#csbonnie

[citystrutlife]

#csbonnie

[citystrutlife]

In Bonnie's second week I'm taking a bit more of a serious tone with her. Last week, it was all about becoming friends, giving her detours from her anxiety and replacing it with a foundation of a trusting, fun and exciting new group of friends (Duke, Cotton, Presto, myself, Wallis and the rest of the gang). This week I'm actually letting her know when I need her to be quiet with a verbal command. I do find that she has more anxiety when I leave her in the crate or somewhere. Even though I tend to not believe a lot my teacher said, always having to filter it through my own instincts, she did say that with separation anxiety, more space is better. I'm not sure why that is as she never said. I shall do a bit of research about that today and post my findings. 

Her dad and I are leaving her in her home alone this week more. On Friday she'll spend the day there with surprise visits by me through the day. We are going to see how she does outside of the crate. I hypothesize that she will actually do better--unlike most dogs that seem better when they have been crated. 

Also, the added benefit of Bonnie not going in the crate anymore is that she thinks you are just checking the mail or something when you leave her out. At least with me. It could be different with her dad. 

I found this first link to be the best but the others are worth a look as well: 

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/overcoming-separation-anxiety.aspx

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/separation_anxiety.html

http://www.cesarsway.com/tips/problembehaviors/5-tips-for-separation-anxiety

[citystrutlife]

Bertram and Honoria's 6th Birthday!!

More and more lately I have been thinking like a dog first. As opposed to thinking in English and then translating into Dog. Which is to say that I am cutting out the unnecessary middle step. 

When I was learning Spanish that was the marking point, when I started to speak without having to translate it in my head first, I knew I was really becoming bilingual. 

Perhaps after 8 years, I am becoming fluent in dog. 

Bonnie cried again this morning but I didn't put her in the crate. I sat on the floor in lotus in a donut dog bed and continued making my days plan. Bonnie sat next to me and she's only been here about 30 mins and she's already lying on the floor next to me without any panting at all. 

Right before I sat down to write this I was doing some stretches and Duke, Presto and Cotton came over as they always do. I suspect because my face is close to their level. Dogs are so playful. When you really watch them play for a while you can see that if a dog is one who enjoys a good game, it's a great way to get their attention so they spend more habit forming time in a happy, playful and calm way. 

The game was that as I was touching my toes I snuck little pinches at the dogs--which they continue to find hilarious! Bonnie got in on this game. 

We went and got Bertram and Honoria and we all went on a walk! It is Bertram and Honoria's 6th Birthday today!! I have been their nanny for 5 and a half years now and I am so proud to continue to be so. Cute photos of us, taken over the past years to come. 

[citystrutlife]

Bonnie's second day

Bonnie Harris that is. She was excited to get here but then got the anxiety after her Pa left. Her separation anxiety from him is substantial but it's gonna be ok. She's been here about 45 mins and it's taken her that long to stop crying. Thing is that crying unto itself isn't the problem. It's what it leads to. Which is why she is here. As I started to write this, I noticed that she had stopped crying so I went to her and gave her a small pet on the head and a tiny kiss. Feed the dog attention, get a best friend. Feed the wolf attention, get a monster.  When she had come in she was crying pretty intensely I did what I sometimes am accustomed to trying first--I tell her in a rather surprising and intense tone, "QUIET." It did nothing. With her, as I originally suspected, it's really about nurturing the calm. I suppose that is really the case with them all. It is crucial that I give her no negative feedback this week. When she is wining or crying I have to ignore that. When she is calm, I will send her warmth and love. This way, she will naturally veer from the crying to the calming and we will be developing a solid and loving friendship in the meantime. 

Which reminds me, I am going to take an emphasis this week with the dogs in non-verbal communication. Eye contact. Touch, sound and ever strengthening my instinctual timing.