A tiny triumph

neveranymoney

Meritaten, I know that you are right. I can say that now he is lying kipping beside me and strictly is on but I wasn't so calm two hours ago sitting on a sunny afternoon with the blooming blinds closed and sending the teen queen down the garden every 15 minutes to see if the coast was clear!

I can only afford to get one book on the kindle at the minute, I have checked Amazon and eBay for used but they are still a scandalous price and I takes a good while to order things into the library so I don't know what to pick, currently it is a toss up between scaredy dog and click to calm. The behaviourist had given me lots of cartoon printouts of body language by dr Sophia yin and she seems to know her onions too.

Speaking of the behaviourist, his third and final visit that was included in his initial fee is on Monday. He really is super and I always feel positive when he goes. I really am not in a position to keep him on after this and tbh, no book is as good as actually having someone show you what to do. The last he was out, scampers behaved like a flipping show pony for him and I'm sure he thought I was talking out of my hat. When we went out for a dander, unbelievably there wasn't a single dog to be seen but the sod dog did get a bit agitated at a large group of kids coming past on their way home from school. The behaviourist needs to see his reaction to dogs now at a distance so that's Mondays plan.

I would so love to know what his previous life was like. Think I have posted this before but can't remember. The rescue told us he was a friendly wee terrier who came in with a westie, I find this very hard to believe given his dog aggression, but what the heck do I know? Maybe he is lonely and had never been without another doggy chum? On the website he was called scruffles and when we went to the kennels I had to do a double take at him as the name was up as scampers. We were told his owners had had a fire and were now unable to come back for him in their new accomodation. I can remember resolutely walking past the puppies as he sounded so great and wasn't overly nervous and came straight to us and let us take him a walk, pet him etc. Our gut feeling is that he has been kept as a house dog, wether he has ever met children before is debatable - I certainly couldn't allow a houseful of noisy kids in to rampage around and he does not like traffic either. He would mainly follow me around but that's because I am the mug that feeds him doggy heaven foods but he really loves my husband the best yet would be nervous of him, flinching as if he may get hit if my husband moved too quickly where as I can sweep up and all sorts and it doesn't bother him a jot.

meritaten

He may either be unused to males or a male abused him. hard to tell which unless you can 'see' his reactions!

Have you not got a local library? or mobile library? they will certainly have some dog training books available for you to peruse or would be willing to order titles in for you - you can then read them and decide which would be best for you to purchase for yourself.

neveranymoney

Oh, we are great fans of the library, it's all very hi tech now, you can order in and renew online but it does take a while to get the more obscure titles ordered in. I have read all their dog books, it's not a very big branch so most of it was putting the fear of bejesus in me. The old fashioned stuff like don't let them in your bed, you eat first, you are the leader of the pack and so on. I often think his previous owner was a man so that's why he likes my husband, but they may well have abused him as you say, so the dog is conflicted!

meritaten

neveranymoney wrote: »

Oh, we are great fans of the library, it's all very hi tech now, you can order in and renew online but it does take a while to get the more obscure titles ordered in. I have read all their dog books, it's not a very big branch so most of it was putting the fear of bejesus in me. The old fashioned stuff like don't let them in your bed, you eat first, you are the leader of the pack and so on. I often think his previous owner was a man so that's why he likes my husband, but they may well have abused him as you say, so the dog is conflicted!

I think this may account for the dogs behaviour around your OH - because abused dogs can still love their owner. he may well have got punished if he DIDNT behave aggressively to other dogs! its a possibility as I do know dog owners like that. mention it to the dog behaviourist - see what he thinks?

Problems become easier somehow to deal with if you know or have a suspicion of their root cause! and tbh if I was dealing with a troubled child I would immediately suspect this. as I said I am not an expert on cats and dogs though.

If you think about this it accounts for quite a lot of his 'behaviours' - the excessive watchfulness at home - dealers use their dogs as early warning systems of people/police approaching their home. not that I am saying his previous owner was an 'ard man dealer' they tend to have Staffies or pit bulls! but if the previous owner used the dog as protection and encouraged all this - you have a few years positive reinforcement to overcome and it will take time.
The reason he probably behaves like a dream for the behaviourist is because he feels no attachment to him! honestly Scampers doesn't give a toss if dogs approach this guy - its YOU AND YOURS he is protecting to the best of his ability!

minimad1970

I agree that you're doing really well. Truffle still has his moments but due to the clicker training they're getting fewer and more manageable. I know private 1-1 help is expensive but is there a dog training school near you? We go to a reactive dog group and it's a lot cheaper than the 1-1 session, plus you get to practice what you've learnt in a controlled environment which automatically makes you more relaxed.

neveranymoney

There is a good citizen do dah but as i don't drive, I couldn't get to it as my husband is a week of lates, week of earlys so either out or in his kip for 7:30. Tbh I laughed a mirthless laugh at the thought of the good citizen thing, scampers would have a complete psychotic break and then eat every dog in sight. I shouldn't make light of it!

He is such an odd wee thing, he only will go up the stairs if I say so and tell him to find daddy and he will very often wait at doorways for me to go first (this would not happen at an outside door, he would be away like whippet, never to be seen again) if he chances his arm and brings a stinking bone in and onto the settee I he obeys beautifully when told to go out with it. He definitely isn't as snuggly as he was though, he will take himself down onto the floor to sleep in the evenings or away to the other side of the settee, the strange wee man. The lip licking, licking forelegs, fake yawning has to be seen to be believed, I have never met a dog like it in my life! The behaviourist hasn't seen it in full swing, scampers was far more interested in the tub of hotdog and cheese the guy had with him!

I wonder was his previous owner older, and therefore 'old school' in raising a dog ie, using force. Another thought was as you say meritaten, a younger guy who thinks its funny to wind up a dog until it flips.

meritaten

both possibilities could be right neveranymoney - both would account for his 'odd' behaviour - he doesn't know any different right now does he? so he may think by going OTT he will please you! you have to gently let him know you don't want 'this' - and prefer 'that'!

meritaten

this desire to 'run away' could be from his 'old' home! poor sod either got thrown out to roam around or was desperate to escape!

meritaten

check your PMs - I sent you another one! lol

neveranymoney

I just did! I am on my phone as it takes about an hour to boot up the ancient laptop, wish something binged when you recieve a message, as on this screen I can't see the damn number bit. Also, the text thingy on my phone is the reason for all the bad spelling and grammar. That is my excuse and I am sticking with it!