i first posted on these forums asking about how to build confidence in our little gypsy dog (who came to us after being hit by a car and rescued, was extremely timid and insecure - any time anyone would look at her she would roll straight on her back, constant nervous licking and submissive gestures all of the time, and terrified by the sound of cars/bicycles/joggers)
to date, gypsy has:
- stopped rolling on her back completely - UNLESS we have been deemed to have not given her sufficient cuddles in which case the tummy is presented, not as a "please don't kill me" gesture but a "AHEM...i don't believe we are finished yet"
- is LOVING clicker training, and has got to the point where she will even sit for food - which was impossible at the start, as food was just TOO exciting and she would lose all focus. she has "wait" (before crossing the road), "off" (the couch) and "come" (in-house only, she is not walked off-lead). we are working on "down" next, which is proving challenging because she immediately rolls on her back, as per her old habit, instead of laying down on her tummy...working on it!
- LOVES walking and doesn't give a care in the world to passing cars, bicycles or people (though she still isn't too keen on kids, so we avoid one particular park and she is fine). i get up earlier now to walk her before work (she is the best alarm clock ever by the way, no way am i sleeping in when theres a walk to be had!) and we go for a long walk after work to just explore and wander about. she has made some little doggy friends we see regularly in our neighborhood AND she even comes to hang out with us at the pub some days (and doesn't mind one bit being the star of the show and having all the passers-by tell her how pretty she is, lol)
- finally (i think helped in part by the walks above) - she used to fairly regularly pee in the hallway about 10 minutes before i got home from work (she was never in trouble or got yelled at, just couldnt seem to make it all day inside). well we had the carpets cleaned almost 3 weeks ago and since then she has only pee'd TWICE inside (and both were my fault - once when i was dying my hair and so was closed in the bathroom so she couldnt tell me she needed to go out, and the other was just the other day when it was PELTING down with rain outside and i gave her a very cursory cheat-walk around the backyard and straight back inside in the morning!) - HOORAY!
so i just wanted to say a HUGE thankyou, on my and gypsy's behalf, just for running such a fantastic, welcoming and supporting forum. i learned so much just from reading the issues others have had, and the suggestions for them - some things i was able to take on board to help her with issues she already had from her troubled past, but some things i wouldnt have even thought about that i have been able to incorporate into gypsy's life to PREVENT FURTHER issues, which is just amazing.
the holistic approach to dogs (and their respective humans') lives that i have found on these boards is seriously so inspiring.
anyway, sorry for the long soppy post, but seriously i cant thank you guys enough. i have a happy, confident and increasingly well adjusted little dog and i look forward to working with her and helping us improve each others lives for a very long time to come
