SageHill
Herd Master
What a sweetie.
Caleb's Chronicles
- Thread starter fuzzi
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #522
I woke up about 5am this morning to Caleb's barking. He sounded frantic.
And then came a rumble of thunder.
I waited a couple minutes, then walked out to the kitchen where Caleb could see me from his crate. I didn't look at him, nor speak to him. I checked the roast cooking in the Crock Pot, got myself a glass of water, put away some clean dishes sitting in the drainer...and headed back to bed. There was no more noise from Caleb, but there also was no more thunder.
I recall he had a meltdown on New Year's Eve, and I'm hoping to nip this in the bud. My previous dog, Cleo, had thunder/fireworks anxiety as well, and nothing we tried helped. Once she became deaf she was fine.
Hmm. Do they make ear plugs for dogs?
And then came a rumble of thunder.
I waited a couple minutes, then walked out to the kitchen where Caleb could see me from his crate. I didn't look at him, nor speak to him. I checked the roast cooking in the Crock Pot, got myself a glass of water, put away some clean dishes sitting in the drainer...and headed back to bed. There was no more noise from Caleb, but there also was no more thunder.
I recall he had a meltdown on New Year's Eve, and I'm hoping to nip this in the bud. My previous dog, Cleo, had thunder/fireworks anxiety as well, and nothing we tried helped. Once she became deaf she was fine.
Hmm. Do they make ear plugs for dogs?
- Thread starter
- #523
After church I took Caleb for a ride to the shopping center about a mile away. I parked, left him in the car while I went in to Dollar Tree. After stowing my purchases we went for a walk around the parking lots.
Dollar Tree behind us, car wash and McDonald's ahead.
Caleb seemed to be fine until I started walking us through the car wash area. I think the big vacuum sounds freaked him. So I stood quietly until he wasn't as upset, then walked on the far edge away from the equipment. I circled us around the automated building, then had him sit to let it sink in that it was not quite as scarey as he thought at first.
Then I lead him through McDonald's lot, which had many interesting bushes. We crossed over the driveway, around the drainage pond, across the parking lot, and back to Dollar Tree.
And walked the sidewalk in front of all the shops.
The Dollar Tree is way down on the right by the second stop sign.
Then we circled the entire parking lot, back to my car which was way over on the left.
Caleb was still a little worked up when we got home, gutted a new squeak toy, but has settled down in his crate.
I'd like to travel some this year, but Caleb is going to need to be able to handle new places and experiences first.
Dollar Tree behind us, car wash and McDonald's ahead.
Caleb seemed to be fine until I started walking us through the car wash area. I think the big vacuum sounds freaked him. So I stood quietly until he wasn't as upset, then walked on the far edge away from the equipment. I circled us around the automated building, then had him sit to let it sink in that it was not quite as scarey as he thought at first.
Then I lead him through McDonald's lot, which had many interesting bushes. We crossed over the driveway, around the drainage pond, across the parking lot, and back to Dollar Tree.
And walked the sidewalk in front of all the shops.
The Dollar Tree is way down on the right by the second stop sign.
Then we circled the entire parking lot, back to my car which was way over on the left.
Caleb was still a little worked up when we got home, gutted a new squeak toy, but has settled down in his crate.
I'd like to travel some this year, but Caleb is going to need to be able to handle new places and experiences first.
SageHill
Herd Master
You're doing a great job. 
- Thread starter
- #525
Thank you! I would like to get Caleb to the point where he's not easily agitated.You're doing a great job.
Baymule
Herd Master
Caleb is making such progress!
- Thread starter
- #527
- Thread starter
- #528
Tomorrow I'm designated driver for a friend getting a colonoscopy, and Caleb will have to deal with some confinement. So when said friend needed a ride to the store to pick up the preparatory items, I took Caleb along. While friend was shopping I walked Caleb up to the grocery store entrance where he observed automatic doors. Hmm. Then we took a lap around the parking lot before getting in the car and coming home.
The wind was really damp and cold, so I skipped the nature trail walk. Instead I took Caleb for a walk down our street...turned right and kept going. We had a gauntlet of sorts, a large and apparently aggressive Pyr mix behind a fence. We were on the other side of the street but Caleb was still very anxious. Once we were past the dog Caleb relaxed, sniffing around, and enjoying the new territory experience.
We crossed the street at the next main road and headed back. Just before reaching the house with the large dog I crossed us back over the road, kept walking. Big dog started barking, Caleb was anxious, but I stopped, stood still, and Caleb started sniffing the ground, aware of but not reacting as much to the dog. Then we moved on. Caleb showed an almost perfect heel the rest of the walk.
Later I took him in the backyard with his new tennis ball and his 20' leash. We trained on sit-wait while ball was thrown, release, bring back, sit and drop. Caleb understands what he's supposed to do, but it's so hard to obey!
I think I wore him out.
The wind was really damp and cold, so I skipped the nature trail walk. Instead I took Caleb for a walk down our street...turned right and kept going. We had a gauntlet of sorts, a large and apparently aggressive Pyr mix behind a fence. We were on the other side of the street but Caleb was still very anxious. Once we were past the dog Caleb relaxed, sniffing around, and enjoying the new territory experience.
We crossed the street at the next main road and headed back. Just before reaching the house with the large dog I crossed us back over the road, kept walking. Big dog started barking, Caleb was anxious, but I stopped, stood still, and Caleb started sniffing the ground, aware of but not reacting as much to the dog. Then we moved on. Caleb showed an almost perfect heel the rest of the walk.
Later I took him in the backyard with his new tennis ball and his 20' leash. We trained on sit-wait while ball was thrown, release, bring back, sit and drop. Caleb understands what he's supposed to do, but it's so hard to obey!
I think I wore him out.
- Thread starter
- #529
This afternoon I did a little puttering in the garden beds, mainly pulling up weeds which I then fed to the chickens.
Back in the house I heard Caleb growling in the kitchen. Concerned, I got up quietly and looked where Caleb was standing, growling.
This was what had him concerned...
...turnips and carrots I'd pulled up earlier!
As I've mentioned before Caleb loves his soccer ball, plays with it while on his tie out cable. Sometimes when I toss it it goes past his range, and I have to retrieve it. Recently I've noticed he chases it just to the side, as if he's herding it, and is keeping the ball from going too far.
Back in the house I heard Caleb growling in the kitchen. Concerned, I got up quietly and looked where Caleb was standing, growling.
This was what had him concerned...
...turnips and carrots I'd pulled up earlier!
As I've mentioned before Caleb loves his soccer ball, plays with it while on his tie out cable. Sometimes when I toss it it goes past his range, and I have to retrieve it. Recently I've noticed he chases it just to the side, as if he's herding it, and is keeping the ball from going too far.
That boy has so much personality!This afternoon I did a little puttering in the garden beds, mainly pulling up weeds which I then fed to the chickens.
Back in the house I heard Caleb growling in the kitchen. Concerned, I got up quietly and looked where Caleb was standing, growling.
This was what had him concerned...
View attachment 126131
...turnips and carrots I'd pulled up earlier!
As I've mentioned before Caleb loves his soccer ball, plays with it while on his tie out cable. Sometimes when I toss it it goes past his range, and I have to retrieve it. Recently I've noticed he chases it just to the side, as if he's herding it, and is keeping the ball from going too far.
