Gigi Update

Things have been going a bit slow for Gigi and her owner, but not due to lack of work!! There is a bit of catch up an owner has to do in the handling department that they haven't been doing during the board & train portion. Plus, Gigi is quite frankly a difficult dog. In not only does she have fear issues, but she is a pretty dominant and stubborn girl as well. This does not mean she is not fun or loving, however.

For instance, she recently boarded here, and tried to resist being offed the furniture. Most dogs at this point in training would not even think of pushing or challenging their trainer. I think her owners have already gotten past this with her at the home front, but I sent along directions for dealing with it anyway.

The first couple of weeks home for these behaviorally challenged dogs are always the worst. The owners need to get used to the new rules and handling requirements. Gigi requires a lot of detail in her handling than a non behaviorally challenged dog. Combine that with the fact that right smack outside her door is the city and with some unusual distractions for being on the a busy city street (ie skateboarders and horses). So now, we have completed three weeks on my property and I believe she is in her third week at home. We have one more follow up lesson to do, at least. More if the client would like, as they are doing a really great job of working with her.

I personally really like Gigi. In fact, I like her more and more each time I see her. I think of all the work these people are going through, wonder if I am giving them too much, then I see Gigi again, and think she is totally worth it. Not an easy dog. She is the type of dog that will give you a crash course in dog training a dog to an extremely high level. I mean you really have no choice if you are going to change up her behavior, so you can forget you had a problem in the first place.

I don't think she'll ever be a dog park dog, and luckily her owners do not expect that either. We are just working on controlled walkby in close pressence to other dogs walking past her (towards her is the worst) or Dog forbid they bark or something LOL. Gigi is pretty sure this is the first sign of an attack, although she has gotten used to this as a friendly and excited sign in dogs she knows. Still doesn't like it in unknown dogs.

Unfortunately during training at home she needs a muzzle so both she and her owner can feel a bit more comfortable. It took me three weeks (in the city) to get Gigi off muzzle when she was feeling more secure with our walks in Portsmouth. If you look up my videos you will see us doing this. Now she is back in Portland where she has never learned to be comfortable doing this, and in fact I think some of those memories are working against them. That and she has not ever really been lead by her family before, and so they need to take her slowly forward. It becomes a lot easier to do if you don't need to worry that the dog will deflect on you badly if they panic or get a bit uppedy, and you can still be gentle in your training. The leash work can be a bit much if the owner is panicking or worried that the dog will deflect. So the muzzle takes the possibility away from Gigi that she is going to get away with it, as well as having a calming and more confident effect on the owner. Luckily with Gigi, you can tell by her breathing rate and body language when she is all fired up. So now the goal is for her breathing to become more relaxed, and her body language to become more relaxed. Once that happens consistently for a week or so, the muzzle can come off again.

Learning will have taken place that she can be non-reactive and safe under the guidance of her owner. Sounds simple enough right? But it's not always that easy. A fearful/dominant dog like Gigi does not like to give up the control, because she does not feel safe, and has not learned to feel safe when she does. Unfortunately, this has been four to five years in the making before she was adopted. This is a really good reason for potential adopters and rescuers of dogs to read the article Behavioral Bends by Julia McDonough. It gives owners a heads up, and a reason to prepare with really excellent training immediately.

I would assume Gigi's problem is most likely that she was never exposed to anything before being abandoned. She may have been a dog that never left her home or immediate yard. It's also possible she had a traumatic experience from which she never got over when she was younger.

However, I think the first is the answer, as she has really no social skills with other dogs. In fact, her owners have commented on the doggy skills coming forward only now!! I really do think the only positive interaction Gigi ever had with dogs was here during her first three weeks. Can you imagine? That's a lot, even beyond training, for her to be taking in right now.