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 gets it. When she goes on the grass, or on the 'paper, I say "good (name it) Lucy!" This, in fact, is a useful training tool for many other situations, although most of those will include treats in the beginning.
When she get scared or excited, I immediately take her outside and set her down on the grass.
Lucy has been supervised when hanging out with the dogs and separated when I leave for the last two weeks, I slowly started leaving her alone with the other dogs for a little while. Its working out well. Today is the first day I'm going to leave her all day with them. I'll let you know how it goes.
That's all for now.
Night night
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 gets it. When she goes on the grass, or on the 'paper, I say "good (name it) Lucy!" This, in fact, is a useful training tool for many other situations, although most of those will include treats in the beginning.
When she get scared or excited, I immediately take her outside and set her down on the grass.
Lucy has been supervised when hanging out with the dogs and separated when I leave for the last two weeks, I slowly started leaving her alone with the other dogs for a little while. Its working out well. Today is the first day I'm going to leave her all day with them. I'll let you know how it goes.
That's all for now.
Night night
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