Continuing to do trust exercises with my dog. It’s been 3 weeks and she is not acclimated whatsoever. I am very distressed and upset about it. I thought I had made some progress last week but I took her outside (carried her because she will not move of her own volition) and it traumatized her so much all of the progress is gone. Feels like starting from 0 again.
Besides that I’ll be playing some Deadlock. Maybe I’ll do some cleaning.
I will say as someone who has fostered a lot of dogs, it can take a month or so before progress appears. My personal approach is to slow play it like I don’t care one way or the other and give some space, though obviously that doesn’t extend to not going out to the bathroom!
Awwwww, thanks for reminding me about my first days with my elderly “rescue” chihuahua (it’s complicated, her owner was a friend’s mom who’d developed early-onset Alzheimers). Just… laying on the floor relaxing next to the crate she refused leave. Bathroom time was basically picking up the crate, taking it outside, she’d scurry out to pee or poo and then run right back inside. Then one day those two little beady eyes got a little closer to the outside of the crate. Then getting a little closer before scurrying back. Then finally carefully walking up to me and laying down with her chin on my armpit. After that, completely inseparable. <3
I’ve kept reptiles for distressingly close to 40 years by now, and in that particular little world, building trust in just 3 weeks would be an accomplishment! (and with them, breaking trust before it’s well-established is back to 0).
Continuing to do trust exercises with my dog. It’s been 3 weeks and she is not acclimated whatsoever. I am very distressed and upset about it. I thought I had made some progress last week but I took her outside (carried her because she will not move of her own volition) and it traumatized her so much all of the progress is gone. Feels like starting from 0 again.
Besides that I’ll be playing some Deadlock. Maybe I’ll do some cleaning.
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I will say as someone who has fostered a lot of dogs, it can take a month or so before progress appears. My personal approach is to slow play it like I don’t care one way or the other and give some space, though obviously that doesn’t extend to not going out to the bathroom!
score 1 · canonical
Awwwww, thanks for reminding me about my first days with my elderly “rescue” chihuahua (it’s complicated, her owner was a friend’s mom who’d developed early-onset Alzheimers). Just… laying on the floor relaxing next to the crate she refused leave. Bathroom time was basically picking up the crate, taking it outside, she’d scurry out to pee or poo and then run right back inside. Then one day those two little beady eyes got a little closer to the outside of the crate. Then getting a little closer before scurrying back. Then finally carefully walking up to me and laying down with her chin on my armpit. After that, completely inseparable. <3
score 1 · canonical
I’m so glad I posted just to hear that story.
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I would’ve never in a million years chosen a chihuahua, but she chose me and it worked out :D
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I’ve kept reptiles for distressingly close to 40 years by now, and in that particular little world, building trust in just 3 weeks would be an accomplishment! (and with them, breaking trust before it’s well-established is back to 0).
score 1 · canonical