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Post by complexmom on Feb 10, 2005 1:36:44 GMT 1
Penny Lane does fine when we have left her at home (rarely) before we moved and we haven't since moved. She still likes to sleep on our shoes and clothes even if we are busy ignoring for the moment.
However, this past week we are having a real problem when we are home with her hating closed doors. If I am in the bathroom and close the master suite door she goes crazy. If I am in my office while we have a caregiver with Billy Ray (so I can finish my book) she can't rest until she has kicked the door open. She goes back to her job with Billy Ray but will not tolerate me being behind locked doors even for short times.
She is doing very well with her training. Given her hearing loss I am amazed that I have been able to teach her as much. Once she knows what's expected of her I can now control her with eye contact. If I can catch her gaze she will automatically sit when I want to put her leash on, for example.
I'm a bit stumped with this and would appreciate any ideas. Hopefully Mr. Wetdog will see this too.
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Post by Irena on Feb 10, 2005 22:24:17 GMT 1
HI Peggy,
I hope you get some answers soon, and I WILL let Mr Wetdog know about it also - we were a bit busy today trying to reason with someone who has decided to de-bark her Weim, but alas, seems like she is going to do it anyway.
At any rate, we'll get back to you soon here!
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Post by marjolein on Feb 11, 2005 0:00:48 GMT 1
What, debarking a Weim?  She must be mad! But I'm sorry, can't be of any help to your problem. I think it's difficult to solve it without having seen the dog and the circumstances. Good luck with it! |
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Post by seddie on Feb 13, 2005 16:16:43 GMT 1
Is debarking legal over there? Poor dog, won't be able to speak anymore.
Re the door thing: Have you tried shutting the door and still talking to her - that might be the first step to sorting it out. Talk to her before she starts smashing the door down though.
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Post by complexmom on Feb 14, 2005 4:57:34 GMT 1
Thanks for the suggestions Sadie. Penny Lane has 30-40% of her hearing due to major infections that necessitated removing her ear canals. That is perfect for her role as service dog to my very noisy Autistic son but makes her training more difficult. I couldn't talk to her through the door. However, since I wrote this I have started opening the door and looking at her sternly. I have been using that method in training with her a lot lately. Once she knows what is expected of her if I look sternly she will comply. Fortunately she is VERY SMART. The real problem is being SMARTER than her ALL of THE TIME and I fail that one.
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Post by Wetdog on Feb 14, 2005 11:34:16 GMT 1
Fortunately she is VERY SMART. The real problem is being SMARTER than her ALL of THE TIME and I fail that one. LOL, I think we ALL do that(fail at being smarter all the time).
The change in environment may be a factor in the nervousness about letting you out of her sight. Think about what she has been through in her life,(abandoned when she was sick---settled into a new life and home here, and just when she was pretty much cured of her ear infections, then sent to you---and starting a whole new life again(a VERY GOOD life, but stressful changes none the less) It is my guess that the move, packing, changing location etc, has been stressful on her, and she is afraid of losing you, seems natural to me given her history. It says to me, that we made a very good choice, she LOVES you and doesn't want things to change, but her life history tells her that things are/have changed and she's afraid she'll lose you and Billy Rae. If at all possible, I'd try to keep her as close at hand as possible for awhile, instead of trying to train her to time out, having you in her field of view. If you have to, bring her into the room and crate her with you. The idea being, to allow her to relax and see that she isn't going to be sent away and lose her family.
I hope that makes sense. Her new family means EVERYTHING to her, and her whole history tells her she's about to lose that--even if you could talk to her and TELL her that isn't true, she'd have trouble believing you. People are the same way.
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Post by complexmom on Feb 14, 2005 18:15:03 GMT 1
You are right on, I'm sure, Fred. She has experienced numerous changes. As I understand the Weim personality it is amazing she has tolerated it this well. The other thing is she is going to lose me somewhat and I am working to prepare her. My work is going to take me on the road more so I will be away from her and Billy Ray.
We have not tried crating her because she does so well with short times in the house when we absolutely have to leave her. For the most part her work takes her with Billy Ray so she doesn't need to be crated. If it gets to be a problem we will look into that.
Overall she is doing so well as to be literally AMAZING. Everyone is fascinated by her performance and the way I can give her commands by eye contact. It is just happened that way I have never used that training method for any other dog I have trained.
She is going with Billy Ray more and more with his new caregiver so I am going to get more time to work. She doesn't really interrupt my work. If she is in the office she lays by double outside doors in the sun but mostly she doesn't want me behind closed doors. She wants the door open and then she will go back to her work with Billy Ray. I am just trying to work with Billy Ray's noise.
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Post by complexmom on Feb 14, 2005 18:22:48 GMT 1
P.S. to the other post.
Fred, there is another significant change for Penny. I finally have full time day help with Billy Ray so I can work. For her entire time with us I have been taking care of Billy Ray most of the time with some breaks from my husband. I'm sure she is divided because she loves Billy Ray and knows her job but can't be with us both during the day in this situation. Presently she is able to check on me often and is content as long as the door is left open so she can do that.
She is delighted that she gets "go" more. Martha, the new caregiver, has realized how much Penny helps with taking Billy Ray places and learned to use her quite well so Penny is going more and more. The other day we said that Penny shouldn't go because we had a vet appointment for her ears. Martha didn't want to go without which says to me how important she is in Billy Ray's care as recognized by his staff. We juggled the appointment so she could do both.
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Post by complexmom on Dec 2, 2005 8:05:47 GMT 1
I had forgotten this post so will update. Penny Lane has settled down to the move and goes with the flow fine now. In fact she handled Billy Ray being in the hospital for two weeks this summer. I wasn't sure how she would handle it but she did well. Some folks from the church loaned us an RV to put on the hospital lot. I stayed there when I could get away for a while. My husband and Penny Lane joined me at night and then went home during the day to take care of business for me. She just adapted fine. Larry said that she was showing him the door a couple of hours before time to come to me everyday as if to say "come on Dad it's time to go". I was worried about her missing Billy Ray but she didn't show it. However, when he came home you should have seen the love feast she wouldn't leave his side.
She still loves my slippers and shoes and I have to look at where she has carried them but she doesn't chew them just sleeps on them. I have to put them up on my dresser when I am bathing because if I put them by the tub she will take at least one of them out of the bathroom. Oh well, you gotta love her.
Peggy Lou
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