Blue is a sweet girl who, at 18 weeks, arrived at our home full of anxiety from a journey fraught with some challenges. A short-term sitter, through early Nov, worked diligently with her to help her master knowing her name & relearning Better Go. A second short-term sitter in mid-Nov, worked with Blue, taking baby steps to remediate excess barking, fear of the kennel, and separation anxiety.
When Blue walked through the front door on Nov 23, we were able to immediately segue off their consistent training and TLC. Blue’s lovely nature is beginning to shine through as she has mastered her fear of the kennel and has just begun to sleep through the night in a closed-door, blanket-covered kennel.
Blue’s separation anxiety has improved so much she is able to wait patiently while I leave her behind the x-pen fencing while I go elsewhere on the main floor, lay quietly on the mat by the closed front while I go down the sidewalk to get the mail without panicking and frantically barking and wait quietly in the back seat of the car while I make several trips to the house finish packing or unpacking the car.
When Blue first arrived, her anxiety was also hypervigilant, making sure I wasn’t going to be out of her sight. Healthy, self-guided puppy naps were not part of her day, with the tiredness increasing her over-reactions. As she has begun to feel safe, Blue puts herself down for naps throughout the day on one of several day beds, but frequently in one of the kennels. Blue enjoys playing with squeaky toys, tossing them up in the air or running back and forth in the play area, squeaking them in her mouth.
We have begun very short training sessions, and she is eager to learn. Blue was able to do one outing to Semiahmoo Mall, where we met up with other dogs for a short training time. By the end of our time there, she was able to do a walk-by of another dog without letting out a bark and to lie quietly, a distance away, without trying to get up and get to them.
We attempted the Surrey Museum, but alas, we struck out as she let out one big, sharp bark, so we exited. One very short trip to Save-On to buy one item was a challenge for her. So much to see, touch, and smell!!!
She has used every positive thing offered to her in the month of November and is well on her way to becoming a confident, calm pup with a good dollop of curiosity.
Submitted by: Heather DeVries
