Mandana Training & Health Update
TLDR: We’re getting a certified vet behavioralist (ACVB) involved.
A while back we tried to work on some new found resource guarding around dogs because we wanted Mandana to be comfortable when the new puppy arrives in December. We tried classes and private sessions at two separate training centers. The last one referred me to a canine behavior consultant. As of today, that consultant is passing me on to another Fear-Free vet at our clinic who is more knowledgeable about behavior than our current FF vet and she will be working with an additional certified vet behaviorist on our case. (There’s only about 80 in the US so they are very hard to come by and expensive but our insurance should cover it)
Mandana is kind of a conundrum. She is so happy, optimistic and eager to please and has an amazing foundation but she’s not responding to science based training in a way trainers expect. As of now, she’s not a danger. She isn’t growling or biting dogs or making any type of aggression towards people. All the trainers who’ve worked with her think she’s a great service dog candidate (I pulled her from PA a while back) who could go back to working once we smooth over a few minor issues, but she’s not responding to science based training in a predictable way so her case continues to get escalated to the next expert.
Mandana is still a pleasure to live with and a wonderful training partner. She continues to do all of her tasks even though I’ve shifted away from service work and public access. I am focusing on helping her live comfortably in her body. It will take time but the prospect puppy will hopefully take some of the pressure off her in regards to service work and maybe if we figure out these issues Mandana can go back to working part time but if not that’s ok too ❤️
