, before we left for my cataract assessment and the veterinarian's office Monday. Surgery next month, hooray! Being able to see will have an impact on my workload. Currently my eyes are so bad that they're slowing me down significantly. I can't tell a 6 from a 8 from a 5 more often than I care to address. Not a good thing since my biggest function is as our finance person! Esther started throwing up Wednesday - Friday and I chalked it up to getting worked up over anticipating dinner because it was at dinner time, clear with a slight green tint, and only once. Saturday it was more than once so I took away food. Sunday afternoon and evening she got chicken and rice. No more vomiting, but we went to the vet, just in case. She's on antibiotics and an antiemetic as a precaution, as well as Royal Canin gastro food. I got "the talk" about training her to wear a muzzle, and I let them know we're working on it but it's slow going because she has to love the thing if it's going to be a useful tool. The more I see her react to other dogs the more I'm suspecting it's a barrier frustration. After she comes home to us they'll do a session to show us what she's learned, and how to handle situations with their training. This is going to be weird! They include 6 weeks of training with the board and train package so we can work with them to reinforce what she's learned. They're not going to just send her off and wish us luck, whew! Leah and I will continue to work with Gertie on polite greetings so I can take her places without her devolving into wiggle butt mode. Whew, glad they do offer support immediately afterwards and ongoing assistance as needed. Guarantees can never be made on the outcome of training, but the ability to follow up and get ongoing support is important. Then, you also have Leah which is reassuring! I think Gertie won't be the only one relieved to have an Esther break. Her energy is so chaotic at times and it will be nice to have a vacation from that. I adore her, but sometimes I just need a breather! Oh, the sit at the door. I touch the door handle, she's supposed to sit. I open the door and start moving outside, she's supposed to hold the sit. This is where she starts trying to follow, despite plenty of slack in the leash. I have a chair by the door that I can use with my body to block her from rushing out. When she breaks the sit I say, "uh oh," then close the door and reset the exercise. When we get outside she's to sit next to the door (the space the chair and my body are creating). She sits wonderfully, but as soon as I begin to move Up she goes. Both girls are scanning the yard instead of looking at me and both of them are otherwise good at looking at me. Outside is just too exciting with all the smells and sounds, even though there's no activity. Not that I can see anyway, but I'm flying pretty blind these days, lol. I see... that's a common issue. They are so used to following us when they are on leash it's just hard for them to resist the instinct. Add to that the tempting stuff outdoors. In such a case, I would work on stays off leash, starting with me on the side of the dog, saying stay with my open hand and practicing moving forward one step, then returning into place praising and treating, then two steps then three step etc. If the dog struggles with the first step, it's split into more baby steps, me just leaning forward versus one step, then me making an attempted leg movement, slowly shaping (adding successive approximations) of the whole step. Then, we practice the same on leash, then closer to the door, then with the dog up until we can exit without the dog following us. If we think about, we think of our verbal and hand cues as info telling what our dogs need to do, but they are also environmental cues happening all the time and our dogs attend to that, and that can create challenges. In this case, the leash with our body moving forward are strong environmental cues telling our dogs to move forward. Some dogs just need a stay reminder as they get confused whether they should follow or not. With the leash training - we don't really go out into the neighborhood because everyone has dogs. She's just too much for me right now. We do walks in our yard and she's beginning to ignore the neighbors' dogs across the street, but the neighbors right next to us rarely have their dogs out so when they are present it's Quite exciting for Esther. Her threshold is at ground level. We had guys here today working on the irrigation and she was pulling my husband towards them. He didn't let her get her way while she was pulling (u-turns!) and they Slowly made their way to the guys. Once she was over there she sniffed them, then let them pet her. He said she ignored them after that. I have to keep reminding myself how far she's come. When she first came home any sudden movement would cause her to cower and pee. Now it makes her want to jump and play. Somewhere in the middle would be nice! She's still quite skittish and suspicious of new things, but her confidence has grown significantly for the most part. Yes, she has come a long way with all your help and dedication! I surely remember all the initial struggles with her not liking to be touched! Overall, it sounds like your hubby did a good job in getting her to greet the guys on a loose leash. Often, they just want to break the ice and say hi and then it's all good and they are back to calm. I always take advantage of repair people or other visitors for training. I hope all works out well for you and that you'll be able to successfully pick up the training from there. Keep us posted on her progress! Best, Adrienne

Hello everyone, I'm sad I haven't been active lately, but there were some troubles at home : poor Loki contracted Giardia during our holidays end of January And this s**t is like impossible to destroy, until today, he has soft or liquid stools, and wake up in the night 1 time over 2 or 3 He already made 2 times one week of treatment, and also one week of probiotics, and still there We also spend an awful amount of time cleaning, rinsing, steaming, everything related to him... I do not sleep correctly anymore since then, we had to cancel one latest holidays as the pension wouldn't take him while infected, and there is good chances that I would have to cancel another holidays we have planned end or March This is sooooo annoying and getting on ours nerves in everyday life, and we feel like blocked for all, and it's like everything revolve around that ! Sorry for the venting :) That being said, I'm worrying about consequences on poor Loki : not on health level, he has treatments, and stuff, and is quite ok except for the stools but in terms of socialization, it has been like 1 months and a half that he couldn't play with any doggy friend, as it's contagious and we avoid spreading the stuff but Loki is very social, kind, and keen on meeting other dogs and playing with them, and other humans too Is there something special we should / can do ? Is it ok as it will last only weeks (we hope so) ? He doesn't appear specially distressed, or anxious, but I wonder if he is troubled by that Thank you for your help