Tonight Ellie and I went by ourselves to class--leaving DH behind like we did last week to see if we could acheive perfection again. Althought we didn't acheive perfection--she was so good I am in tears again. If you have read my posts on this forum since getting Ellie at 8 and a half weeks, you'll understand.
Tonight the BIG BIG Rott that Ellie is very afraid of was here. He was absent last week (a big part of the reason that I figured she was perfect). When he came in the room, Ellie slowly backed up and ended up behind my legs peeking around me. The dog is a big baby, obedient and devoted and lays on his back for belly rubs and loves everyone. Non-threatening, but he is HUGE!! I am assuming Ellie is afraid of him by his shear bulk. The owner noticed and was sympathetic and gave Ellie about 10 acres of space. Very, very soon Ellie seemed to entirely forget him and she relaxed enough she fell asleep in class while the instructor was setting up the rally course.
The smaller Rott that Ellie doesn't seem to mind (but she doesn't like Ellie) lunged and snapped at Ellie again. Ellie did fine. No smarling back at him or barking or anything. She just kept working with me.
She did the course just fine, again, it was "pilot error" on mistakes. She no longer shows overt nervousness, just what I would consider normal stress. She no longer reacts to seeing other dogs and has progressed to where she either ignores them or really is interested in some of them and wags her tail and acts her very friendly and interested. No barking, no fussing, no whining, no pacing, no curled lips, nothing. Relaxed body and face.
She has also learned to really appreciate a GOOD GIRL!! She smiles. She wags--I know that sounds like maybe a very small thing for most dogs, but that is a HUGE thing for Ellie. All of these things I have mentioned are HUGE things for Ellie. It's like she gew up overnight.
After all the trials and tribulation I have gone through with Ellie--the endless training, the patience, the tantrums (not necessarily just Ellie's LOL), the breakdowns, meltdowns, biting, health issues, reactivity, etc.--to actually witness this little girl actually TRY to please me makes me happier than I can say. I am very proud of us both. She has learned to trust me.
Tonight the BIG BIG Rott that Ellie is very afraid of was here. He was absent last week (a big part of the reason that I figured she was perfect). When he came in the room, Ellie slowly backed up and ended up behind my legs peeking around me. The dog is a big baby, obedient and devoted and lays on his back for belly rubs and loves everyone. Non-threatening, but he is HUGE!! I am assuming Ellie is afraid of him by his shear bulk. The owner noticed and was sympathetic and gave Ellie about 10 acres of space. Very, very soon Ellie seemed to entirely forget him and she relaxed enough she fell asleep in class while the instructor was setting up the rally course.
The smaller Rott that Ellie doesn't seem to mind (but she doesn't like Ellie) lunged and snapped at Ellie again. Ellie did fine. No smarling back at him or barking or anything. She just kept working with me.
She did the course just fine, again, it was "pilot error" on mistakes. She no longer shows overt nervousness, just what I would consider normal stress. She no longer reacts to seeing other dogs and has progressed to where she either ignores them or really is interested in some of them and wags her tail and acts her very friendly and interested. No barking, no fussing, no whining, no pacing, no curled lips, nothing. Relaxed body and face.
She has also learned to really appreciate a GOOD GIRL!! She smiles. She wags--I know that sounds like maybe a very small thing for most dogs, but that is a HUGE thing for Ellie. All of these things I have mentioned are HUGE things for Ellie. It's like she gew up overnight.
After all the trials and tribulation I have gone through with Ellie--the endless training, the patience, the tantrums (not necessarily just Ellie's LOL), the breakdowns, meltdowns, biting, health issues, reactivity, etc.--to actually witness this little girl actually TRY to please me makes me happier than I can say. I am very proud of us both. She has learned to trust me.
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