Bobbie came to me at 6 months old having already learned to bite people and other dogs. The owner was a friend. I had always offered to help if needed. Finally I was asked to take her because of her behaviour. That was 5 days after Ellie arrived! The timing was not ideal but both of these dogs were in desperate need.
She was an extremely stressed dog! She was constantly barking, biting and when she was awake she was on the move. So I had to keep her space small to allow her to rest. Any stimulus sent her into hyperactivity. She was very aggressive around food. She needed a lot of peace. If you think of a person who is very stressed we help them by asking very little of them and give them time to renew their energy.
The setters were good for her and they are such gentle dogs. I would gradually expose her to stimulation and allow her to experience life with me without much interaction. She began to quieten and so I could build on her experiences from that point.
After 3 months Ellie and Bobbie could play together. They are friends and enjoy chasing and playing with each other. Although it was very hard work for a few months it has been good for them to have each other.
Buddy and Bobbie did not get on to start with but very quickly became friends. Bobbie was able to coax him into play and doesn’t give up when he gets rough. He had met a dog that he likes and a dog that could hold her own.
And then there are the cats. Both terriers were both too exuberant with their greetings. Over time and with the right signals the cats feel safe enough to wander around at will and even rest with the dogs. It is delight to see them positively greet each other.
Her tricks to manipulate are vast. She will grab whatever she can and run. Balls of wool have been a favourite. Do you have any idea how fast they can unravel and get tangled?! Other things include pencils, pens, bits of wood, pieces of paper, anything that she can reach on the floor, in bags. She does not cope with raised energy in other dogs.
But as she calms she is a great source of entertainment. Bobbie never misses anything new. She is friends with all, dogs and people alike. She enjoys playing with bugs. She has an incredible repertoire of sounds. We often wonder what it must be like to be a ‘Bobbie’ with her always active brain.
It has been interesting to see how this approach works with this young dog that has not had years of behaviour to undo. Still her personality means she is always questioning and checking our capability.
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