Lucy Lu
Lucy is my newest addition. She arrived two weeks ago and is 1-1/2 years old at the time of this post. She, unlike Liam Neeson, lacks a certain set of skills. Besides having severe anxiety when left alone, she barks like a banshee. She also pees when she gets excited or scared. She also poops and pees while walking wherever she is, although she's getting better with peeing on the grass. What I've learned with dogs who have severe anxiety and fear is that a calm demeanor, encouraging but firm tone when necessary, constant repetition, and praise helps better than anything else. Being human, sometimes stressful situations stretch your patience to the breaking point, but any type of loud or violent reaction will circumvent any progress made, and will, in fact, set you back. Every time Lucy pees or poops, I show her and name it. Then I move her to the spot I want her to go, and name it again. I know that I will be doing this dozens of times until she ...
