Canesisters 2023 journal - turning my Disasters into Delights

[Ridgetop]

Obedience training. Even though she has exhausted herself with her bad behavior, I would still make her do at least 10 minutes in obedience training, then some fetch or other playtime. DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR HER! SHE HAS BROUGHT THIS EXHAUSTION ON BY BAD BEHAVIOR! Just because she is "exhausted" from bad behavior is no reason to allow her to recharge on her soft bed for another day of bad behavior. Wake her up and get on with her training! LOL

Obedience work truly bonds dog and trainer like nothing else. The dog learns to focus constantly on the trainer and the trainer is always focused on the dog. Using treats a lot will help that focus. LOL Just because she responds to basic commands of "Sit" and "Down" and will walk on a leash without pulling you over, is not the same as working in obedience with total concentration on each other. If you ever watch a trainer and dog work in obedience properly, they are completely focused on each other, and you can see how much the dog is enjoying it.

Don't lose hope! Any time you bring in an adult animal there will be a learning curve. A rescue adult animal is much different from a new adult animal with no problems. Don't lose hope, things are progressing - you just don't recognize the progress because you are living the problems. Birde is sweet, that is why you love her and adopted her. She just has to learn that you will return whether she howls or not, good doggy manners, and what you expect from her. It will happen. You are doing a good job.

It took Baymule a couple years with her Pyr bitch, Paris, until she became a good chicken LGD. Hopefully it won't take that long, but if you are not in it for the long haul you could always relinquish her to the shelter again. I don't think you will do that since you already knew that it would take effort to make her "your" dog. She is your dog already, she just has to relearn behavior that is acceptable to you and what you expect from her.

If she was a puppy and howled when left alone in the kennel, you would be able to excuse it as puppy fears and behavior. If you can start to look at her as a puppy needing training, it may make it easier for you to get through this early behavior and retraining.

 

[canesisters]

Thanks @Ridgetop

 

[SageHill]

I feel like all we've done in the past month is problem solve and train. It still feels more like I'm keeping someone else's dog for a while than like my OWN dog settling in. I need to find some bonding stuff for us to do. In the evenings, she's so tired from her shenanigans all day that she crashes on her bed until I wake her up to go to the bedroom.

OF course!! You and Birdie have a lot to do and learn together. Because she's an adult it's almost automatic that one (yes, any of us) drop into the mode of adult=trained dog. IF she was a puppy, a good day would be one that she didn't pee/poop in the house, or didn't chew a shoe, or didn't steal undergarments, or didn't chew furniture or rugs, run off with the end of the toilet paper ..... -- adopted adult dogs come with their own set of "things". Some times they start out perfect for months - then the honeymoon is over and the behaviors start.
The both of you are working through this, hang in there. OF course the jerks at work don't help as you don't get a chance for any time for yourself to just "be" and recoup.
The mantra - slow is fast, and fast is slow -- no shortcuts because they only cause/take more time to fix.
And training -- ya' know the word just implies work, no fun -- and while it can be that, those who are successful with training don't have the work approach - they look at it as fun. Keeping things short.
I.E. like going for a walk - most people snap the leash on and go. Dog takes them where ever at whatever speed (human arms/shoulders be damned) - a "trainer" goes for a walk and it's different - because the rules to walk are stay by me, we'll have fun, praise and ear rubs, here's a snack, hey - how about a sit, wave your paw - good doggie, and walk more. It's hard to explain in words vs showing.
You ARE doing this, and you CAN do it!

 

[canesisters]

Thanks @SageHill

I appreciate the encouraging words. Just been a rough couple of days. And I'm so worried about her in the heat.

 

[Baymule]

What about putting a block of ice in her water? Use a plastic bowl, cool whip bowl and freeze it. Then pop the ice block out, refill for next day.

 

[canesisters]

She was fine. She was SO not overheated that she had the zoomies when I let her out of the kennel. ....geeze boxer-mom... maybe I need the anxiety meds instead of her.
We spent a few mins with our feet in the kiddie pool. Then did a little casual off leash training for tiny bits of cat treats: sit & stay, heel & turns, several random Birdie Come! Had dinner & went back out to go in & out & in & out & in & out of the kennel & then a nice walk up the drive where we both casually stepped over a copperhead followed immediately by me nearly having a stroke. Then a few more in & out's at the kennel.
Here's a weird thing, she will not chew her favorite chews all day while in there. And I realized tonight she will not take a treat in there. Not even if I put it in her mouth... ??? What's up with That?
All in all a good afternoon.

 

[SageHill]

all of that except for the copperhead OMG that is FAINT city (after the fact of course). SUPER YIKES!
I would say the rest of it is PERFECT. You're both learning each other. LOL - I used to use cat treats too. I've used all sorts of treats, including homemade. My quick 'go to' is Pupperoni - because I can easily break it into small pieces.
Eventually she may chew her chew in the kennel and take treats there - but it's not an issue one way or the other.
WTG -- progress!

 

[Baymule]

WOW! What a great day! She’s settling in the daily routine. Wonderful!
Copperhead, you got lucky on that one!

 

[canesisters]

I think I should stop watching the game camera recordings unless there is something that NEEDS explaining when I get home (missing dog, ridiculous damage to kennel, cow in the kennel sleeping on the dog bed, etc). I watched it yesterday; 200+ 15sec videos. I had it in my head that if I made notes of time up & pitching a fit and time down resting that I might be able to see a trend toward improvement over time. I was already tired and depressed from all day with the work-witch and watching all that doggie-angst didn't help. I got some water & something to eat, then MADE myself go do a little casual off leash training. Just several Birdie Come! and making her turn & sit by my side to get her treat, several sit & stays and down & stays. Then called it a day.
She is still walking into the pen and sitting while I remove her collar & close the gate - so that's great. I'd Hate to have to fight/drag her in there.
Practice, practice, practice

 

[Baymule]

This is your new reality. LOL Birdie will either get with the program and calm down or she won’t. If she doesn’t, despite all that you can possibly do, then you are going to have to accept that she is going to be an anxiety driven hysterical idiot. A wonderful companion when you are with her and needs a Cesar Milano therapist when you’re not.

She has had a lifetime of experience, how to manipulate her person and make them feel like a guilty piece of . You have received excellent advice from @Ridgetop and @SageHill on training tips. Follow their training instructions, do the best you can and stop letting her behavior eat your guts out.

1. Birdie has a wonderful home.
2. You love her.
3. You must go to work.
4. She is not allowed to destroy your house in your absence.
5. She is in a safe and secure place when you leave.

These are facts. Birdie can throw all the screaming fits she wants to, until she learns that Mom is coming back and it will be ok. This could take awhile. You are doing everything right, hang in there.