Having a ‘problem dog’ can be a lonely old business on times. At our local stomping ground I’ve often been the one red-faced and apologetic as Little Bear grumbles at young or submissive dogs or barks manically at anyone and everything.
Avoidance and removal are the tactics recommended by the behaviourist so we’ve spent a lot of time running away from dogs or situations that might worry him. We’ve spent a lot of time on our own in the smaller top field too while the other dogs play together in the larger one and it’s hard to coax him away from the fence when you know all he wants to do is join in.
But you can’t live your life simply avoiding the things that worry you. So when last year, we met a friendly dog walker with a group of equally nice friendly, well-balanced dogs we started meeting up with her a couple of times a week to up the ante on LB’s social skills.
We bumped into her in the park today and within seconds of arriving LB had six dogs sniffing his rear end. A couple were new to him, but he stood there, alert but relaxed while they made and remade his acquaintance. Sniffing complete, they all bounded off to have a play.
I couldn’t help but beam because six months ago he would have been a different dog.
One day sticks out in my mind in particular as it nearly brought me to tears. We’d been meeting these same dogs for months, but hadn’t seen them for a few weeks because of holidays etc. We arrived at the field and spotted them playing in the far corner. As I began walking towards them Little Bear started whining and scrabbling on my leg – a ‘pick me up’ request he’d not done since he was a pup. He looked desperate and it took all my will power not to scoop him up and run to the car. But what would that teach him? That these friendly dogs he’d come to know and play with were to be feared?
I walked the rest of the way with an anxious little Schnauzer whining and pawing at the back of my legs, alternating only to try to pull at my trouser legs. I felt to cruel I could have cried.
The walk across the field seemed to last forever but in reality it couldn’t have been more than 30 seconds before we were met like long-lost friends by the other dogs. LB froze for the greeting, bringing the meaning of the word ‘petrified’ very much to life. They ignored this and went about their sniffing, tails wagging, tongues lolling. Inspection over, LB had a good shake and without even a backward glance in my direction bounded after them.
I wanted to record this as it’s so easy to forget how far you’ve come. Today’s episode was such a welcome reminder of something I may well have forgotten about, but to overlook it would be to discount the progress he’s made.
We’ve had an amazing week full of little triumphs in fact: Coming back to me even after he’d spotted his least favourite dog in the world a mere ten feet away. Playing happily with an 11 month old mini schnauzer puppy without any grumbling what-so-ever. Choosing to stay by my side and not to run over to see a Collie in the park this morning even though he was off the lead. I could go on!
So my lesson to self is really about making sure I keep recording the good times as well as the bad. LB will probably always be a nervous dog but the fact that he’s making progress despite his anxieties makes me even more proud of him. 🙂
The Little Bear Dog Blog 