Gigi Has a New Family Friend

Paddington is a dog in Gigi's Owners' family. Previously, Gigi has not been able to warm up to or accept Paddington. Paddington is a super soft and submissive dog, and so he had come to be very worried about Gigi.

So we all decided to try a little camp Mannerly Mutts retreat for the Gigi and Paddington together. Sometimes the nervous energy of the owner or the stress of doing something so new and hard for the owner's learning curve (and Gigi is a tough little personality) can dampen the progress that owners can make on their own. In this case, that had come to a successful point, but had a hard time passing that one barrier.

The very first night, we started Gigi out in the crate with Paddington on the outside. Paddington was pretty worried about being in the same room with her. She did well once a couple of tantrums were over with, she stopped with the vocalizations that told me she was very worried about this as well. So then she was allowed out of the crate but with a muzzle on. Overall pretty good, some rushes at Paddington but very mild and obviously she was just trying to make a point.

I have noticed that Gigi is worried about dogs bigger than her. While we can never really get into the dogs' mind, from observation of her behavior, it seems she has the "I will get you first or I will be sure that I can push you around first syndrome". The handler needs to teach Gigi that this dog that she is meeting is not a threat, and therefore does not need her "treatment". The problem with the treatment being, is it's a big barrier for friendships with the other dog even being possible when she is acting like a nut. And not a nut in a good over the top play way either, but by trying to pile drive the other dog and dominate him or her.

Equally important in this case was to have Paddington's trust that Gigi was going to act appropriately (or as appropriately as a totally socially challenged dog can act) and that he can enjoy her and not worry about her. So once the muzzle on, we worked on some positive interactions. The first night, Paddington was like "no way am I going to trust this little black girl". Day two, he did not seek to hide from her as much, but I had to make him come up the stairs and be with us. By this time, Gigi had made her good intentions known to Paddington by doing the socially challenged Gigi back leg kick. Normally in most dogs, this is a warning move, but much experience with Gigi has taught me that this is HER invitation to play and be her friend. Gigi has not to date gone back on her friendship promise once this move rears it's head. Still Paddington, not familiar with this other Gigi, needed a bit more time before he could consider the friendship possibilites.

Day two and a half, Paddington is looking pretty comfortable around Gigi. His tail wags high when she is around, play bows are offered by Paddington, and he does not look to uncomfortable by her over the top "method" and play style. He is beginning to trust that this won't end badly for him now. Paddington starts coming up the stairs to seek out Gigi and everyone's company on his own steam today. There are about six or seven play sessions with Gigi and Paddington involved with each other. Gigi has tried humping him a few times, and has been discouraged from that particular activity. (I should also mention that on day one, Gigi tried to hump my husband). Especially when Gigi wants to play, and Paddington is lying there, she tries to hump him when she gets discouraged that he is not moving. Other dogs here have told her to bugger off, but Paddington being unusually soft and submissive does not. So the owners and handlers need to tell her to cut that out (just in case, it doesn't mean a dog is going to do anything bad, but avoiding this can cut down on a lot of future problems. Other dogs can just misunderstand this move and attack).

Gigi is very intrigued with Paddington's hair as well. I have just realized that she hasn't met any real long haired dogs here. She seems to seek through his fur, as if to confirm there is actually a dog in there LOL. Crossing my fingers that this goes as swimmingly on the way home:)