Progress...

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! :)