Esther Shares, Gertie Does Not

[JMFS]

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.  🙂

[Adrienne Farricelli]

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.

 

For sure! It's always good to exercise caution, dogs that come on too strong risk, should they one day encounter a dog who has very little tolerance for this.

 

Some dogs though are greatly skilled in diffusing the situation. Perhaps Steph had dogs with this skill. 

 

 My sweet Petra used a loud snark to correct hyper youngsters with poor social skills, but she couldn't put up with it for longer than a few seconds, if they persisted, she felt overwhelmed and would literally try to leave the scene. 

 

Einstein had better skills with dogs, he would do a growl, and once the youngster got the message to not mess around with him, he would reward that with engagement and play. Although I must say, his play often incorporated "mini-lectures" should the youngster push boundaries and dare to put a paw on his shoulder or try to mount. 

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.

 

I highly suggest keeping Steph in the loop on this, especially if you're making changes to her guidelines, (like not giving anything in the crate). Without the reinforcement in the crate, this then falls more under the official "timeout" using negative punishment, and while it can be effective, as other forms of punishment, it can lead to" side effects," such a dog no longer liking the crate, playing hard to catch,  perceiving being reached for as a bad thing.

 

It's also important to monitor data to ensure it's working.  If data reveals that the dog is frequently put in timeout, that can mean that it's probably not effective. Progress and setback needs to be carefully monitored and follow-up updates to Steph will be extra helpful so to gauge whether all the interventions are implemented appropriately and whether more troubleshooting needs done/ criteria needs to be split more. 

 

I am glad you were able to praise her for displaying calmer behaviors. Great job in capturing those!

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.

Yeah, weekends are quite busy in pet stores that allow dogs. When I used to train in a pet store, we had to reserve spots for dog-dog reactive dogs on days that were less busy. I would sometimes do training in the parking lot where more space allowed. 

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.  🙂

Glad they didn't interfere and start small talk! It's nice to encounter considerate people sometimes!  I am happy to hear that eventually Steph will stop by to help you out on this. 

[JMFS]

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.

[Adrienne Farricelli]

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. 

Sounds like Momo could have been a wonderful teacher dog. These dogs are not easy to come by. 

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!

That's great that Esther had the courage to get in the water! That's a big progress! Last week, for the first time I had the courage to immerse myself in deep sea water where I couldn't touch with the help of a life vest. I don't know how to swim and deep water has always scared me. I reminded myself to take baby steps and shaped my way going down the ladder backwards so not to see the bottomless water. I stuck by the ladder the whole time and felt tense like a cat not wanting to be bathed, but what counts is that I was able to float for several minutes and even enjoyed it, before recognizing how uncomfortable it is to wear a life vest!

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.

It's not easy with these senior dogs. Some cope well, others don't. We only know until we travel. My friend has a 14 year old who is literally still a happy camper, even with rather disabling arthritis goes everywhere she goes.

We had to stop travelling with our Rotties once they got older as travel started stressing them out rather than relaxing them. 

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.

Accidents aren't uncommon when in new places. Glad they had a washer/dryer! That's great she's improving with large dogs, with the small ones, well, the good thing is you know what areas she needs more work done so you can cover all basis. 

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.

New places can trigger pulling, especially if they're a bit anxious/overly excited and haven't walked in new places for some time. The novelty factor puts a dent in helping them generalize. The front clip harness could have helped reduce it, for sure make sure to include it in your checklist next time!

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!

It can be stressful. Potty breaks, taking turns buying stuff, bringing along all the stuff. I can't recall a totally stress-free trip. Makes you think about getting a ginormous RV and just chilling there. 

LOL, I literally has a visual image of Esther at Toccoa Riverside Restaurant sitting at a table and being served! How cool though for a restaurant to offer this kind of service. The Pooch Pad sounds like fun.

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.

Don't forget about the barking at the TV and possible changes you were thinking of implementing. A demo is worth more than 1,000 words! 

[JMFS]

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.

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Sounds good. I'm glad that Steph was finally able to see the intensity of the behavior and make suggestions!

I wished all dogs could live that long! I have been tempted of getting a heeler since they live longer compared to other large breeds and apparently tend to be even quite hardy and healthy!

When I lived in Missouri they were very popular due to the expansion of farms and there was a nice one in the shelter and I was very close to fostering him, possibly adopting him if he was a good match with my Rotties, but then they assigned me a teenager Lab mix with super duper arousal issues that she would redirect through nipping and she was in desperate need for help. Not to mention, needed surgery for a large epulis in her mouth. 

[JMFS]

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.  🧡

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Oh no, so much going on! I hope your hand heals quickly and your next appointment goes smoothly.

I am so sorry to hear about Abbi, sounds like her poor body has given up. She had a wonderful life with you guys. May the good memories keep your hearts warm.

Love and strength to you and your hubby at this difficult time.

 

[JMFS]

Abbi is still with us, amazingly.  Husband just can't do it, and even the gentlest approach of the subject is met with anger - something highly out of character for him.  I think it's not fair to her, but I like my marriage, so I'm keeping my mouth shut (something highly out of character for me, lmao!).  She spends most of her time on the couch downstairs as she can't seem to get comfortable anywhere else.  She watches Bob Ross all day, lol.  He has a soothing tone and continually talks, which seems to do the trick.  We could have used that information Ages ago!  We can't go anywhere together unless she goes with us, so it gets a little tense once in a while.  Fortunately it's a big house with plenty of space to have some alone time, lol.

Esther is making leaps and bounds in the incontinence department.  No idea if the bladder shifted or if she's more aware of the feeling of needing to pee or what, but thank goodness!  She'll have an accident if she's in her crate, but it's been months since she's peed anywhere else in the house, so hooray for that!  We keep a rewashable pee pad in the crate and she hits that every time now, where she used to completely miss it.  Husband is spending more time with her so she's getting some training.  He finally noticed how much I was struggling to balance work and her and Abbi during the day so he's stepped up.  Hooray for hubby!  He has her outside now as he's making a fire pit for us so we can kind of get back to our Friday date nights.  It's not the same as going out to dinner, but it's at least kind of like getting out of the house and away from the office.  As someone who works out of their home I think you will understand that.  I feel like when your home is also your work place, it's sometimes tough to relax in your home because work is Right There.

Gertie and I took a trip to my brother's house down near Fort Myers, not Quite as far as that, but close enough.  I-75 was a parking lot on the way down due to holiday traffic and it took us 4 hours instead of 3 to get there.  Gertie was a champion, popping her head up when we'd stop, then going right back to sleep when she realized we were in a sea of vehicles and going nowhere.  She's an excellent travel companion, and a fairly good house guest.

Brother has a new puppy, a Hunt Terrier named Remington.  We call him Remy until he's in trouble, then it's Remington.  At only 3 months he's already well aware of what that means.  He and Gertie played wonderfully except for a few corrections from Gerts and one more severe interaction.  My sis-in-law was playing with Gertie and had a toy with a treat in it.  Poor Remy came trotting up to say, "hey guys, what's up?"  Gertie went after him and my SIL had to pull Gertie off.  Remy yelped a couple times so we separated them for an hour to let everyone collect themselves.  After that there were no more issues.  Until Juliette came over, lol.  Juliette is also a Hunt Terrier from the same breeder.  She's about 7 (they said 5 but boy she looks rough for only 5) and has had two litters.  Remy is her surrogate puppy so every time Remy would try to interact with Gertie, Juliette would attack Gerts and Gertie doesn't back down.  It was a mess!  I tied Gertie to me with her leash and that settled things.  It was sad because Remy and Gertie wanted to play, but Juliette was being a curmudgeon.

Gertie and Remy did have a potty party on my SIL's zebra skin rug.  Yikes!  They're not sure who went first, but they both partook.  I can't remember the last time Gertie had an accident in the house so that was a surprise.  She never came to me to ask to go potty, but she normally doesn't at home, either.  I just take her out every few hours automatically and that routine was disrupted by being in a new place and catching up with family so oops on my part.  Gertie also got to take her first ever boat ride. I'm not sure she was a fan.  She laid on the seat the entire time while Remy was all over the bow, enjoying the wind, sights, and sniffs.  Despite the accident and the arguments my brother and SIL said Gertie could stay with them any ol' time.  Thank goodness they're dog people and understand dogs have to sort things out sometimes.  Remy will certainly be well socialized as my younger brother's dog, Gordo, was there the two weeks prior to my arrival.

Just wanted to drop in and catch up.  I hope all is well in Adrienne Land!

Attached is he fire pit area.  I helped him loosen the dirt and pull up some of the grass, but my hands couldn't take it for long - still healing from the arthritis flare up from September.  I got most of it for him.  He'll put that edging back around the shape he's digging out and then it will get filled with gravel / pebbles.  The pit is 4 feet of pyromania potential, lol.  You can see my burn barrel in the far left corner.  I've been picking up branches and whatnot each time I take the girls out, but haven't gotten around to burning them, yet, so we have a nice stack of "fuel" started.

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hey, thanks for the update.

It's truly amazing to hear that Abbi is still there. I must admit that even with Petra when she had an aggressive terminal cancer (hemophagocytic histiocytic sarcoma) we were almost there making that decision, but I just couldn't do it. Not while she was still enjoying being pet and seemed to enjoy watching the birds and wildlife when sitting outside and just "being there."

It didn't help that she dreaded needles and I couldn't come to terms with her yelping and having fear in her eyes for something that that should instead be peaceful (the euthanasia, process that is).

Sure, I got her to a point of tolerating needles by counterconditioning her at home pretending to use a pencil as if giving "shots," but when she had her last CT scan and was "sent to the back" without me, it turned out being a traumatic event for her.

I was literally sobbing in the waiting room as I heard her yelping from a distant room as they were trying to inject her the sedative. 

When they got that done, and was returned to us wobbly, but happy to see us,  her fur was all wet from peeing on herself, poor girl.  I kissed her head and promised her no more shots.

The oncologist looked at the CT scan results and then I noticed she was shaking her head as if saying "no" and then gave us the dire news that Petra, not only had cancer, but it was likely also spreading from the spleen to the liver. 

She told us that, at this point, putting her down right there was reasonable as she had probably less than a month. As she passed us tissue papers, hubby and I agreed that we wanted to keep her home and comfortable and do what we could to help her appetite to buy us some more time.

There was no way I would have allowed them to give her another shot that day after all she endured. And not when she was still able to walk and enjoy being around us. She was actually eager to go home and get out of there. So we got some prednisone and some pain meds just in case we needed them, to get us going.

At that point, I decided to take two courses on hospice care. One from Spirits in Transition and one from Brighthaven. I thought these courses were just on hospice, but they were on hospice all the way to natural death.

Ella Bittel from Spirits in Transition did a wonderful job in explaining to me that, just as with people, it is possible to do hospice care with dogs in our homes, and even natural death, as long as they aren't showing major signs of suffering and with good pain management. 

Hubby and I therefore agreed to try to do as much as we could, and then, if there was any need, we always had our vet's number on speed dial and she would rush to do an in-home euthanasia as needed. 

Turned out, we got two extra months. At some point though, the prednisone stopped working. Hubby had to help her walk outside and it was hurting his back because she had a rolled-up blanket under her to help her walk and hubby was supporting most of her weight. 

That's when we contemplated finally calling our vet, not because she was in pain, but because we were afraid of something unexpected happening.

Yet, despite not eating for one day, she was still participating, asking for cuddles, and giving us signs of when she needed out to potty or to be turned over from sleeping in the same position, so we waited it out hoping she would eat maybe the next day.

The next morning she still didn't want to eat, but she really wanted us to stay close to her. Nudging our hand when we stopped petting. I remember calling my mom on the phone and sadly telling her that likely it was time to call the vet, but little did I know that Petra was waiting for me to go outside to just tip-toe to the other side. It was very peaceful, with my hubby petting her and talking to her. 

Brighthaven is an organization that specializes in natural death. Gail Hope helped me overcome the grief and sadness that came with realizing that perhaps I failed to help Petra "cross over" in the the traditional way that I was most familiar with. 

She reassured me that, despite the subject of death being still taboo, she has helped hundred of cats, horses and dogs pass the natural way and reminded me that that's how they passed for hundreds of years before us humans were there to "help them." She said that they don't fear death the way we do. 

It's funny that you talk about Bob Ross. When I had time to paint, I watched hours of his show, and it's so true his voice is so calming!

Glad to hear that Esther is getting better with controlling her pee. Go girl! And it's so awesome that your husband is now on board with you on the training. 

Remy-Gertie interactions sound like a case of Remy -shares -and -Gertie- does -not. She likely doesn't want a youngster near a toy with a treat in it. Sounds like no toys around them make for better interactions. 

With the addition of Juliette, I guess too many issues considering that it appears that she's protective over Remy. 

It's not unusual going potty in a different home. When I have boarders over,  some dogs would hike their leg on our agility tunnel and their owners would be surprised claiming they never did that at home. As you said, a not-so-familiar place, with its different smells/ smells of other dogs are strong triggers. 

The fire pit looks nice! I wish you and hubby many happy evenings there!

 

[JMFS]

Thank you for sharing about Petra.  It's always comforting to know you're every bit as human as the rest of us.  ❤️  We not-trainers we tend to put trainers up on a pedestal and trying to compare ourselves.  You and Leah have the special ability to put folks like me at ease knowing y'all also have trials and tribulations.

Leah gave me the name of a homeopathic veterinarian in the area, but the husband has been pooh-poohing the idea.  I have half a mind to take Abbi one day while he's out in the field.  Looking at her deformities and struggles makes my own issues hurt that much more, but on the flip side I get aggravated easier than the husband does because I'm thinking, "Abbi, I hurt, too - go easy on me!"  It's like we're in competition to see who can degrade faster, lol.  I found out I have herniated discs in my neck.  She trumps me with her ears going necrotic again.  We're quite the pair, and I wish I had more patience for her and she for me, but with us both in pain we tolerate one another to the best of our abilities.  We should be in a movie, "Grumpy Old Women!"  Only, I don't think I'm old!  Not until I qualify for senior discounts, anyway, and that's 5 - 15 years off (depends on where you go).  😆  I'm looking forward to being carded again!

I will look up hospice information, and use the names you provided.  Perhaps I can find something that will help us help her.  I don't have time to fit in a course, but I'm pretty good with CliffNotes.  🙂

[JMFS]

Fire pit has been done for a few weeks now.  Dogs have been banished from the area.  They kick up the rocks, which are only 3" deep, as they tear through the place and spray the rocks into the yard or pelt us with the rocks.  Not cool, ladies.  ><

Esther is beginning to calm down with animals on the screen, but still gets uppity about certain creatures.  Dogs, birds, and mythical beasts most of all.  Horses she kind of whines a bit and watches intently, but no full blown barking.  Thank goodness!  I think the couple times I let her get down to sniff the television (while holding my breath and crossing my fingers she wouldn't destroy the tv) gave her pause.  Looks like an animal, sounds like an animal, moves like an animal, but . . . what's this?!  No smell!  How can that be?!

Gertie is recovering from having her gums trimmed and getting her teeth cleaned.  I was a nervous Nellie because way back when she fractured her toe they had a Really tough time rousing her and getting her body temperature up to normal.  Our vet's office is great.  They listened to my concerns, asked some questions, and when I said x-ray, they said, "ahhhh, it's a different medication," and that she would be monitored the entire time.  She slept most of last night and is doing well today.  I'm keeping the girls separated until the pain meds run out, at the least, so there won't be any play accidents.  And in case Gertie is grumpy from not feeling great.  I don't want the cauterized areas to bust open (if they even can).

Apparently it's a boxer thing to have overgrown gums.  A couple of her teeth were wedged between the tissue, which is why it was recommended to be cut away.  They found some hair stuck in there that was making her breath stinky.  Really, her breath isn't half bad, considering all the things that go into a dog's mouth, lol.

Abbi is still here.  I'll be going to Vegas without the husband because he doesn't want to leave her with anyone.  He'd feel awful if she passed while we were out having a good time.  Instead, I'm taking his best friend's wife with me.  We don't know each other all that well, but we have fun every time we hang out so I expect we'll have a fun time.  And our fellas will be home with the fur children, lol.

Here's Gertie all tucked in, sleeping off the sedatives.  I wasn't sure if she liked to be covered up because Gerts kind of just stays where you put her, even if it looks uncomfortable.  One night I tucked her blanket into the bed to make a tent over half of her bed to see if she preferred the open or the blanket.  She snuggled up under the blanket, so now she gets blanket service.  I like to leave her little nose uncovered, though.  And here she stayed for Hours, lol.

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hi Jennifer!

Sounds like your dogs are playing soccer and using the fire pit as the "goal area," I am sure you're not thrilled about that. Are they kicking the dirt/rocks after peeing/pooping? Or just randomly by running around?

Glad to hear that Esther is starting to finally calm down with the TV triggers.

On a group for dog trainers, the topic of TV barking popped up  recently with so many difficult cases.

Some dog owners just gave up and started watching TV shows on the their personal phones with headphones. I don't blame them!

One of the most successful approaches reported turned out being "click the trigger," starting with no animals on the screen, with the dog being conditioned to look at the tv and then look back at the owner and being clicked and rewarded, and then adding distractions (animals) to the game following a graded level of intensity hierarchy. 

There were though several reports of dogs being mistakenly clicked for barking leading to difficult to extinguish behavior chains. 

Next was engage/disengage and then just conditioning a calm down on a mat in a neutral room, then transferring to the room with the TV and then gradually desensitizing to the TV playing at a distance.  

If you think that inspecting the TV is ultimately helping calm her down, certainly keep doing that as long as safe to do so and not triggering her to escalate/establish new habits. Every dog is different, so what works for one dog may not work for another and vice versa. However, there is a very thin line though between not reacting/starting to react again so there are always risks to lose all progress made in a bat of the eye.

Poor Gertie, sorry about her gums, she looks comfy though with the blankets. They can be cold for some time after anesthesia so maybe she's really OK with it. I remember checking Einstein's temperature a couple of times, because he was shivering after his dental.

He refused to drink water from the bowl after that, I think he associated the water with the gum sensitivity or cold sensation. 

It's wise of you to keep her away from your other dogs until she's 100 percent. 

Best wishes for Gertie's speedy recovery and have fun in Vegas!

[JMFS]

Thank you!  She has one more day of pain meds, then I'll let the girls be near each other for a short time to see how it goes.  Esther's nose is so doggone sensitive that she's all over Gertie's mouth, so I'm definitely keeping them under a watchful eye.

They're kicking the rocks as they chase each other.  Momo knew better than to run through a group of people, and he kept the play away from us.  Gertie goes with the flow, which means Esther is in the driver's seat, and Esther has zero care to give about humans trying to relax.  🤦‍♀️  I tried tying them with a 30 foot lead for each, but they just got tangled up and we're only using the pit at night. I don't want to risk injuries, or worse, so that idea went out the window.  Next I'll try tie outs where they can be near each other for jaw play, but not close enough to get entangled.

I like the idea of click the trigger.  I'm pretty good with timing, so I'll give it a whirl.  She does stay calm in her kennel, so we have that option.  When she gets over-the-top (nothing like a sudden heart jolt when a loud bark disrupts an intense scene) we put her up there with a treat.  We avoid doing that too often because she will pee in the kennel about 30% of the time.  If we're around she'll indicate her need, but left to her own devices she's going to go when and where she needs to.  She got the front door mat the other day after I had her outside for 20 minutes and she didn't pee.  I mistakenly thought she didn't need to, but no, she was just too busy sniffing.  Ah, dogs.  I got the human version of Rescue Remedy for myself.  😆😆  (For stress relief, not because I'm incontinent - just want to clarify that, hahahaha!)

[Adrienne Farricelli]

On 3/3/2023 at 8:29 PM, JMFS said:

  Ah, dogs.  I got the human version of Rescue Remedy for myself.  😆😆  (For stress relief, not because I'm incontinent - just want to clarify that, hahahaha!)

LOL! 😅😂🤣

[JMFS]

Well, we went a good long while without a fight.  I was in the kitchen, hubby was bragging about how good the girls did on the couch while I was gone.  I had a one dog at a time rule enacted before I left.  He put his plate of food on the coffee table, and I'm sure you know where this is going.  It took all we had to pull them apart.  Esther would Not let go of Gertie's lip, and Gertie was making this Horrid sound.  😞  We both completely forgot to push them together so Esther would have to readjust.  I had Gertie by the hind legs, hubby was between them, and then I realized it was Esther who wasn't letting go so I ran over to Her back legs and grabbed those.  She finally let go.  I love my animals, but I was ready to drive Esther down the street and set her free at that point.  We put her in her kennel instead to let everyone calm down.  No wounds on her this time; Gerts got the worst of it.  Her lip is swollen, there's a puncture on the inside of it that's probably going to need the Vet (I think there's pus, but it's hard to see), there's a puncture wound on one of her toes, and another on her eyebrow.  I've been soaking her paw in salt water, spraying it with Forticept Maxi Wash, then slathering it up with Forticept's blue butter and wrapping it so it stays clean. Husband got three good scratches on his neck from Esther.  With every fight Esther escalates in her tenacity, and I'm losing my patience.

Now that nerves are soothed and tempers calmed, we're Thinking it was one, or a combination of:  me being home after 5 days of being gone, the girls wanting the "seat of honor" next to me and Gertie having it, the food on the coffee table.  My money is on the food with an underlying current of excitement about me being home.

I wish I could train the husband . . ..  I'm starting to resent Esther, and I don't like that.  Gertie started it, but I've said it numerous times - Esther is going to finish it.  She hurt my Gerts, and we know how special Gertie is to me.  I know we're not supposed to have favorites, but . . . I'm human.  I'm fearful that the next fight is going to be too much, and I really wish the husband would tone down his confidence when he doesn't fully understand all the underlying issues and body language.

For now the one-dog-at-a-time on the couch rule is reinstated.  Honestly, I want no dogs on the couch so the husband and I can sit together and we can take the couch cover and sheets off of it, but we don't have a good set up in the current living room to put two beds down.  Next house!  Anyway, I had to vent, and I know dog people would understand.  <3

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Oh my, I am so sorry to hear this, it must be so heartbreaking after having the situation under control for so long. Poor Gertie. 

I agree with you that it sounds like your recent absence may have played a role in making you extra salient, but also any changes in the family dynamics where one person is away can trigger some stress, especially if there are changes in routines/boundaries/rules. 

You and the food nearby can certainly create a double whammy of valuable resources.

You already know the drill, letting them cool down, separation, working on creating positive associations so  as to try to rehabilitate any emotional scars, and trying to avoid future mishaps through management/training with help of a professional. 

I don't know if you and Steph ever went over teaching a steadfast response to some cue that gets their attention fast at the first signs of trouble, if so, it would be a good idea to work more on proofing that, although I know how quickly fights start and it's not that easy in catching them at earliest sign. 

Or maybe Esther could be conditioned to not respond to a challenge? I think this is a repeated pattern if I recall well. But now as she has grown older her confidence is up and the temptation to confront a challenge has likely grown stronger.

I watched a veterinary behaviorist once teach a dog to no longer provoke/ attack the other dog when he had a toy, but to go and seek an owner who would give him a reward. The cool thing is that this was worked on at such a level of proficiency that, the dog would seek the owner even if he was in a distant room. 

This was the usual dynamic:

Dog approaching the dog with the toy →dog with bone reacting→fight/potentially leading to dog losing access to the toy

it then looked like this:

Dog sees the dog with the bone→rushes to one owner→owner gives the dog access to a high-value reward.

Or Gertie can be conditioned to no longer guard things from Esther if this is a common pattern. 

Or strict management if the fights occur in a blue moon and in the same usual contexts, so that any conflicts can be avoided.

However, management is often prone to failing no matter what (statistically this is a reality, even among the most careful professionals) and when fights lead to injuries, more stringent approaches are needed so as to have backups for managing a failed management. It can get very draining as this often means implementing significant changes.

But yes, your concerns are very valid, these fights are starting to get more worrisome in intensity and this makes me concerned about the common cliché' of two female dogs fighting, with the fights being triggered by the younger and newer addition and exacerbating around the time of social maturity (24-36 months). 

I hope Gertie heals fast, but emotionally and physically, and I would agree on the no dogs on the couch rule so as to prevent conflict over which dog gets preferential access to it. 

Sending you a virtual hug at this difficult time. 

[JMFS]

You know just the right words.  🥰

You're right - it's the once-in-a-blue-moon thing that makes it difficult to correct.  They go months on end with no issues, we manage carefully, and then suddenly something we didn't consider sets off the fireworks.

They're back together now.  I waited until Gertie gave the signal - she went up to Esther and sniffed her - instead of letting Esther decide when they should have contact again.

I really like this idea of Esther seeking us out when Gertie has something.  I have a feeling Esther would be easier to condition than Gerts.  Both would be the best solution, but we can start with Esther.  Steph didn't teach us much, if I'm honest about it.  It was basic training, which was rather irritating as we already had that down. 

When we get time again (hahaha - we started building the apartments . . .) I will reach out to Leah and have her come over since she responds to me.  We gave up on getting Steph to contact us, and I get the feeling she ghosted us because she and I were like oil and water.  I'm not sure why, but we did Not click.  Alpha Female Syndrome?  😆😆  We're both accustomed to taking the lead, perhaps.  I tried to dance the 2-step with an older gentleman when we were in Vegas and I kept trying to lead, thus stepping on his feet.  I apologized and told him I'm used to leading, and he laughed and replied, "so am I!"  I really don't Want to lead, but my subconscious says otherwise.  There are few people I don't get along with, but when they're similar to me it's either best buds or they simply don't like me. Women - we're sometimes a mess.  🤷‍♀️😆

So far Gertie has been preferring the bed on the floor next to my side of the couch, so that's been working out.  When Esther is on the bed she's constantly popping up, so Gertie choosing the bed is helpful.  I was ¼ kidding when I told the husband that the next house needs a leash anchor next to the floor outlet so we can tether Esther when she's being "extra," as the kids say these days.  We're building a kennel into our bedroom sitting area so we'll have that as an option.

We're strategizing how to handle the next fight (fingers crossed there isn't one, but if wishes were dollars . . .).  We have the water bottle, which Esther fears greatly.  You would think it's filled with acid with how she reacts to it.  Leah said she has black pepper caches around the house, and when her girls get into it she throws a handful of that onto their noses.  The sneezing is uncontrollable so they have to let go, which gives her opportunity to remove one or the other from the situation.  Talk about management, though.  She has 3 boxers and they do a carefully orchestrated dance to get the girls outside, fed, watered, etc . . ..  The girls are both dog reactive, one is human reactive, and their boy has no cares to give.  Typical, lol.  If we can remember to push them together so Esther has to let go, that might help, too.  This was one of those sudden ones.  Neither of us were paying them any attention, husband was just about to sit down and Wham! The god awful sounds started and they were locked.

Gertie's swelling has gone down.  Her paw pad is almost healed enough to where I can stop bandaging it - I'm doing it now just to keep it clean.  There is a little bruise by her claw that will probably take a week or more to heal.  She has a little abrasion at the corner of her nose and a bigger one on her front lip.  Esther's definitely getting more proficient and there wasn't a single wound on her this time.  Gertie ran after the mailman's truck today so that's another sign she's feeling better.  She's been moping about, not following me to the bathroom and opting to stay on her bed instead.  I wish we could explain to them that fights aren't necessary.  There are more than enough resources to go around!

[Adrienne Farricelli]

If Leah is comfortable working on cases of aggression, she may have several strategies to help you implement to prevent/manage resources guarding (if that's the most common trigger) and also things to do at the first signs of an imminent fight based on whether there is a tendency to "hold". 

However, to be honest, I still think behaviorists are the ideal professionals to work with when there's anything more on the complex side such as intrahousehold aggression, generalized anxiety, and anything aggression-related. 

Here's the thing: anybody can really call themselves a behaviorist. 

The only real professionals though that should be entitled to call themselves this way are Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists (these have an MS, MA or Ph.D in animal behavior and) and board-certified veterinary behaviorists (DACVB). 

A dog I have worked with was very hyper and despite all the training we did together, brain games and impulse control training, he still struggled on focusing. Something seemed off. I referred out to a DACVB in Mesa, AZ who determined that he needed a low dosage of RX meds to help his cognitive functioning and he got so much better! The difference was asday and night.  

Of course, every case is different, but a DACVB can rule out any underlying medical disorders or comorbid conditions that can lower a dog's threshold for aggression (like some dogs who fight and end up having underlying pain disorders, not necessarily triggering the fighting but making them more on the grumpy side and likely to react-sort of like us when having headaches or PMS, lol).

These professionals have made of behavior modification their primary area of specialty. 
If anybody can afford them (they can be pricey), this can often save money in the long run (like seeing the right specialist and having the right diagnosis/treatment in one go, versus paying dozens of doctor visits/tests). 

In Florida, there is respected Lisa Radosta and several others good ones (Soraya V. Juarbe Diaz and Terry Marie Curtis). 

I like Leah's idea of using pepper to make them sneeze, I have been keeping pot lids and stashes of bottles of citronella spray (Spray Shield) to spray in the case they won't let go.

Yeah, the wheelbarrow method when dogs are latched on can cause lacerations if dogs are pulled apart versus sort of "giving in" to the bite, so need to be careful with that. 

I am glad to hear that Gertie is healing nicely, at least it sounds like Esther didn't get to bite down too much being that she targeted the delicate lip area and Gertie didn't need stitches in the other targeted parts. 

Another good thing is your track record of fights having not occurred for such a long time. You need to pat yourself on the back for this as it's not easy if there's that tendency deep down. 

And it's also good that there are recognizable triggers (versus generalized fights upon just seeing each other). You are good in your observations and figuring out what those triggers may be. On top of food potentially being a trigger, you will have to factor in the stress of changes and your presence being potentially more salient than usual when you are away (sort of like a new toy versus toys being around all the time to a dog who resource guards toys).

However, it can be challenging to manage and predict what will happen, especially when we have a long track record giving us a false sense of security, sort of like an unexpected bolt of lightening on a sunny day. 

 If Gertie seems less lively than usual and is not following you to the bathroom, have her checked out a by vet in case you didn't already do so. Sometimes what may appear as small wounds, may be painful and may need a course of antibiotics. if nothing medically is found, evaluate how she's doing emotionally, perhaps she's still shocked/subdued and not comfortable moving around freely because of the fear of Esther.

[JMFS]

Thank you, yet again.  🙂

I found where I contacted Dr. Curtis back in August of 2021, but didn't get a response.  I'll try again.  Maybe now with pandemic issues being less present I can get a response.  The other two are 2 and 4 or 5 hours away (Lisa Rodasta has 2 locations).  The article I read reported there are only 90 Veterinary Behaviorists in the US.  No date on the article, though, so it could be more or less now.

I think Gertie needed a few days to process.  About 3 days after the fight she approached Esther and sniffed, then play bowed.  Indoors, so I put the kibosh on that, lol.  They're not allowed to rough house indoors.  She's back to being under my feet, and everything healed up nicely.  I failed to mention that Esther is crated when I'm headed to the bathroom.  Gertie's bed is on my side of the bed, then my nightstand is between my side of the bed and Esther's crate - kind of an L shape. 

The husband is onboard with one dog at a time on the couch and has been consistently following the rule.  Thank goodness!  If the dogs are fighting, the humans need to be on the same page!

Esther jail broke yesterday while Gertie was eating (Esther eats in her kennel upstairs, Gertie eats downstairs).  She ran right past Gertie, which was in a narrow spot through a doorway, bumped Gertie on the way through (because she Is a bully with her herding tendencies), and over to me.  Gerts didn't even look, just kept eating.  I found that interesting (a little shock to the heart, too).

Another interesting, but unrelated item: Esther was barking at a dog on the tv last night and I had my jacket laying on top of me. I lifted it up and put it in front of her face to break the connection.  She immediately went into a playful dive into my lap and crawled up to my face to lick (which she is Not allowed to do - no lickins, especially from She Who Eats Every and Anything, and Especially not on the face! Yuck!).  It was a little chaotic, but preferred to the barking.  She mostly ignored the dog on the tv, even though it was barking.  She froze, ears perked, when the dog barked, but she stayed under the jacket with me.  I'm so confused!  How she can instantaneously switch like that?  Am I truly that high value, or was it the comfort of the hidey hole, a combination, luck, or something else at play?  I'm going to get a blanket that's larger than my jacket to see if she'll do it again Without smothering me in the process.  If she does, then I suppose we have something to consider here. 🤔 A tent for Esther while tv watching perhaps?

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Yeah, there aren't too many board-certified behaviorists, but they have been steadily increasing. At least, I am seeing more around than a decade ago. I imagine them also being very busy as they're often receiving referrals left and right. 

Glad to hear about Gertie being on the mend!

In general, I have no problem with dogs on couches, as long as the dogs given this privilege aren't prone to resource guarding the couch or people sitting nearby (against other dogs or people). Same with dogs who act pushy or won't get off when asked to. 

If one dog is consistently permitted on the couch, this can also appear as favoritism to the other dog, which can in some cases lead to conflict. 

Among Petra an Einstein's interactions, Einstein was the pushing force when going out of door or through some narrow passageways. I sometimes felt bad for Petra as he would sometimes rush through like a mini tornado, but she seemed OK with that and never gave signs of minding. Was Gertie always OK with Esther pushing her way through? 

The jacket phenomenon is indeed interesting. I wonder if she was switching from fight or flight mode to fool around mode, which are are both stress responses? Maybe it acted like a visual barrier, sort of like a calming cap helps dogs who are triggered by visual stimuli?

A tent where she could go to when seeing a trigger and receive praise/ treats there can be a nice idea. I had a dog with storm phobias who loved it when I created a play pen covered with blankets where she could retreat to. They have cute tee-pee tents for kids that I often see, who knows if she would like something like that. 

 

[JMFS]

I'm willing to try it all at this point!  I got a backpack for her recently and had the idea to put a bluetooth speaker in it.  We could play white noise on walks or practice with barking dogs at a low volume, upping it as she desensitizes. 

Gertie simply readjusts her position when Hurricane Esther blows through.  She Appears to be unaffected and continues to look at me rather than shifting attention to Esther.  Honestly considering changing her name to Extra.  🤦‍♀️

Gerts also tends to opt for the bed over the couch, which makes the couch time decision easy.  Sometimes the hubby will swap them out, though, to give Gertie a turn.  As long as we block Esther's exit with a chair, she resigns herself to the bed. 

For the next house we'll have an open floor plan, which means we can have a bed on either side of the couch.  Right now it's a small step down to the living room with a wall on the left side of the couch and a path to get to the couch between the couch and the outside wall / fireplace wall.  It's fairly confining, though a large space, due to having only one exit route.  I'd share a picture, but my yarn barf is an embarrassment, lol.  Next house will have a craft room with ample storage for my fiber arts.  🙂

I practiced the jacket routine again tonight when watching Cabinet of Curiosities.  There was this weird rat thing with a human head that she was barking at (understandably!) and I put the jacket in front of her.  She alternated from burrowing into my legs and trying to peek around the jacket.  We might be on to something here with breaking the visual connection.

[JMFS]

Monkey's 15th birthday was Friday!

 

Bittersweet because we also bid farewell to Abbi at 4:58 pm. She was assisted by her lifelong Veterinarian and went peacefully, surrounded by love. She's now with Brownie, Momo, my dad, Marshmallow, Tiger, Chrissy, Cress, Chardonnay, Punkin, Lucky, Romeo, Kelsie, Ash, Shelby (Einstein and Petra!), and the many other loving souls who have come into our lives. I'm sure she's been sitting on my dad's lap getting attention lavished upon her, and probably some prime rib too!

 

She's chasing, and catching squirrels. But not to worry! The squirrels for chasing in that realm are highly realistic illusions, complete with eau de squirrel to tantalize doggy noses. The real squirrels are sitting safely amongst their gigantic pile of nuts, happily chittering away at the would-be predators who are chasing the illusory squirrels. Oh, badgers, too! She and Brownie are torpedoing their oddly long bodies down burrows to flush out badgers. Be sure to tell your loved ones of her arrival - she will gladly sit upon their laps to accept pets, or run with the non-human variety.

 

 

 

 

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hi Jennifer,

So sorry for your loss. She had a long and happy life with you guys. I am sure she's been getting crazy amounts of licking, pats and greetings from all the loved ones waiting for her.

RIP sweet Abbi.❤️

Keeping you, hubby and your other pets in my thoughts.