JMFS

Oh man, you're singing my tune! Esther had 13 accidents the day she came home with us, and 21 the day I took her out by the pool. She incessantly drank from the pool and was springing leaks as she was walking. It was a literal mess! We ran Every test there was - all the tests Adrienne mentioned, and then some along with imaging. All came back negative. Turns out she has a pelvic bladder, which was found via ultrasound. Great, we had the cause, but no remedy. She was prescribed Incurin and Proin, both which help with incontinence, though Incurin is for females as it is an estrogen balancer. Our in-person trainer recommended Rescue Remedy, which is a Bach's flowers concoction that we add to Esther's water. It has several botanical ingredients that address excitement incontinence, fear incontinence, and anxiety. Esther was approximately 7-8 months old when we got her. I would avoid using anything until you've gone through all the tests as adding things now could throw tests off. However, I wanted to let you know about those items so you can bring them up with the veterinarian. I bought rewashable pee pads for Esther on Chewy. Those saved our bank account! I bought an egg timer that I set to 15 minutes, and I took her out every time that went off, rather than waiting for her to tell me. Like Ed, she paces frantically instead of giving us a clear indication. The pacing can be Anything - wanting to play, needing to pee, extra energy . . . so I get how difficult it can be to determine what they need. Esther is far better now and is off the Incurin and Proin. I use only the Rescue Remedy, and seem to have found a good dosage for her. Once we discovered it was a physical issue we narrowed down the amount of water she can have without having accidents, and the veterinarian approved a restriction schedule. For the water test I was asked to do it for longer than 24 hours. Maybe 72? I found an app on Google Play that let me record instances. It was originally intended for babies to get their feeding and potty schedule down, but it worked for water and accidents. I eventually created a spreadsheet to track it, so if you do end up doing a water test I can share that, if you're interested. Hang in there!

Oh, I'm so glad they made and ID! Fingers crossed they're able to follow through, and prosecute to the fullest extent. It will be a relief to the neighborhood to know the perpetrator is under lock and key, and other companions will be safe. "If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever." It's the least we can wish for our furry friends. ❤️ Thank you for updating, Cheryl! I've been thinking about y'all as each week ticks off the calendar, and am happy you were given some closure.

I hear you on the pen part. Esther still gets time outs because she goes that extra mile some days and I need to work to put food on the table. Do you put anything interactive in the pen with her, aside from toys? E.g., a Kong stuffed with moistened kibble or some such She sounds like she's getting plenty of physical exercise, but perhaps needs more mental stimulation. Is she particularly smart? I find the smarter the dog, the tougher time I have. You might replace half of the playing ball sessions with some training sessions to tire out her brain. I have a plush toy that I stuff with smaller toys and Esther has to get them out. I usually have to hold the bigger plush or she'll just run off with it and tear everything up, but after about 8 rounds she starts getting tired and will settle down for a bit. Instead of distracting with a toy, what about tossing some kibble or a treat in the opposite direction so you can get whatever it is she was destroying? Will she go for that? Same could go with the biting - throw something away from you to get her attention. Be it a toy she'll go for, or a treat. Adrienne can advise on how to make that a tool rather than a game (we don't want Molly to start mauling you for treats!). At 7 months she's getting a toe hold on adolescence. For bigger dogs, it lasts longer (anecdotally). It's generally from 6 - 18 months. Esther was going strong until about 22 months. The good news is - she's starting to calm down. She's also our smartest dog - she's not Quite as brilliant as my dog, Momo, was, but is running a Very close second. I'm here to tell you it Does pass. When you need a minute, put her in that pen - it's best for you and her both. 🙂

Hi Mandy, The short and quick version: I would lower the criteria to make it easier for them to put the pieces together. E.g., instead of having them all together, teach them separately to wait until the treat is offered to them. Once they have that down you can move them closer and closer until they're all together. A bit more detail: Another option would be to have a partner to help. The partner would hold dog 2 and 3's attention while you give dog 1 a treat. Since it sounds like dog 1 knows how to wait, dog 3 would then be entertained while you give dog 2 a treat. Finally, dog 3 gets their treat while dog 2 is either eating theirs, or being entertained by the partner. Over time the assistant can be phased out as they start to get the whole, "wait your turn," thing. Look at Me, Wait, and Leave I think would be good sections to look at. We have our bigger girls lie down on their bed. When they're both calm and giving us a rolled hip (laying to one side or the other instead of in a pounce position - which is called sphynx), Gertie gets her treat first because she's a slower chewer (and more polite), then Esther gets hers. Some days it's like Whack-a-Mole as one pops up when the other lies down, so I'll admit we don't have it 100% fluidly taught. My husband has lower expectations than I do so we often get about an 85 - 90% grade on this exercise because he's happy enough if they sit. Look at Me - they have to look at you before they get praise or a treat Wait (Stay) - don't take it until I say so, even if it's touching your nose (this is great for impulse control!). I couldn't find an actual "wait" which can be used a bit differently than stay, but it's much the same concept. Leave - don't take it at all (in this case you might offer from one hand and when they leave it you reward with the Other hand) I teach each of our dogs from day one to wait for their meals. This is a segue into waiting for treats, like you're wanting to do. Mealtimes are regular occurrences, and excellent training times for impulse control. #4 on this list briefly goes over how to teach a pup to wait for their meal. Esther and Gertie will wait until I tell them it's "ok" to eat. I can walk away from their bowls, sometimes even go downstairs and come back up, and they will wait for me to say "ok," give a hand signal, or both (I use the ASL sign for "eat" to release them for meals - it carried over from teaching my daughter how to ask for food before she was able to talk, lol).

Nothing terribly important after the Abbi paragraph - just my usual rambling, lol. Heelers are what the board and train people specialize in. She likes to have her service dog, Gator, pick up his leash before the first class - always gets a sweet reaction from the group. Last class they told us about a "Wheeler," they had taken in. It was a Heeler with a wheel chair. It's been a while since I've done an update. I acquired a case of tenosynovitis (de Quervain's aka Mommy Thumb) when I went to Texas for my dad's celebration of life. Too much crocheting blew out my thumb and wrist so I've been resting them, which means less typing. Abbi developed Old Dog Disease last week and was being treated for an ear infection. She seemed to be getting better, but still has one heck of a head tilt - her nose is nearly touching her flank. She had a bad seizure about an hour ago so the husband texted the doc and said we'll be coming in tomorrow for final farewells. She's had a heck of a run, and I'm glad he's finally able to see that it's in her best interests to release her from her broken little body. She's still mentally here, though it took her a long time to snap out of the seizure fog, which is what makes the decision so difficult. She even bit the cat's ear one last time when she was taken over to him to say good-bye, so she knows what's what. His daughter is coming over later to spend some time with them. It's sad, but Abbi deserves to rest and be free of the pain. I'm hoping Esther will be a good ESA for him in the coming weeks. Abbi got him through Brownie's passing so now Esther is up. Gertie may end up being the one, though. Gertie is maybe 90% perfect these days. Possibly 89%. I think the cooler weather is making her a bit frisky and she's been darting off outside, so we've been working on reinforcing recalls. I don't know what her aversion to sitting at the door is, but man, she is stubborn about that! She just does Not want to sit, but if I have a treat she's like, "where would you prefer me to sit, madam? Here? Maybe here. Oh, here!" She's a nut. Esther is learning how to chill out! She's still a wild child on the leash if we don't use the Haltie, but she can manage a couple hours of napping while I work these days. That has been heavenly! Less and less accidents - I've bumped her up to 2 pipettes of the Rescue Remedy to 48 oz of water. That's about double what we were giving before and it seems to work better. She's practicing for her scream band each morning when I brush my teeth. Not sure when she learned how to scream, but it seems it's here to stay. The neighbors must think we're horrid! She sounds like she's being tortured. Monkey is back to not eating well, despite starting the prednisolone again. I'll have to start giving that directly instead of mixing it into his food to ensure he gets the full dose. He grazes and will eventually finish the meal, but wet food out in the heat = no good, so I take it up after about 30 minutes and put it in the fridge. The Detective is still delightful. If anyone wants a low stress pet, frogs are a good way to go! Set up a bioactive tank with springtails and isopods (fancy word for rolly pollies), change out the water each morning, wipe down the inside of the tank every other day, and feed every other day. White's Tree Frogs are some of the most relaxed frogs there are, but they can exhibit some entertaining antics when they're amped up. I now feed him in his old enclosure - toss 6 - 7 crickets in there, put him in there, turn out the light, then come back 15 minutes later. If he hasn't eaten them all (they get sluggish when it's cool & he'll only eat things that move), I scoot them around the enclosure with a plastic spoon until he catches them. I also have this powder that I can make into a gel to feed him. It smells horrendous (made of fish and squid), but has all the nutrients he needs. I bought a candy mold that has Skittle-sized semi spheres in it and use that to make his food (I cut out a section for him so I can use the rest for dog treats). It makes for a good gap closer when the crickets are in transit (it's very difficult to time the arrival of new crickets with the last of the previous batch). I might try my hand at breeding the crickets, but we'll see. It's not difficult, just takes more time that I don't have. I am going to an orthopedic surgeon on Tuesday to get all my joint woes assessed. Primary focus will be on my hand because it's been 41 without crocheting and I'm snacking Far too much as a result. I have to keep my hands busy somehow (hence my long posts, lol)! I hope all is well with you. 🧡

Aw, I'm so sorry to hear this, Ramya. It's not good mentally or emotionally to be held captive by your own dog, and that's what this is sounding like. Nevermind - Adrienne was typing at the same time as me! I'm just here for moral support. <3 Having had a resource reactive dog myself, I understand the stress level involved. Every time you have to take him out it's this whole thing where you'd rather not, but you have to so you do your best. I dealt with it for 8 years before I finally got help, and I wish I had done it Much earlier and gone without some things I didn't need so I could have paid for a trainer. They're not cheap, but I'm here to tell you it's Totally worth it. If you're struggling to find one in your area, I'm happy to help by digging up a link to the Pet Professional Guild, or checking other resources.

Hi there and welcome to the forums. 🙂 I've been here for a while and can give you a little direction: Some of the videos are here. https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/video-archive/ Sorry it's more reading, but Windows does have a Narrator: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/complete-guide-to-narrator-e4397a0d-ef4f-b386-d8ae-c172f109bdb1 If you're good with short instructions, then figuring things out from there: In Windows 10, press Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter on your keyboard. In earlier versions of Windows, you may need to press Windows logo key + Enter. On the sign-in screen, select the Ease of access button in the lower-right corner, and turn on the toggle under Narrator. Go to Settings > Ease of Access > Narrator,and then turn on the toggle under Use Narrator. I used to use it before I had my cataract surgery and it did a decent job. Several of the articles have videos of them, but most is reading.

Oh, Cheryl, I'm so so so sorry! We lost a Beagle, Snoopy, this way when I was little. I lost Momo to something from the yard, and I was Not prepared for it. He was going to outlive us all with my dad, but they both moved on. Someone who does these things will get their comeuppance, I strongly believe in that - and I "put it out there in the universe," as my mom says. The disregard for life, and the level of cruelty, makes me spitting mad! Crossing my fingers someone has the miscreant on a camera so y'all can nail the person. I take comfort in knowing my dad is somewhere with our dogs, taking them hunting, throwing balls, long walks or runs with them, swimming, all the things dogs enjoy - dogs seemed to coexist with him as a matter of principle. Even Momo, the hyper never-out-of-energy pup, was a kindred spirit with my dad (and he wasn't always the easiest human to get along with - dogs saw through that gruff exterior). I've already sent him the head's up to look for Shiloh, and my best friend's Chester Copperpot, to ensure they're happy and well each and every day. 💕

As someone who has an in-person trainer in addition to Adrienne, I can shed some light on your last question. I do understand the confusion because Adrienne Is highly trained and, in my experience, a magnificent trainer. Some training, especially that with behavior modification, requires in person assessment and application. If a trainer can't get their eyes on you and your dogs' body language, tone, etc . . . it's difficult for them to intervene to prevent injury or issue corrections. The in-person trainer helps me tackle the things that just aren't possible via a forum. Be it me leaving out details, or perhaps being unable to describe everything that happened because I see it from only my perspective, the dog's body language and receptiveness (we tend to attribute human emotions to their actions when in reality they're dogs being dogs). Additionally, a nip to me might qualify as a bite to someone else, so a trainer really needs to see interactions to make an informed training course specific to your dog. E.g., Momo had resource guarding issues to the point of both of us finding feeding time beyond stressful. He was visibly shaking when I'd approach with the food, and I didn't trust him because he was shaking. Adrienne was able to help me to a point, but one day Momo was simply too far over threshold and he and I had a blow out in the front yard for all to see. I insisted he Not eat cat poop, he was adamant he was going to. I went to grab his collar, as I had done numerous times before, but this time he had something to say about it and it was Loud. No bite, but he certainly vocalized his disagreement at my actions. I needed someone to put their eyes on us, and correct my approach. That trainer was able to break down steps into smaller pieces (sometimes that's necessary because we're moving too fast for the dog to catch on), and she kept a close eye on Mo's body language to ensure I was as safe as possible in regards to him biting me as we worked. By visiting in person they can also look at your current set up and suggest management (e.g., baby gates, beds on opposite ends of a room, barriers, etc . . .) and assess the enrichment items (toys, chews, puzzles, etc . . .) we have for our dogs, and make recommendations on how to increase the dog's interest in these things. I was having trouble getting Gertie to attention heel so my in-person trainer looked around the house and found a long box that we used as a guide so Gertie couldn't swerve this way or that. Many of them are certified in nutrition as well, and can suggest a diet that can help modify behavior. Companion dogs generally don't need a high performance high protein diet, for example, and by making a change to their food we might find a respite from hyperactivity. A working dog, like my brother's Shorthaired Pointer, definitely needs a high protein diet for all the running he does when hunting with my brother. ;tldr: Having said all that, I feel Adrienne goes above and beyond for the small amount I paid for the course. She does it for everyone who asks a question, not only me. I know I can always expect a detailed and thought out response. And she Actually reads, and addresses, Every word we write so we don't have to repeat ourselves. She has to express the disclaimer, though, because she can't be there to correct us if we misunderstand or stray from her advice. If I was told not to grab Momo's collar, and did it anyway, she's not there to remind or correct me and I may not only get bitten, but could also set our progress back. It's also nice to have an extra set of hands. My girls got into it one day when my trainer was there and I was in the middle of the dogs - there was far too much excitement with new treats. My trainer was able to grab Gertie while I got Esther under control. I hope that helps explain. I know Adrienne will fill in anything I missed.

In all the play sessions my pups have had, no one has ever gotten injured by the collar, but it only takes once. Mine tend to whip each other around by the collar if I leave them on, so for My comfort off they go! I think it's terrific that you're okay with them playing inside! I just can't stand the ruckus, or the nails on the hard floors, lol. They're also wholly unaware of their size and tend to knock things over or step on things. Usually myself or the cat. It's spectacular that Maisie appeases Dougie's "enough already, kid," corrections! Dog to dog manners are one of the tougher things to teach so you're already on a great path!

I'm posting so I can follow the answers. Esther is also anxious when we do walks and Gerts gets ahead. I will throw in one piece of advice re: rough play. If she's grabbing his collar while they're playing, it might be prudent to remove collars. They can get their jaws stuck and cause injury or death. Ours wear martingale collars so I am extra cautious about this. We don't allow play in the house, and Esther is still usually on the leash when we go outside, so it's easy for us to manage. I'm not sure how it would be for you, but there it is - advice, lol. I'm sorry for your loss. My dad passed away on the same day! Perhaps he was talking about Buffy when he was repeating, "Wow, you should see this!" 💕

5 - 10 minute sessions are good. You can do several per day. You can even do non-training training. E.g., having them sit before giving them their dinner, wait at the door, etc . . .. Your dog will give you signals when they're done. Usually they'll stop listening, look elsewhere, refuse to do the thing you're asking, lie down or sit when that's not what you asked, puppies can resort to nipping or running around. Adrienne says it's best to end on a positive, so if you see them getting restless or losing interest you can ask for something easy like a sit, then end the training.

Wow, that sounds like a serious upgrade! Good call on the switch to a different facility. I know how you feel about the drive. We're in central Florida and Everything is 20 minutes away, or more. Heading out of town is always fun. Abbi goes here, Gertie goes there, and Esther will go to her board and train trainer. Thankfully they're all at least the same general area as the airport.

I can speak to the stand-alone. When Gertie first came home, and I showed our vet a picture of the bed Gerts had gutted. They prescribed Prozac and Xanax, with the advice to titrate the Xanax up or down until I found the right dose. This is the same vet who recommended alpha rolling . . . you know, that thing that got Momo and I into a lot of hot water with one another. Not all vets are created equal. They never mentioned training, and when I asked about force free training they had no suggestions. So I found trainers on my own and fed their names to the vet. Having the elderly dog who bristles at Esther, I highly recommend finding Buddy a comfortable spot where he can feel secure, while allowing the other girls some freedom - or a place of their own. It made a big difference in our lives, and restored some order. When I needed to do that training with Momo I set aside $50 from each pay check until I had enough to pay for the lessons, which took about 5 months, but after 8 years that was a drop in the bucket time-wise. In the meantime I managed the situation the best I could, and ensured I didn't add work for the trainer. I don't know if that would work for you, but it's one more bit of anecdotal advice I can give.

Abbi's set up. Gertie (left) and Esther. I need to put those beds back. Esther struggles with incontinence and she defiled one of the beds so now they sleep on a larger bed together. Having those bumps together helped keep the peace. Esther has no personal boundaries, nor does she comprehend them. She will squeeze into the tightest of spots just to snuggle up to Gerts. I now have a donut bed in Gertie's kennel so she can get some alone time.

You aren't in Marion County, Florida, are you? Holy cow, Betsy looks like Esther, but redder. I'm with you, it irritates me when they're guarding for what we perceive to be no reason. As dogs get older they're less able to physically defend or to retreat so they may turn to vocalization. Buddy is doing well to "use his words," as Adrienne says. Betsy isn't giving him the space he wants so he's telling her, "don't get any closer." Being that he got the brunt of it in their tussle, the next county over might be too close at this point. Our house is fairly well open, too. We use the taller version of this gate because of the bigger dogs, but for Buddy the shorter version might work - he doesn't look like he's very tall. It's a bit costly, and there are other options, including ex-pens (exercise pens) that completely enclose the dog while offering room to move around https://www.chewy.com/unipaws-3-panel-arched-dog-gate/dp/268085 I understand well not being made of money! That's why it took 8 years to get a trainer for Momo. Sometimes if you reach out to local shelters they'll have names of people who can offer a discount. I was able to find someone for $500 for 5 sessions, one per week. It made all the difference in the world. Group classes are less expensive than one-on-one, but when dealing with a dog who's fearful or aggressive towards others group classes aren't always great. With Esther we trained at a store where each of us had our own aisle, so her dog reactivity didn't much matter unless she saw the other dogs. We put her in "boot camp" for 5 weeks and then had 5 group classes after that and they put us next to the door and windows so we could work through her reactivity. It was not fun, but it was necessary. We also discovered I'm reactive to people when they mess with my training by waving at my dog, haha. If you have the time, and I mean a Lot of time, you can read our saga on "Esther Shares, Gertie Doesn't." Esther is still reactive, but it's becoming more manageable. The husband swears that once Abbi passes he'll spend all his extra time training Esther (I keep saying, and I mean it, that if the right person comes along and would take her I would absolutely seal that deal). He's not home with them 24/7 like I am, so I'm more open to rehoming. I know it would be the best long-term thing for our entire family, Esther included. There's no doubt we love her, and we're using every resource we can to help her, but she would do so much better as an only dog and with someone who is super active. We don't get many chances to train through her reactivity because we're always working (I kid you not - it's not unusual for me to send business emails at 3 am . . .). We're pushing hard for early retirement. So, if you ever feel like you're overwhelmed and need to vent, it's okay. You're human and we have emotions. Those emotions are often influenced by our surroundings, and trying to work with a being who speaks a completely different language than us can be beyond frustrating.

The prozac will basically take the edge off while you work through the issues. It's definitely not a do-all-be-all solution, but rather a tool. Hang in there! My Momo was a resource guarder, too, and a behaviorist helped get us to a better place. I lived with it for 8 years before getting help so you're already well ahead of where I was. The husband's dog, Brownie, is the Only dog to ever bite me. He was an ornery old dog with back issues. He bit my finger when I tried to get a dryer sheet from him. He bit my toes twice when I stepped between him and the dishwasher. I often think Esther's "doggy body language" is maybe her 3rd or 4th language, and she's not fluent. 😆 It's easy to project feelings of resentment on stressors, and Buddy's behavior is certainly stressful to you, to him, and to Betsy. To this day I get upset with Esther because she's just so "extra" as the kids say these days. It can be overwhelming, exhausting, soul sucking . . .. When you take the young ones out, is it possible to limit Buddy to one section of the house via a baby gate or some such so you can make it in one door or the other? For us the large box from my office chair serves that purpose. Esther and Gertie can move the box, but they generally leave it alone. They also get fed in separate areas. We've had a few fights between Gertie and Esther. Gertie corrects Esther (because Esther is extra), Esther is a punk-nosed kid and talks back, and then the fight ensues. We practice a Lot of management. That is to say, we manage the environment to foster peace and good manners. If the girls get treats on the bed, a human stands between them and feeds them facing away from the other one. Abbi is kept behind a gate. She doesn't mind - her digs are quite posh with a small couch, a donut bed, and a waterproof pillow bed. All the girls are fed in their separate enclosures, but you could do a bathroom for one, a bedroom for another, etc . . . to avoid them seeing one another eat. Brownie? He was no longer allowed in the kitchen after the second toe nip. We also ensured he could no longer get the dryer sheets. Things like that are management. In time it becomes routine. Esther attacked our elderly dog on her first day home - bruised neck and puncture wounds on Abbi. Abbi is 10 lbs, Esther was 32 - yet, Abbi started it. Old dogs get grumpy with their set ways and aches, especially small Dachshunds. Here we are, 15 months later, and we haven't given up, yet. Well, okay - I've given up a handful of times, but then I pick up the mantle again and give it a try. She's getting better with time and maturity. I say she's a late bloomer. So there you go, a little of my dirty laundry to show you I'm not blowing smoke when I say, I understand!

If only dogs could talk! She went wild over a crow and a gargoyle so she was removed a couple times. We gave her a small snack each time, then retrieved her after 2 - 3 minutes as Stef suggested. She might be getting the idea. Maybe. We used Funny story - we've been having trouble getting in touch with them via text / phone so I sent an email letting them know we're back from GA and ready to go. All I got back was, "yeah! back from GA!" Uhhhh . . . lol. They know dogs Very well, but their human communication needs some work. 😆😆😆 In other news, Gertie agreed to live 30 more years for me. I'm Sure I saw her nod and I'm holding her to it. She just has to beat ol' Bluey's record of 29 years and 160 days.

Back from Georgia. Traveling with a senior dog and an Esther . . . likely not to happen again. Gerts was, of course, 95% perfect. Momo and Esther should have met. Mo would have taught her some manners, and how to curb her energy. He knew how to read when Gertie was done (9 times out of 10) and how to adjust his fervor to her level. Esther tried to drown Gertie in the creek (but, yay Esther for getting in the water!) and the tie outs kept getting tangled and hung up on debris so we didn't try the creek again. It was also difficult to get down into - no steps and super mushy mud so we sunk down another 6" after trying to step down 18". Very awkward for 2-legged creatures! Abbi didn't enjoy it, but by the time we were headed home she at least calmed down, lol. We had to drug her up the first two days. Xanax the 2nd day, but the big guns the first day. We won't do this again until she's either got someone to take care of her (which our family won't or can't & hubby doesn't trust anyone else) or she passes away. There was no fence, so we know to look for that feature next time. Esther was kind of a pain half the time, and pretty okay half the time. I had to buy some enzymatic cleaner because she had some oopses. Thankfully they had a washer and dryer (another amenity we'll require in the future!). She was uncontrollable at Fall Brooks Falls, but we couldn't leave because folks crowded us in. It was fairly clear when we got up there, but two large groups came in behind us so we just had to let her lose her mind a bit (there were two smaller dogs at the bottom of the falls). She's starting to do better with bigger dogs - we can get her attention and calm her down faster, but small dogs she goes nuts over. Gertie will definitely be wearing her front attachment harness next trip. That little stinker took advantage of us having to focus on Esther and Abbi! Her 5% was showing! She doesn't pull so much as walks ahead, which I'm not okay with but can tolerate more than being sled dogged up a trail. I made her walk on the left on the way down because I could just see her bumping me off the ledge while following her nose. We learned that Vrbo is about 40-50% more than renting from the people directly, but their site makes it so easy to find what we need. We were first time Vrbo users, and didn't realize the additional cost. Now we have a few sites, though, so pfffft to that extra money! 😄 We got in trouble at Mercier Orchards, lol. Husband was told dogs were okay to go in the store, but then a different employee said we couldn't unless they were service dogs. So we had to take turns perusing the store. I scored boysenberry jelly, elderberry jelly, and a raspberry / fig jam. Another thing we learned - everything takes longer with dogs. It was a 9 hour drive instead of 7, for example. We left Esther home to eat at the Toccoa Riverside Restaurant. They have a Pooch Pad (enclosed patio) for those with dogs. There were two reactive Australian Shepherds so we made the right call. Their companions were speaking to a couple there with a small dog and the Aussie companions, along with the dogs, had the poor little dog corralled in and it had nowhere to go so it lashed out a bit and the big Aussies responded. I reiterate, glad we didn't bring Esther, lol. Gertie was being 5% as it was, doing that call out bark to get other dogs' attention, the stinker. She settled down after the first 10 minutes, though. Omigosh, and the amount that has to be packed for dogs! I had my crochet backpack and a carry on bag. Husband brought a little more, but then the rest was all dog and it took up most of the room in my truck. We didn't even bring their real beds, just a Chuck It for each big girl, and a small bed hubby bought for traveling. So much adventure! Now I'm trying to get scheduled with Stef to come over so we can get Esther firmed up on the couch etiquette, treadmill, nose work, and I think that's it.

Hi there, companion to a leaky dog here. I gift unto you these links, which have kept our brand new couch safe from being soiled. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QR5J76Z/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08167J84Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B082MCCZF8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PGVXDWR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Just be sure to check your measurements. The waterproof mattress "pads" (there's like No padding, lol) go underneath the couch cover as an added protection. If these specific items don't fit your needs, they'll hopefully give you ideas to keep your couch safe. I use the waterproof mattress pads on their bed, too, and cover that with the twin sheets I linked. I'm not sure if Rescue Remedy (RR) would be a potential fix for this, but I'm thinking it might be. At the least it's worth trying it for 3 weeks to see if anything changes. We used to give Esther Proin and Incurin for her incontinence (she has a pelvic bladder that causes issues), but now we only use the RR. It has 3 flower essences in it that address nervous system issues causing leakages. Two of them are for excitability, one is for fear / insecurity. The two for excitability sound right up your alley. We put 6 - 8 drops into about 90 oz of water and use that for her drinking water for a couple days. After 5 days it will thicken the water and turn it into a slimy substance so we start fresh every 3 days to be on the safe side. It's a very inexact measurement so you'll get to play with the potency. I've given you a starting point, which comes from months of fiddling with the dosage.

Golden Retrievers are amazingly trainable, so that's the good news! Look at him already carrying his leash - you could capture that behavior and train him to get his leash for you! That's a bit more advanced, though, so let's get you started on some basic things. 🙂 Right off the bat I'm with you - mobility issues. I'm mobile, but have to be careful with how I move or my muscles will lock up. My solution is what Adrienne has referred to as the Umbilical Method. Depending on your specific needs this could be tailored, but for now I'm going to assume you're not in a walker or wheel chair. It can be tweaked if you are. Umbilical Method means he's tethered to you via the leash. This is how I start all my dogs. Some have been able to "cut the cord" sooner than others, so don't worry if he has to be on the leash for a while. Esther is nearly 2 and still not trusted in the house on her own - she's a late late late bloomer! Gertie was done with it in the first month and Momo took about 2 months - he was much younger than the girls when I adopted him. When they're not crated I tie the leash around my waist (my leash has a belt option which is magnificent!). Then they're with me as I putter around here or there, or sit on the couch. I can also tether her to the stair railing or I'll slip the hand loop over an interior handle, run the leash under the gap, and close the door to secure them. If that's an option then you have a simple way to keep him within range to help you close the gap because yes, they're quick little things! This also prevents their ability to play keep away. Bless Zella's heart! There are a couple options here. Umbilical Method will hep with this, too, because his access to Zella will be limited. Another option is to create a safe zone for her to retire to. We have a 36" gate we use for our senior puppy (one of the reasons Esther isn't allowed to wander). When the girls are upstairs with me they're corralled into my office area, which I have picked up and managed so I know they're safe. Abbi has a corner in the office to herself that we close off with that gate. She has a tiny couch (she's 10 lbs on a good day), a donut bed, a pillow bed, and water in there. It's like her own suite! On the couch Abbi sits to the husband's right, Esther to his left, and Gertie next to me. Esther doesn't let me crochet so she gets to sit next to "Pop Pop," lol. Priorities! That's my emergency you-can-do-this now advice to hold you over until Adrienne can respond. 🙂 I'm just a regular ol' member, but I've been hanging out here for about 4 years now and try to help get folks started because I know how much we all look forward to answers. Here are some typical questions asked that will help Adrienne form a response: Is he neutered? How old is he? Did the breeder comment on potty training? (Usually breeders do ensure their pups are mostly trained.) How old is Zella? How much exercise, and what kind, does Buddy get? What type of play do y'all do with him? Tug? Fetch? Wrestling? What type of chew toys? I'm going to also lightly touch on the vet's advice - thus far I have not seen a situation in which dogs have "worked it out" for themselves. With sharp teeth and powerful jaws it's not something I'd recommend leaving up to them. For older or less assertive dogs we need to be their champions to prevent bully behavior. It's not as daunting as it sounds! It's doing simple things like I mentioned to ensure the safety and security of both dogs. Esther is of some herding stock and she's constantly pushing Gertie out of the way. Gertie is a relaxed dog and usually just moves, but I can see her body language is not happy at other times. In those cases I insert myself between them to prevent Esther's pushiness. Oh, and another thing about Goldens. My brother's Golden, Stella (or as I say it, Steeeeeeeellla!) is a prime example of how bratty they can be before turning into some of the best dogs ever. She used to wrinkle her little nose and bare her teeth, which was a precursor to nipping heels, ankles, or calves. She was Such a rotten little you-know-what, lol. Now, though, she is an absolute lady. Gentle and sweet as can be. Buddy will get there! He has to get through the teenage "years" first (6 months - 18 months for them). Smaller dogs usually mature faster than larger dogs. That's the bad news, but with training we can get them through it quicker, or at least with less frustration. Have you visited the training articles yet? These are some to get you started: https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/advanced-potty-training/potty-training/ https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/archive/biting-mouthing-nipping/ https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/brain-training/the-importance-of-keeping-your-dog-mentally-stimulated/ https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/archive/exercises-to-teach-puppies-to-tolerate-touch/ https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/archive/rough-playing/ There are many many more - it's a wealth of knowledge! To avoid overwhelming you, though, I selected articles related to items you mentioned.

I wish she could talk! She played with Steph's dogs, and the report was that they had a splendid time with no issues. But, Esther had also gotten accustomed to their dogs, and vice versa. I still think she lacks polite doggy language and would come on too strong for new dogs so we'll continue to exercise caution. It will be a hot minute before she can even see another dog without going wacky so it's pretty easy to be cautious - no one wants to come near her. On the couch she has her leash on so we can grab that. Husband has agreed to stop grabbing her, which makes me feel infinitely better on a couple points. A) less risk of bite redirection B) less reinforcement (good or bad) for Esther C) less chaos! So when she starts perking up I don't move, but I do mentally prepare to grab the leash. He can't do it because Abbi is on the other side of him. Esther crowds me on the couch so Gertie sits next to me. Gerts will move, Esther will simply ooze back onto my lap. If she barks I say, "uh oh," and matter of factly take her leash and lead her out of the living room. She hasn't fought me on it and willingly goes, though she tries to get a peek at the screen as we're moving away. I haven't given her the treats in the crate, yet, only put her in there. I was of the thought that it may be perceived as a reward. She's so complicated! Thus far she's seen a pig, a rabbit, and a cow - no more dogs have appeared since Sunday. She perked up for the pig, but did not give any further reaction so I praised her for being calm. Last night I sat with her on the couch and played dog videos, with sound, on my 12" tablet and she cocked her head this way and that while they howled and barked and ran. A couple times she paced and whined, but for the most part she was trying to see where the dog was. She kept looking under, over, and around the tablet. I encouraged her to touch with her nose so she could see they're not real. We did that for 15 minutes with only those occasional pacings and concerned whines. Next will be my computer monitor. Training today went well, and not so great. She nailed the spin, emergency u-turn, stay (which she does Not nail at home), lie down with me walking around her, then over her, then touching her lightly with my shoe. Buuuut, today seemed to be Everyone bring your dog to the pet store day and there were about 6 more dogs than usual coming through the door. At one point Steph could see I was struggling and was out of tricks so she took control. This is after we were throwing treats (Steph's liver treats rather than our own so it would be something new) on the ground to distract. Once again it turned into a game to Esther so we started waiting for her to come back and be quiet on her own, then rewarded that instead. At the end there were dogs on all sides of us so Steph had us make a hasty exit (literally told us to tell Esther, "hurry,") because Esther was past threshold. Funny: she was teaching everyone how to teach their dogs to unravel themselves from their leash. Every time I got Esther tangled up she got out right away (it's one of the first things I teach my dogs so I don't have to constantly fix their leash). So we worked on the spin instead. There was a couple who stopped to stare at us, but this time instead of training them I kept training Esther. It was a good distraction because they were respectful enough to only watch, rather than try to get her attention. She did say she sent two texts but didn't get a response. I don't have any from her so we have a technical issue. They're still ready to come over for the treadmill, and we'll get her to experience the television as well. And you're right - Smarty Pants here figures things out too quickly (except for where the dogs really are when we have screen time!). I feel like she's well above my pay grade, lol. Gertie was very pleased with the pats and says thank you. 🙂

We're taking all the girls on an adventure soon! Husband found a cabin in Georgia that is near a creek, about 15 minutes away from Blue Ridge. Best part: they allow dogs. I got a gate for the stairs so they can have free reign of the wrap around balcony, and for Abbi I got a playpen made from tent material so the husband doesn't have to hold her her the entire time. He wanted a sling for carrying her because I "make" him go to Esther training, so a sling he got. I've never seen a manly man get so excited over such a thing, haha! I tried to go the stroller route because that's easier for me and I can see her limbs to ensure she's not twisted wrong, but he insisted on the sling. So funny! I only have to hope that Esther's crate, Abbi's play pen, Gertie's bed, and the gate for the stairs all fit while allowing room for their food as well as our clothes and sundries. Oh, and crochet. Cannot forget crochet! With the sports sedan it wasn't possible, lol, but now I have a small SUV so everything should fit. It's a 6-hour drive so we definitely want to be comfortable! We talked to Steph about the television and she looked entirely puzzled. She said all they watch is the nature channel and Esther didn't pay one lick of attention to it. Sooooo, that tells me it's us, not her. Steph suggested that rather than trying to soothe Esther, or even get her on her bed, to simply remove her from the room for 2 minutes. No pause, let the TV run and put her in her crate with a toy or treat. Her reasoning was that Esther wants to be with us, and being removed takes away what she wants. When she's calm she gets to come back. If she barks again, out she goes! Husband asks, "how are we supposed to watch shows if we're up and down (by we he means me, buwahaha)?" Steph, "slower." Haha! She's so matter-of-fact and blunt - exactly what he needs! Saturday and Sunday evening she was removed from the couch and taken to her crate. Last night and Monday I didn't have to do that, but there weren't as many animals, either. She was of the same opinion as you - we were starting to Reward that behavior, or at least it was becoming a game. Such a fine line sometimes! We had the same thing happen in training. Esther was barking at a puppy that was sitting by the door while his human companions chatted away. We kept calling Esther off with scattered treats; however, that soon turned into a game so Steph said to wait to see if Esther barks, then comes back right away. Sure enough, she did. She was just pumping us for treats! So then we started rewarding self corrections. The puppy moved before we could extinguish the barking, but there was improvement. We got more accolades for being able to call Esther back to us more quickly now. Oh, and that lady who was trying to get Esther's attention? She works in the strip mall and was walking past again on Saturday, but this time she ignored Esther. Guess my finger wagging worked, lol. She likely thinks I'm mean as can be, but oh well - my training session went far smoother so I'm okay with being the meanie. 😤 Gertrude, on the other hand . . . she's bumped down to 93% perfect, lol. She's too good to sit these days. She looks at me as though to say, "Really, I must sit to go outside? Who am I, Esther?!" Nope, you're my Gerts and you shall sit! And then I get the chuffing snort (it's a highly difficult vocalization to describe) as though she's either laughing or telling me off. Such a stinkpot.

A friend had to return a Malamute to the shelter (they're in Alaska so it's all Huskies and Malamutes instead of pits there, from what I gather) because the pup wasn't a good match for my friend's husband. That got me to thinking, if trainers could whisper into our ears as we're looking at all those soulful eyes, what advice would we hear? With Momo, I chose him because he was asleep with his head resting on the edge of the plastic pool while his brother and sister were jumping all over the ex-pen. My dad once told me he always went for the dog who was chilling in the corner by itself, and he always had well-behaved dogs. I mistakenly thought that was Mo, lol. Gertie, at 9 months old, had competition from Consuela and Rosa, a pair of lab looking 16-week old puppies who were so joyous. Rosa was already fetching at that age and Consuela was swinging from my ponytail. They would have been a great match for Momo's energy, but Not mine (knowing now what I know about my arthritis limiting physical activity). Gertie, on the other hand, ignored treats, and us, and took a shining to the shade. She was like, "you can be there, or here, but I'm Definitely going to be here." She was like that every time we visited her (it took 3 or 4 visits to decide because I wanted all 3, lol). Esther was in a crate at Petsmart, and we mistakenly thought she was calm. There were other dogs around, and she wasn't making a peep. Then when we went to visit her at the shelter she was quarantined (and now I wonder if it was because of her reactivity!), and they kept her segregated until we returned from vacation. She was skittish, but calm and let me pick her up with no problems. Boy, she tricked us better than Momo did! 😆 I told my friend that the shelter Might be willing, knowing about her husband's (honorably discharged military) anxiety, to allow them to visit a certain dog several times. They're not Supposed to reserve dogs, but with a special circumstance you just never know what they're willing to concede to. The end goal is a happy home, after all. I also told her that if they're not ready for that step again, that's okay, too. We got our best match when we took our time (and got lucky she was still there!).

Those ears! I'm dying from the cuteness factor!