Yesterday was horrible, he hid behind the couch and couldn't come near. Today was a little bit better. I got some cheese and sat on the floor with him while Jason held the bottle near him and put it on the floor next to him, then I got little cube ham slicey things and got him to stand up on his back legs while he ate them so J could spray him. You could tell it's not his most favorite thing to do in the world, but he at least let us do it.
Anyway, Bruiser has gotten SO much better with pretty much everything. He's such a loving dog and he's so smart! Since the kitchen and me cooking caused issues with him and the other two we put a baby gate up in the kitchen to keep them out of the "food area." We haven't had a dog fight in a really long time (knocking on wood as I type that) and the worst he does now is get rambunctious and get in the boys' faces and bark at them, so when he does that we time him out for a little while and then let him back out and generally he's okay after that. Sometimes it takes a few time outs in a row before he quits. I really like the time outs, but Jason sometimes forgets he's put him in the bathroom. I find it's easier to just stand by the door while I'm waiting to let him out.
We've really noticed a big change with Bruiser. He's gotten kind of clingy to me, always laying next to me, or bringing his toys to me to play with. He'll lay with Jason, but won't bring him the toys to play with. I don't mind though. He's even gotten better with playing--I don't get bit or mouthed hardly at all!
We haven't tried the dog park in a while, but the last time we did that he did SUPER well, even with the lion cut Chow. I think he was actually kind of freaked out by it because whenever Rerun (the chow) would come by Bruiser would run away.
I have noticed that if he's on a leash and other dogs come near him off leash he gets really growly and lunges toward them. This usually happens when people don't follow the "one dog in the 'hallway' at a time rule." I call it the hallway, but really it's more like a long fenced in run that leads into the dog park where you can leash up your dogs before leaving. I figure he's feeling threatened that they're off leash and he's not, and I get that, but he sounds HORRIBLE when he does it and I've seen him at his worst and know what it can be like and don't want it to be an issue. What can I do to help with that since unfortunately we have a lot of owners who are inconsiderate, or just don't follow the rules at the park?
So anyhow, I was really just checking to make sure I'm doing the spray bottle thing right, and then I got carried away because I'm so happy with how good he's getting! Sorry
