I have been feeling just a little bit better about Bella recently. Whatever behavior changes there may be, they are so subtle that I would have a hard time describing them. I simply have the sense that she is living with me, and is not just my captive. It's in her eye contact, and the way she perks up when I say the word, walk. Sometimes she will get up when I go to the bathroom and look at me from the bedroom, as if checking to see if it is time for a walk. At night, she usually gets up right after I lie down. She proceeds to saunter into the hall, and even to the threshold of the living room. Nose down, she scopes out the treats, and even sometimes takes a second round to be sure she hasn't missed any.
We continue our work with eye contact. I tell her, Look at me when I treat her, and she does, easily. I continue to pet her regularly, for very short periods, offering her a treat afterwards. She does not turn away, nor nervously lick her lips or pant-she just doesn't offer me the coveted tail wag.
Concerned that Bella develop new neural pathways, I am continuing the challenge of bringing her into the living room for very short periods when a calm "stranger" is there. For just a couple of minutes, a few times a week, Bella allows me to bring her out on the leash. She doesn't like it, resisting gently with a worried look in her eyes, but she will come along. She understands the leash and is an extremely cooperative dog. Bella is also very pretty, and of course, with me, looks are everything ;) . After the short challenge is over, I let Bella return to her corner in my room. She makes her way around the couch, the chairs, and the kitchen table-moving with purpose away from me and the stranger who sits near me. I hope I don't slow her progress, but with a necessary trip coming up, Bella will need to accept the care of two friends who will alternate staying here with her. I want to show her that nothing bad will happen when she meets others.
We continue our work with eye contact. I tell her, Look at me when I treat her, and she does, easily. I continue to pet her regularly, for very short periods, offering her a treat afterwards. She does not turn away, nor nervously lick her lips or pant-she just doesn't offer me the coveted tail wag.
Concerned that Bella develop new neural pathways, I am continuing the challenge of bringing her into the living room for very short periods when a calm "stranger" is there. For just a couple of minutes, a few times a week, Bella allows me to bring her out on the leash. She doesn't like it, resisting gently with a worried look in her eyes, but she will come along. She understands the leash and is an extremely cooperative dog. Bella is also very pretty, and of course, with me, looks are everything ;) . After the short challenge is over, I let Bella return to her corner in my room. She makes her way around the couch, the chairs, and the kitchen table-moving with purpose away from me and the stranger who sits near me. I hope I don't slow her progress, but with a necessary trip coming up, Bella will need to accept the care of two friends who will alternate staying here with her. I want to show her that nothing bad will happen when she meets others.
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