Xerxes
Posted : 11/18/2006 2:14:51 PM
I thought maybe I was starting to brag too soon. Nope. She's getting it. She's really getting it.
Last night on our potty walk the shihtzus across the street were out. Xerxes adores them and the owner likes Xerxes so I told her "Anna I'm letting him come over." And I stood there with Gaia, who was half-heartedly barking. When she saw Xerxes run over and greet the dogs and then disappear (he ran into Anna's apartment) she got a bit more concerned and was barking a nervous bark: after all her pack was seperated. Gaia and I sauntered over and she greeted the other dogs with a couple of "stay back" barks and then she sniffed them and stopped barking totally. Then Xerxes comes out of Anna's apartment carrying a box of milkbones. (that's another story!) Gaia was still quiet, no barking. Yay!!!!
This morning on our long walk (only 3 miles but it was before breakfast) we encountered a leash reactive dog. He was barking and lunging and growling. We crossed the street and Gaia, the wonderful , didn't even blink. She just kept on going. No barking, no stare down, no bristling, no tension on the lead: No Reaction.
I was and am very proud of her, and they got marrow bones to celebrate with.
So I'm not saying she's over her reactivity, but we've seen HUGE progress and I'm very happy and very proud, to say the least.