Caleb's Chronicles

[farmerjan]

Good question. He was acting up worse after letting him run, he was out of control, couldn't calm down.

I was thinking the other day of trying it again now that he's more settled in, and not fresh out of the shelter.

He hasn't run himself enough to get tired out.... still wound up means there was still more energy there... and he is still young.....
Your way might be what he needs..... controlled, calm...... I have never had a dog that could not get out and just run /play/ roughhouse until they got it out of their system....

 

[fuzzi]

He hasn't run himself enough to get tired out.... still wound up means there was still more energy there... and he is still young.....
Your way might be what he needs..... controlled, calm...... I have never had a dog that could not get out and just run /play/ roughhouse until they got it out of their system....

I did walk him this afternoon, and he eased down. Once we got back he ripped up an already gutted toy. I see him bringing his own anxiety level down, learning to cope.

This evening my kidney stones are back, and he KNEW. Was acting up, almost in my lap. I had to crate him early so I could go lie down.

 

[SageHill]

Sage needs to "get her zoomies" out. Typically that's a walk (I walk, she zooms) to the barn and back. There are spots where she has to mind - mostly that's when we walk passed the corral where the sheep are sometimes. At that point she has to follow -- I just hold a treat (piece of Pupperoni) behind me. She gets it when we get to the front of the barn. She really doesn't need that now - but I'll still reinforce with it. The rest of the dogs also know that as it is something I train so I can blaze the way on nope rope scoping (watching out for rattlers).

 

[fuzzi]

Pain is gone this morning!

See the coffee thread for anecdotal evidence for the pain relief.

Going to go walk Caleb now.

 

[fuzzi]

After Caleb had his morning walk, I put him on his cable while I did chicken chores. He has a ball and some sticks within reach, but usually just lies down and watches from a distance.

A little later we did an Aldi's and Wawa walk, around the buildings, across the parking lots, and on the sidewalk along the busy street.

The wind was blowing, causing the dumpster corral gates to rattle. That was a little concerning, so I stood next to the gates, quietly. Within a couple minutes Caleb decided that the gates weren't as scary as he'd originally thought.

So exciting!

It was mentally stimulating, so he's been sleeping next to my chair on and off this afternoon.

 

[fuzzi]

I watched Debbie and Caleb play just now.

Debbie'd run down the hall and into the bathroom. Caleb would run after her, then spin and zoom back. Debbie would follow Caleb, then duck behind a tote in the hallway. Caleb would run up to the tote, Debbie would pounce, and Caleb would spin and zoom away.

It made me laugh.

 

[drstratton]

I watched Debbie and Caleb play just now.

Debbie'd run down the hall and into the bathroom. Caleb would run after her, then spin and zoom back. Debbie would follow Caleb, then duck behind a tote in the hallway. Caleb would run up to the tote, Debbie would pounce, and Caleb would spin and zoom away.

It made me laugh.

I love that they are friends now!

 

[fuzzi]

This morning I noticed something stuck in Caleb's fur, on his right front leg. I slid my hand down to feel the item, and Caleb growled. I said low and firm, "No sir" and touched the spot, and Caleb exploded, did corn on the cob mouthing on my arm. I said again stern but quiet "No sir". I was flabbergasted, his over the top reaction was something new to me. There were no marks on my skin, he did not bite.

I spoke on the phone with his foster, the dog trainer. She said it's her opinion that he's still traumatized by the vet visit. She offered to come over to help look at whatever was on Caleb's leg, as I thought it might be a tick.

Caleb was very happy to see his foster, and we three walked around the yard for a bit. Then she offered to hold him while I examined what was on this leg. He reacted the same with her as with me earlier, but I was able to cut off the item, looked like a blob of tree sap.

As with me, he did not actually bite her, but was so scared that he eliminated on himself. Poor pup.

Afterwards he was still our friends, and accepted chest and tummy rubs, but we left his legs and paws alone.

We're going to work together on desensitizing him to being touched on his extremities.

I feel bad, he's been making so much progress but then something like a loose dog or dumb vet tech sets him back again.

At least he's still friends with Debbie.

 

[RR Homestead]

You are doing so well with him. He will get there. You are patient and reach out for help with his foster who he trusts as well when you need it. That's huge. I have had the same issues with our pets over the years when it comes to loose dogs. With our last girls I made the mistake of taking them to a dogs park to socialist them when they were young. They were attacked by a dog who's owner was convinced her dog was "just playing" and was fine. I learned my lesson on dog parks. They never got over the fear. We didn't have access to good natured dogs to socialize with so we weren't able to work through it when they were young. They were fantastic ranch/herding dogs but had zero trust of other dogs after that attack.
I know that you will get him through each of these challenges. You've brought him so far already. Keep finding ways to get him through it. Now you know what to work on as far as his trauma from the vet.

 

[Baymule]

Caleb has come so far, keep doing what you are doing. He may always be a special project deep down, but you sure can make and have made his life tremendously better.