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| ~Crossing the Potomac River near Brunswick Maryland~ |
As you can probably guess, my lack of blogging always indicates that we've had a very busy week and that's certainly been the case! With Carl out of town this past week, it left me hardly any free time. He's back just in time for the weekend, to clean our house, put the laundry away for me (both things he does very well!) but he will be off again next week.
The weekend is going to be a busy one as well. This morning a dog-trainer is coming to work with Sunny and I. You may recall that Sunny doesn't like anyone to grab his collar. Our dog walker and I have both had instances where he has growled and snapped at us when we've needed him to do something that he didn't want too. The trainer, Nancy, told me that because of Sunny's age (around 9-10) that this behavior will probably always be part of who he is. She feels, as do I, that Sunny was probably grabbed by his collar and mistreated. It's times like this when you wish they could tell you. But it may help to explain why he becomes reactive at those times when you touch him around his neck or collar. But the goal and hope is that we can perhaps desensitize him to being touched around his collar, and make it positive for him. Maybe we'll even solve his camera shyness along the way too.
Through the break-neck pace of the past week, the dogs always provide those little moments that make me stop and pause. Cissy provided one. When she finishes a meal, she always puts her paw in her empty dish. There's something so sweet about that...
And Todd provided another, doing something that he does quite often, which is sitting alone in the yard. There's always a feeling of peace. I can't help but wonder what he's thinking? Is he thinking about the mysteries of the universe, or chasing the cat? Do I dare ask?
One thing I couldn't ask for is better weather. A beautiful September day is on tap for us today, and after meeting with the trainer I look forward to doing a few things outside. I'm sorry I've missed visiting your blogs this week, but I am looking forward to catching up on your news later today! Enjoy your Saturday!
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| ~An old barn on our road~ |
E-Town KY: 132 visits...
I hope you have some sort of breakthrough with Sunny, today. Perhaps Cissy is asking for you to add a little more, "In here". Nice pic of Todd being Master of all he surveys. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe weather forecast for the next week is all in the 70's. Great dog weather! They always seem to love it and feel a bit friskier when it cools down. Hoping for good results with the trainer!! xox
ReplyDeletePoor sunny.....thank you so for what you do...there are a lot of humans I'm not so crazy about....but I love love love love my animals....
ReplyDeleteI think I'd have to pat that paw....
If fact I'm sure of it.....:)
Hope you and the trainer have some success with Sunny...poor sole must have been badly treated to be reacting like that, thank goodness you are there now.
ReplyDeleteCissy with the paw in the dish....so cute. And, of course, that adorable little scamp Todd! He obviously likes a bit of Me Time, bless.
Good luck with the trainer today. That is such a sweet picture of Cissy with her paw in the bowl.
ReplyDeleteCindy
Cissy is adorable
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the trainer
and yes enjoy the beautiful Sept day
Cissy is adorable
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the trainer
and yes enjoy the beautiful Sept day
I always enjoy stopping by here to see your cute doggies. I love the shot of Todd and the sweet Cissy! I hope all goes well with Sunny's training. Have a happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteI hope the trainer can help, even if it's just a little. Let's see, what's Todd thinking? He's a Terrier....so don't ask. Ha!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your nice weather with those sweet pups.
i think if EVER there were anyone who shouldn't have to apologize for getting around to doing something . . . it would be YOU!!!
ReplyDeleteyou are simply amazing.
the picture and little story of cissy and her thankful paw in her bowl. well. happy tears.
and tears of another kind for poor sunny. they don't have those reactions for nothing. and one can only wonder at the ingrained fear that motion brings to him. how tragic they have to remember once they're in safe and loving hands.
i hope for the best.
maybe just a totally loving stroking of his little neck at all other times... special attention to that area maybe... i'm no expert surely! but it might help!
i know you'll keep us posted.
holding only good thoughts.
and maybe todd is secretly a little scotty monk! LOL.
Poor Sunny. I hope that with the trainers help things will be better. Enjoy your weekend. We are having rain rain and more rain. I am not a fan of it, but MOM and I did take a nice walk in the wet stuff this morning, then I jump on the bed when we got home. hahhaha
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Goose
good luck with sunny! and thanks for sharing sweet cissy. :)
ReplyDeleteAww that face of Crissy and her PAW oh my makes your heart melt - did she get another little tit bit in her bowl?
ReplyDeleteLove Leanne
Poor Sunny - Rosie Mae really does NOT like being held by the collar either and we've always thought this was down to mistreatment in her life prior to us :(
ReplyDeleteSweet Cissy with her paw in her empty bowl, bless her!
I suspect Todd is thinking mischievous thoughts ;)
Wishing you a calmer few days with Carl (he cleans AND puts the laundry away??!!).
xx
Hey there Kim,
ReplyDeleteEver thought of trying a harness on Sammy? It might or might not work, but you never know...it's worth a try.
:)
Hello Kim, hope all works out with Sunny...ahhh, love Cissy with her foot in the bowl, so cute.....Enjoy the nice weather, Hugs Francine.
ReplyDeleteTodd? Chasing the cat....
ReplyDeleteKeep that good weather around, please, SHE'll be there in about 6 weeks.
Hope Sunny learns to get over the collar bit.
XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy
I sure hope you and the trainer can come up with a way to help Sunny. Poor guy doesn't know any better. I could wring the necks of people who mistreat their animals. But then, i know i'm not the only one.
ReplyDeleteCissy is such a sweetheart. I love her paw in her dish and such an 'i love you, you take such wonderful care of me' look in her eyes!
And Todd.. well.. Todd just looks like he's happily surveying his domain, and wondering why we humans can't all live in peace with each other. He knows dogs are smarter than we are...
Glad to hear someone is having some nice fall weather. :-)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy it, and your hubby, Kim. ♥
We had an Old English Sheepdog who did not want to have his collar touched. If we wanted to do something or move him, we put on the leash first and then it was no problem. Glad you are having some beautiful weather.
ReplyDeleteWe just came to say thank you for staying close and for all the well wishes for tweedles.
ReplyDeletelove
tweedles mom
I have no doubt that with your patience and love, the collar problem will be solved. Lovely photographs.
ReplyDeleteI love Cissy's sweet habit. K had issues with being grabbed by her collar, even though we had her from when she was 8 wks so we knew that she had no adult experience with being hurt after having her collar grabbed. We did a desensitization program where we grabbed her collar and then jackpotted her with treats. We did that many many times over months. She eventually got over it, except in a few types of stressful situations. In those stressful situations, her reaction to collar-grabbing was to freeze and cower to the floor...
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I hope that you have success with Sunny. If you don't, you might think about something like switching to a harness and seeing whether he reacts to you grabbing a harness like he does with his collar. It might be an easy solution.
Happy Weekend! I hope that next week is easier!
I hope the trainer and your love and dedication will help Sunny. How sad to know that he may have been abused. Don't understand why people would do something like that to innocent animals.
ReplyDeleteCissy's habit is to cute. Love the paw in the bowl. Very sweet picture of Cissy and Todd.
Have a fabulous weekend. Ana
Poor Sunny -- it really is so frustrating when you can see it in their eyes -- but they can't tell you why they fell the way they do. Hoping the training helps to ease his stress about the collar situation. xo
ReplyDeleteCissy is so cute with her paw in her dish!!
ReplyDeleteThat old boy just needs a LOT of patience and time for him to TRUST you and your honey...Copper had issues for the longest time...wouldn't let anyone pet his head...hmmmm...hit? beaten? I think so...but now, he's a pussycat to those he TRUSTS!...:)JP
ReplyDeleteI hope you can figure out a way to make Sunny less reactive when someone grabs his collar. I have known of dogs who reacted that way when someone grabbed their collars. (They weren't mistreated, just did not like a hand there and controlling them in that way.) I have always worked on holding my dog's collars to desensitize them if I should need to grab it for some reason. Of course I started when they were young and not 9-10. If he is good on a lead, I wonder is using a tab lead and shortening it as he gets used to your hand being close would help?
ReplyDeleteI'm catching up, too, after a week away from home. Good to hear that life is fairly normal at your place. (I know exactly which bridge you were on when you took that photo ... it's the one we use to get to our friends' house up the river a few minutes in Knoxville.)
ReplyDeleteLovely photos ! I hope the trainer can help . I think the same of this reaction Sunny has , I think some one has abused him like that or he was tied up a lot , it maybe the motion of going for his collar or neck if he sees it happening he feels threatened maybe try rubbing his back by his shoulders and slowly but gently move to his neck and that way he gets used to your hands being on at least the back of his neck and knows you wont hurt him just a thought ! As for Todd he has a look like he is wanting to get up mischief lol cheeky boy ! Hey life gets busy . Glad all are well . Thanks for sharing . Have a good day !
ReplyDeleteHi Y'all,
ReplyDeleteIt's nothing more than wanting to get loose that makes me struggle if my Human grabs my leather collar. I don't try to bite but I try to twist away, especially if someone is at the door...one thing I've never learned to do very well.
Even though I'm 7 (8 in March), my Human still carries treats and spends about 10 mins. everyday training with me. I'm always learning new stuff or brushing up on old stuff...Don't believe that old dogs can't learn new tricks.
Hawk aka BrownDog