Great News

helenweekley · #1 29th April 2012, 10:45 PM

I don't know if you all remember me telling you about my dogs aggression last year but we have been working on it with a behaviorist and trainer and she has done great. We just started having people come in last week and she is still hard to get under control when they first come in but after that she goes right up to people and gives them kisses. When the trainer came today to pick up his dog he brought his girlfriend and daughter and she didn't even bark or growl when they came in. The girlfriend did wave at her and she gave a low growl but my dh told her no and she stopped and was right back to wiggling her butt. I was really shocked at how well behaved she was with his daughter who is 4 because kids was a big issue. I am really thinking all she needed was some obedience and socialization, I think she was getting over excited and scared when people came in. She is a totally different dog, a year ago I really thought my dog wanted to eat people now she is loving all the attention she is getting. We are still working on the socialization and probably will have to forever but that's ok I will do whatever it takes. The hard part now is getting people to come over. Some people who wouldn't step foot in my house has come over and then others won't. My sister will not come she is terrified I told her how well she is doing but I still haven't convinced her. I just wanted to share my good news and to let people know don't give up I almost did and am so glad I didn't It was well worth the time and money and it was a lot of both lol.

johann · #2 30th April 2012, 10:33 AM

That is excellent! Keep up the good work with her.

Lizzie · #3 30th April 2012, 02:10 PM

That is fantastic, keep up the great work you are doing

helenweekley · #4 30th April 2012, 03:30 PM

Well I think I jinxed myself by posting this. My daughter had a friend over after school and onfa was fine at first but then I don't know what happened she snapped at the girl and I couldn't get her back after that until my husband got home. When he got home and took over she was right back to being a good girl I swear if my husband didn't know better he would have thought I was lying. I guess I'm a little softer on her than my dh and I need to stop letting her get away with things and show her who's boss. I just get really frustrated when she is doing so well with him and not me. The weird thing is I had my aunt over this morning and she was fine with her. I know kids and men is who she was the worst with but she was doing so well with both. Just disappointed I guess.

LILYLARUE · #5 1st May 2012, 06:56 AM

There are always some sort of setback. And within that setback, you learn that you can't soften the lessons at any time. I would guess you were feeling a little comfortable at Onfa's good behaviors. But as with any child, or dog, as soon as you let your guard down, that's when they act up. You just always have to be diligent in watching her behaviors.

My Lily is one of those dogs that will act up as soon as I take my eyes off of her. My daughter told me once when Lily got nasty with another dog, that she looked at me first. I was talking to another person and I'm pretty sure she saw it as the perfect opp to act out.

I never let up with Lily now when we are in public. My eyes are always on her and she knows I am watching! LOL She rarely acts up now in public and often looks to me when she sees another dog now. Huge improvement from her wanting to eat every dog she saw.

For now, If I were you, I'd never leave Onfa out when company is there, especially kids. Keep her in another room where she feels protected and won't need to act out against anyone. Never set her up to fail.