I've mentioned that it's pretty clear that Charlie's "other home" wasn't very nice. There was a lot of yelling -- he's severely hand-shy in some circumstances & he's gained a lot of confidence being with us.
it took us a while but we noticed any time there was a loud sneeze, in particular, he would DASH to the human furthest away from the sneeze and have himself a good little cling. It took a while to really figure this one because it was most obvious when we were in opposite ends of the house & if David or I heard the other of us sneeze ... 1, 2, 3 HERE's Charlie!! Ignoring the behavior had no *good* effect - in fact it almost seemed to reinforce the need to get away.
It bothered me. I decided a few months ago it was more than just reaction to sound ... suddenly I had this clear picture in my head of someone (probaqbly not a really close family member but someone around enough and someone everyone wanted to appease like a mother-in-law or something??) -- but they fancied themselves "allergic to the dog" (keep in mind these folks also had a pug who would shed WAY more than this dog) -- but So * So sneezes and then says "Get the @#)($*#)$* DOg **AWAY*** from me!!! You KNOW I'm allergic!!" I'm sure whomever he ran *to* probably petted him.
David and I don't sneeze often, but when we do it can be a tad loud. As we both compared notes -- I was concerned he became so shattered emotionally -- almost like he expected to be jettisoned out of the house just merely for *being* in the vinciinity of someone who sneezed. He dislikes loud noises -- but the sneeze thing bothered me.. Not easy to 'set up" given a mere "achoo" didn't bring on the emotional reaction. A few times I tried to call him "to" me but it was too long after by the time I found voice, and by then he was TO David.
A couple of times lately he's been with me in the living room but "beyond" my desk almost to the kitchen. David "behind" me in the bedroom.
One night I sneezed hard ... and Charlie gets up to zoom PAST me to go to David (again part of what bothered me -- when this behavior originally was formed I'm sure there was a kick or a swat at him as he went by? Because he zooms to get "by" you if he can.
This particular nigh I just reached down and intercepted him as he tried to pass me and said "Wow Charlie - GOOD BOY!! You came to **help** Mommy!! " -- and I just profusely loved on him .
These training opportunities haven't been obliging -- David and I stopped (long ago) even commenting to each other when he zoomed to the other one because we felt it was reinforcing the fear. In the past 2 weeks, I've been able, maybe .... 4-5 times to just intercept him as he tried to zoom by, and just praise the heck out of him for "coming to me to help". (knowing that he wasn't but was trying to flee).
Tonight -- I was in the kitchen ... David was in totally the other end of the house and I had no clue Charlie was anywhere near. I sneezed HARD -- an TEARING around the corner, here comes a little black, white & tan spaniel screeching to a halt in front of me! With the most HOPEFUL look on his face ...
Yes, we had a freaking PARTY!!! I hugged him and told him what a grand guy he was for COMING to me to "help" when I sneezed!! He was all a wag and so proud of himself!!
He surely wasn't "on his way bye me" to go to David. He clearly came SEEKING me when I sneezed.l
I'm just almost 'high' from delight. I as only able to reinforce this a few times -- all widely spaced apart.
He overcame fear.
He sought out **fast** what had previously frightened him.
Consisten training and setting up situations does a lot. But sometimes it's the quiet consistent attempts at building confidence, at building the "bond"
To me this is evidence of emotional healing. David is the quiet 'rock' -- solid strength, and Charlie's favorite buddy. But we've both noticed Charlie attempting to bond more with me -- choosing my company (where he used to prefer David's ALL the time)
I've never been so darned happy to sneeze in my life!!
I haven't posted a new pic in a long time. The eye that is cloudy -- he HAS good vision n that eye. The eye vet says it likely will always be cloudy -- and that's from some edema in the eye. It's been almost a year -- he's still on some mild pressure drops and because he's high risk for glaucoma (even tho the cataracts are gone) he probably always will be but they are extremely happy with both eyes. There is no "lens" (the membrane that holds a lens was far too badly scarred from the cataracts to save). So as the Opth. vets say "He can't read the paper but he could drive just fine" -- meaning there's not a lot of close-up sharp focus -- but at even a bit of distance he sees FINE.
I keep working on the "fear of men" -- again this is more complex than just "fear of men". He's never instantly comfy with *any* man -- but if you smoke? It is OVER! he's not coming within 10 feet of a male of any age, race or size who is a smoker. Women who smoke? No big deal.
It is so easy to inadvertently reinforce a fear like this and I really don't like things like flooding. (he's too fragile)
