They're listening, and the parental retraining still won't be easy, but they are already seeing big improvements not just in "manners" but in her confidence level with my dad. She put her paws up on him to be picked up this am, and they were all excited... this is good since it really bothers him to have the dog being fearful around him, so its a motivator. I just now handed him the leash with her on one end and a carabiner (sp?) on the other and said "stick her on your belt and walk around" and he did and they're out front right now doing whatever he's doing. So far, so good.
A little earlier we had a discussion about her tendency to throw a hissy fit and scream and yell if anyone reaches for her that she doesn't want to. There was biting but no blood other than from a hangnail on my thumb. She doesn't even have the jaw strength of my sister's pom. The question was resolved in my favor and she's working on learning not to do that... with some success since she just let my dad pick her up and put her on his lap, which he says would normally have involved shrieking.
I'll be here a week so I'm very hopeful we can get her moving in a healthier direction in that time. As for the parents, they are understanding why she needs leadership for her mental/emotional health and so it will be hard, but hopefully not impossible.
susan
What I want to know is, when are they going to start selling Comfort Zone for HUMANS????? 'Cause some days...
Perhaps a little leash training is in order for whomever abused that little dog to the point she did not want to be picked up and cuddled.
We have given our dogs "the last bite" from our plates forever...they act like that is the highpoint of their day. A bite--not dinner!!!
I have never had a problem with retractable leashes and that's all we have ever used. If we're in a 'tight situation', we pull them in short. If everybody is happy, loosen them and let them run loop-de-loop's.
I tried that leash training with Daisy Mae, tripped on the leash several times, stepped on the dog a couple of times, then switched to the watch, grab, and throw her out the back door method.
Now, Susan, don't worry about them spoiling that pup. I just can't imagine why anyone would want to spoil a sweet little scared baby dog.
Nobody abused her, as near as I can tell. Like a lot of chi's she is high strung and dominant and pretty much petrified of the world because she thinks she has to run it. She's learned that snapping and biting will keep people at bay until she's convinced that she wants contact, and its become a habit. The resulting nervousness feeds the adrenalin and it is an ongoing cycle. She's doing a lot better already though we had a bit of a set-back today... left her alone with dad who, thinking they'd come so far, reached into the crate to bring her out to go potty. She broke skin in several places on his hands.
They've spent the past several weeks giving her nothing but affection, affection, affection, and she's gotten worse and worse, so neither I nor they are inclined to think that such an approach will solve the problem. For all the fuss this afternoon, she's already doing better with the tough love approach.
She did great with me tethered and this am with my dad. We'll do more of that for sure. It was what got her more friendly with dad, so that is a big benefit, and so far the watch and grab has resulted in multiple mistakes, so a change is definitely in order... we don't want her to end up a chronic piddler.
Code2High wrote: left her alone with dad who, thinking they'd come so far, reached into the crate to bring her out to go potty. She broke skin in several places on his hands.
Ooops! How did your dad handle that? Part of the problem is that after a certain age (and especially if on certain meds) our skin is thin and tears so easily. I generally have little red bruises on my hands and forearms, just from playing with our two dogs.
Once, when Poquita was a pup, and before he achieved enlightenment, Bud yelled at her when she piddled on the floor. He hurt her feelings so badly she hung her head and tail and wouldn't even look at him the rest of the day. All that did was teach her to sneak behind furniture to go potty. She did forgive him, though. It often seems true to me, that female dogs become most attached to the man of the household and male dogs to the woman. Not always, but often. She may end up being "Daddy's girl."
Judy & Bud (Judy usually the one talking here)
2004 Pleasure-Way Excel TD
co-pilots, Rosie & Poquita
Just to be clear, Daisy Mae did well on the tether---I am the klutz of the family. She is now 7 mos and fairly well trained. She slipped a bit when my father was in intensive care for two weeks but she seems to be getting back on schedule now that we only visit two or three time a week. Yes, she will slip off and piddle on ocassion. With Daisy, most of the success really comes from keeping a schedule.
Daisy was an attack puppy too. I was bitten so many times. I would hold her down and give her a sharp 'NO'. She mellowed out after a few weeks...now she is a somewhat timid little girl. Maybe your little Chi will calm down soon.
I will bet she is going to be a "Daddy's Girl" too.
Sounds like y'all are making progress Susan, that is great news! Keep up the tethering, it doesn't work unless it's used consistently. I just know it will help her realize that she needs to depend on and understand what her new daddy wants from her. They really can't help but bond to someone when tied to them all the time.
Cat
(Jim just reads the forum once in a while)
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some sort of battle.... Live simply, love wholly, give generously, care deeply, speak kindly.
I wasn't here to see his response, but I suspect it was fairly restrained. Poor dad, he's got the creeping crud as well, so he's really not feeling up to snuff as it is and its hard to lean on him to work too hard. But we'll soldier on... I'll be here a week and we'll see what I can do. They're a little concerned about even being able to keep and handle her, she's a lot more of a challenge than they anticipated. But progress has occurred and I think this can be overcome.
This one isn't a puppy, Wanda, she's over a year old. Looks like she's had at least one litter. So this behavior is pretty well established and this is the way she's dealt with the world. But she's learning.... and that's all I can ask for.
I have never had a problem with retractable leashes and that's all we have ever used. If we're in a 'tight situation', we pull them in short. If everybody is happy, loosen them and let them run loop-de-loop's.
I havent either - of course, I leave it in the locked position - the leash is just more comfortable to hold with the handle. Basil isnt a little guy anymore and we had to get one of the big ones - he is at 60 pounds and I think he has a little more to go until he is finished.
The tied to me method worked well when he was small and learning. I am afraid he would pull me over or break my belt loop if he decided he needed to go do something other than what I want Of course, now that he is bonded with me, he sticks with me and there is still the tripping over him every now and then and bless his big old puppy paws that have been stepped on a time or two.
Susan, I bet your parents stick to it - its so rewarding to see your dog behave, it makes you want to keep at it when you see any little progress!
John - hubby Jennifer - wifey 13 yr. old munchkin 9 yr. old munchkin 5 yr. old munchkin Basil - Black Mouth Cur Puppy
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She did forgive him, though. It often seems true to me, that female dogs become most attached to the man of the household and male dogs to the woman. Not always, but often. She may end up being "Daddy's girl." 
Of course, now that he is bonded with me, he sticks with me and there is still the tripping over him every now and then and bless his big old puppy paws that have been stepped on a time or two.
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