Behavior Issue-Willow

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    Behavior Issue-Willow

    I really need some opinions on what might be going on here.  I'm started to get really stressed. 

    As some of you know, we recently took in a kitten.  It was supposed to be a temporary situation but we were not able to find him a home.  So, he's here-long term if not permanently.  We are treating him like he's here for good. 

    I know Willow is not good with cats and we are keeping them apart.  We are rotating and for the most part the keeping them apart thing is working out fine. 

    My issue is that Willow is OBSESSED with him.  Although she doesn't have contact, she knows he's here.  For example, if she is in a bedroom with the door shut she will stand staring at the bottom of the door because ONE TIME he put a paw under.  Now, we block the bottom of the door so he cannot do that anymore.  But, at first we didn't realize he'd do that with her right there.  The other day, I took her into the bedroom with me, woke up 3 hours later and she's laying right there.  She probably stood staring for as long as she could then layed down. 

    Now, chows were bred to do exactly this, lay staring at entryways--and she's very good at it, LOL!!

    But, other things she does is look for him, she's even giving me trouble on our jaunts out to pee because she's looking for him.  She hasn't eaten all day because she's worried she'll miss something. 

    Is there anything I can do?  I wasn't expecting this at all.  I knew she'd need to be kept away from him.  But, I never dreamed she'd be this focused on him. 

    Thanks, I sort of typed out what came to my mind as I went so hopefully this makes sense. 

    Lori

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    Lori, Pirate was like that when we first got our bird - he would STARE and whine and drool and carry on...all sorts of ridiculous. I just stepped up the physical exercise (more walkies to new places, more off leash time) and played a whole lot of the clicker game. Spiritdogs gave me an AWESOME link to a YouTube video of the 'leave it' command, that eventually transferred to the bird/cage. I wonder if I can find it.

    Honestly it just took time - I'd say a solid 3 months - before he was 'over it', and he still gets focused on the bird if it's being squawky or flapping it's wings or something.

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    Thanks, Meg!  If you do happen to find that link I'd love to see it. 

     

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    • Gold Top Dog

    Thank you Anne!

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    YES Spiritdogs, that's it :) I actually love her whole channel, her videos are really well-explained.