At least for today! But today, Phoenix was soooo awesome I just had to post.
First we had the best meet/greet EVER! My cleaning lady was coming over so we went for introductions. We were walking down the ramp when she pulled in the driveway. (All people greetings are conducted on 'neutral ground' - AKA the driveway). He was excited to meet her before she got out of the car. (normally he is cautious of new people in the yard - well anywhere).
He didn't express any of his normal wary behaviors; no raised hair on his back, no stiffening, no timidness... just a wagging tail, lolling tongue and a calm exterior. We played it safe, obviously, in case I was reading him wrong. She got out of the car, talked to me - ignoring Phoenix. Then said Hi Phoenix, threw a treat and we moved forward while she gave a treat or two every time he listened to my sit command. He was probably more excited for the treats, but he took to her just fine. He smelled her big bucket of cleaning things and then we moved inside. Again, where before he would throw off a more protective stance once inside, there was nothing but calm. He even listened to her and did a sit, down and shake. She was petrified, but Phoenix didn't even pick up on that as a concern. I was so excited.
We didn't stay, I wasn't sure how he'd respond to the cleaning and I didn't want to mess up such a nice welcoming of a new person into the house.
So we went and did another activity we do to work on Phoenix's anxieties. We drove around, found a parking lot without much activity going on, parked and got out. Normally he LOVES getting in the car but is scared to get out. We've been doing little short uneventful visits all over the place for the last week or two, but until today he showed no progress. Anyway, when I opened the back he was ready to get out... woohoo. Then we did a pretty good approximation of a heel around the back of the parking lot. There were cars that passed, but we were too far for people and Phoenix didn't even give the cars much notice. He didn't whine and listened to all my commands. When we got close to the car he started pulling to get back in - but not until then.
Again it was awesome.
I know, patience and repetition are the key - but somedays when you've been working on the same things again, and again, and again you start to wonder if your getting anywhere. Then out of the blue... TaaDaa!
So there was my wonderful day with Phoenix! :)
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Phoenix Update...
Wow, has it been that long since I posted??? We've been up and down and up and down with dearest Phoenix!
Phoenix is not liking not being the Alpha of the house... we have made great strides, setting limits on him so he understands who is in charge. Without other dogs in the house, however, he is technically the bottom of the pile - and not liking it... so what is he doing?? Trying to turn my cats into subordinates! LOL - it's kinda funny to see him try to 'get them in line', and then yap at them when they jump UP onto something... away from his reach.
The cats have figured out this game and two of them are toying with him. We now separate as much as possible for our own sanity and Phoenix'.
As far as playtime, he is slowly figuring out that dropping the ball gets us to throw it again, although this is still a work in progress. You can see the goings on in his eyes - "do I give in and drop it? or keep it for myself?" When he is battling those decisions, we don't command him to do anything, but then he wanders around wondering what to do with this ball in his mouth. After a few turns in the yard he heads back our way, we say drop it, and he does (reluctantly - but he does it). This one will take time, as he learns how much more fun it is to let us throw it for him to chase, rather than hold onto it.
He will eventually do well with a frisbee. He has an amazing ability to catch in mid-air, and he loved the frisbee. The frisbee became an obsession with him, so we had to stow it for a while until he is more comfortable 'sharing'. Phoenix has also found that toys other than balls were fun, too. He has a kong and a rope toy that he loves running around the house with. At first, he just took the toy, dropped it and looked at us like, "what am I supposed to do with that??".
People greeting is status quo. All meetings occur in the driveway and then a gradual move to the house. He handles females much easier than men. But the process hasn't moved forward, yet.
Phoenix is very fearful of new places still. We have taken him to so many parking lots (without people, noise or other distractions), just to get out, walk around and get back in the car. Figuring that after enough uneventful trips he would settle some - but so far no luck. He does however love to get into the car, just not out of it. I had to stop walking him to my car in the morning when I started it and let it warm up -- he was just so disappointed he wasn't getting in, I felt terrible.
He has settled into the routine, which unfortunately he is now trying to buck. Now that he is more comfortable he is trying to test everything. He is a very smart dog.
My husband is his absolute favorite. Despite the fact that I feed him, play with him and work with him the most (we all share the walking) - hubby has come out on top... BIG TIME. Phoenix goes NUTS when 'Daddy' leaves the house. Whines and paces and whines some more. We were all playing in the side yard today and 'Daddy' walked around the corner of the house and Phoenix dropped the ball and followed as far as he could and just sat down. That was it - game over. Sheesh, I felt like chopped liver!
I did however get to have a wonderful evening home with Phoenix. Hubby and my son went out to dinner and a concert and we stayed in... I ate cake, ice-cream and a big glass of milk for dinner and watched movies. I was watching a scary movie (no one else will watch them with me), and I think Phoenix sensed my tension 'cause he came into the living room and laid down at my feet. He snuggled and wiggled under my bare feet, and I felt loved! Although, it was probably that he was missing the boys.... but I'm going to pretend he wanted to be with me :p
Phoenix is not liking not being the Alpha of the house... we have made great strides, setting limits on him so he understands who is in charge. Without other dogs in the house, however, he is technically the bottom of the pile - and not liking it... so what is he doing?? Trying to turn my cats into subordinates! LOL - it's kinda funny to see him try to 'get them in line', and then yap at them when they jump UP onto something... away from his reach.
The cats have figured out this game and two of them are toying with him. We now separate as much as possible for our own sanity and Phoenix'.
As far as playtime, he is slowly figuring out that dropping the ball gets us to throw it again, although this is still a work in progress. You can see the goings on in his eyes - "do I give in and drop it? or keep it for myself?" When he is battling those decisions, we don't command him to do anything, but then he wanders around wondering what to do with this ball in his mouth. After a few turns in the yard he heads back our way, we say drop it, and he does (reluctantly - but he does it). This one will take time, as he learns how much more fun it is to let us throw it for him to chase, rather than hold onto it.
He will eventually do well with a frisbee. He has an amazing ability to catch in mid-air, and he loved the frisbee. The frisbee became an obsession with him, so we had to stow it for a while until he is more comfortable 'sharing'. Phoenix has also found that toys other than balls were fun, too. He has a kong and a rope toy that he loves running around the house with. At first, he just took the toy, dropped it and looked at us like, "what am I supposed to do with that??".
People greeting is status quo. All meetings occur in the driveway and then a gradual move to the house. He handles females much easier than men. But the process hasn't moved forward, yet.
Phoenix is very fearful of new places still. We have taken him to so many parking lots (without people, noise or other distractions), just to get out, walk around and get back in the car. Figuring that after enough uneventful trips he would settle some - but so far no luck. He does however love to get into the car, just not out of it. I had to stop walking him to my car in the morning when I started it and let it warm up -- he was just so disappointed he wasn't getting in, I felt terrible.
He has settled into the routine, which unfortunately he is now trying to buck. Now that he is more comfortable he is trying to test everything. He is a very smart dog.
My husband is his absolute favorite. Despite the fact that I feed him, play with him and work with him the most (we all share the walking) - hubby has come out on top... BIG TIME. Phoenix goes NUTS when 'Daddy' leaves the house. Whines and paces and whines some more. We were all playing in the side yard today and 'Daddy' walked around the corner of the house and Phoenix dropped the ball and followed as far as he could and just sat down. That was it - game over. Sheesh, I felt like chopped liver!
I did however get to have a wonderful evening home with Phoenix. Hubby and my son went out to dinner and a concert and we stayed in... I ate cake, ice-cream and a big glass of milk for dinner and watched movies. I was watching a scary movie (no one else will watch them with me), and I think Phoenix sensed my tension 'cause he came into the living room and laid down at my feet. He snuggled and wiggled under my bare feet, and I felt loved! Although, it was probably that he was missing the boys.... but I'm going to pretend he wanted to be with me :p
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