A new Member of the Family

[Clover]

That’s lovely Daisy. Good for Eva to realise that you will always protect her.

[Daisy]

Clover - I hope so - we'll see how she gets on on Saturday with all the distractions of being outside.

[Daisy]

Every month our lovely dog trainer puts on what we call Roundy Roundy - two hours of basically walking round a fenced all-weather sports court. It's different things for different dogs/humans, depending on what your dog's needs are.

When we started doing this we were mainly interested in Eva walking on a loose lead, rather than towing us round the court according to her own agenda. Things gradually improved and then massively deteriorated one day about a year ago when a load of yobs invaded the space and behaved obnoxiously. The main aggressive invasion unluckily was very close to Eva and since then she's been very nervous of any unexpected noise or action around the court. It got so bad I've stopped taking her at times.

Anyway, today we tried again. After her brilliant break through on Tuesday when she chose to come to me for protection I was keen to see how she'd cope.

It was mostly dull and overcast with rain threatening - good for us as it deters a lot of children from going to the adjacent playground. There were several dogs she's never seen before, but she was relatively relaxed and walked nicely, even though she was sticking close to the perimeter wall. A few time I had to take her into the centre of the court for a bit of time out, but she coped really well. After about an hour though it was clear she was getting tired so rather than push her too hard we came home. Quit while you're ahead seems a good plan!

I was very pleased with her. We got home and she slept for a couple of hours and then climbed onto my lap and fell asleep again.

[Clover]

All that concentring obviously wore her out.Well done Eva (and you too of course!)

[Gemini]

She did well! And good for you Daisy, knowing when she had had enough

[Daisy]

Clover - it's surprising how it does make her tired. We probably won't take her out at all tomorrow to give her cortisol levels a chance to drop.

Gem - it's getting easier to 'read' her, but out trainer is brilliant at spotting her rising stress levels before she gets too upset.

[Daisy]

Eva broke my heart while we were away in the caravan a few days ago.

Each morning I take her to the on-site dog walk - a field of about 3 acres, well fenced. If there's no-one else around I let her run on a trailing lead, so I can (hopefully) get her back quickly if another dog arrives. Needless to say, she loves it, but so many other dogs go for her I'm very cautious about who she gets to say 'hello' to.

This particular morning we were unlucky. Just ahead of us were two golden retrievers and a Yorkie, and just behind us a Labrador puppy of about 5 months. Eva got over-excited, wanting to join these other dogs and I could hardly hold her back, but in the end I managed to pull her further away and get her to sit. She watched these other dogs go into the field and scamper off to play. She turned round and looked at me with such huge, sorrowful eyes I could have cried for her. All she wanted to do was play.

[Gemini]

Awwww
That is sad Daisy. Unilke with our kids we can't explain things to our pets can we?

[Oma]

Sometimes Daisy we have to take a chance , maybe let her sniff at them on the lead first see how it goes then if any tension you can pull her back , poor girl , Storm is the same can only be let off the lead in an enclosed place , DD takes him to the Husky meet every weekend in a big enclosed park area where all the Huskey's can be let off the lead , sometimes there are squabbles but sensible owners know how to separate and calm them down , He would love to run free with other dogs when out walking but he cant be trusted to come back ,

[Plantaholic]

Perhaps you DD should take up Husky sledging Oma.

[Daisy]

Gem, yes it's hard when you can't explain to them.

Oma - OH is more inclined to take a chance than I am. If it had just been the two retrievers I would have taken her into the field, but I was mostly worried about the puppy - at his age a bad experience with another dog could cause problems for years. Eva loses all reason when she's running loose with another dog, even with Cooper in the paddock - a dog and a place she knows very well. The Husky meet sounds absolutely brilliant. Storm's a lucky boy.

Plant - it's amazing to watch huskies sledging, isn't it. They have so much stamina and run and run.

[Daisy]

We always dread the firework season with Eva. She is absolutely terrified - running round the house, pacing, panting and not wanting to be touched, let alone comforted. So over time we've built up an arsenal of aids -pheromone diffusers, Rescue Remedy and a thunder shirt. She's still terrified!

After talking to the trainer, I decided to take a chance on going to class last night - it was the 5th, there were sure to be fireworks around. Pam came out to the car to help me get her into the building, just as a rocket exploded above us. We sat away from the other dogs. Some of them were a bit unsettled, but not as bad as Eva.

After a while of easy activity she calmed down a bit, and enjoyed the various games we played with toys and doing scent work. I took her home before the class finished and as soon we got in she went straight to bed, tired out. Pam says to keep her quiet and let her rest for a few days, and at the moment Eva is still sleeping.

She coped far better than I thought she would, and I was really proud of her. Soppy Dog-Mum, aren't I!

[Plantaholic]

Poor Eva and other frightened dogs.

[Nana]

Poor girl. It's awful that she's so frightened but lucky to have loving humans.

[Gemini]

There were fireworks here again last night. November 6th!! is there no end to it? Our cats are unbothered, but I feel for all the pets, mainly dogs, who are. There are bound to be more this coming weekend