Rupert was at the vets yesterday evening. Now the vets is generally a pretty stressful experience since Rupes normal reaction to any other animal is to attempt to kill it. Well last night he was like a different dog. He didn't snark back at the terrier that was in the waiting room and he actually tried to play with a young Lab who came in Had to interrupt him glaring at a sheltie but even that was just a glare rather than the usual "I'm gonna kill you!" explosion that usually accompanies the appearance of a sheltie or staffie type dog. He didn't even attempt to eat the little white dog that passed us as we were leaving although he was definitley unhappy at it being as close as it was.
I just wish I could find people with non reactive dogs to help socialise him. With slow and careful introductions at his pace he's friendly and playful but it's not often we get a chance to make a slow and careful introduction and the poor guys been attacked so often that he usually just lashes out if a strange dog comes up to him.
On another good note the vet thinks Ruperts weight is perfect I'm amazed. I've spent almost 6 years being told he's far too thin, I need to feed more, I need to do this, I need to do that. I just wish I could maintain my own weight the way Rupe maintains his
Who are you and where's my dog???
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Re: Who are you and where's my dog???
Yaaaaay! (clapping hands) Hurray for Rupert!
If an opportunity comes to you in life, say yes first, even if you don't know how to do it.
Re: Who are you and where's my dog???
WOW! That's great! Sounds like my Connor with kids. We have been working on that at home with some of my daughters friends when they come over. He gets aggressive and nips at their ankles (he's a min pin so can't really nip higher than that). Yesterday we were walking and some kids were outside playing, and he really doesn't like little kids, and when they came up I told them not to touch Connor because he could nip them and they started petting Ozzy instead. One little girl came up to Connor and wanted to pet him because she was afraid of Ozzy (chow/gsd mix). I told her to sit on her knees and let him come to her and not to put her hands over his head. She did so and he walked up to her and sniffed and in just a few seconds was sitting in her lap!! It is such a great feeling to see your hard work pay off for their benefit. Knowing that they are learning that not all people/dogs are going to hurt them and that it is ok. What a great job for Rupert! I am so proud (just as I know you are too)!
Re: Who are you and where's my dog???
Well done both of you - this is so good to read about you are each an inspiration to others.
A dog is never bad or naughty - it is simply being a dog
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