[YorkieSue]

I cannot tell ALL OF YOU how important this site, that I never participated in at all, has been to me in my 'Dixie Cup" crisis. Is this what is known as 'blogging?":-) Anyway, I am still not sure how to respond to everyone who has written as I am a little confused about getting around this site but I will assume that all of you will see this as you did my first plea for support.

I have now seen the vet (bloodwork and a complete physical) and the VET-behaviorist (not many of these around for sure as they are usually one or the other) and we are ruling out. BUT, AND IT'S A HAPPY "BUT', yesterday morning Dixie, for reasons known only to her and God, started to look at me again, come toward me, allow me to harness her and take it off and even allowed me to brush her a bit. Of course, I cried. Then I took her to the vet-behaviorist which wasn't easy either since Dixie in the car is and always has been hysterical, frightened and difficult. This is another whole issue and God, does Dixie has 'issues'. Dixie is my fourth Yorkie and I have NEVER, EVER had one this difficult or beautiful either. I meant to tell all of you that a while back when I found this site, I posted four photos of her and I think it is worth going there and seeing this beauty who is breaking my heart.

Anyway, the Behaviorist is just about POSITIVE that Dixie, last Thursday, when she suddenly went lame, which began this entire Cujo routine, must have been stung by SOMETHING that hurt her (Keep in mind that Dixie is extremely fragile emotionally and will lash out with those teeth at almost anything that personally intimidates her). AND THEN, when I brought Dixie into the house to try and look at that paw she was terrified and DID NOT WANT TO BE TOUCHED and well, she bit me. From that moment on, she flipped out and started hiding under furniture in what the behaviorist said was total fear and mistrust of this house and me. This is why when I got her out the door, she was much better. Of course, this is all guesswork but a lot of it made sense.

Anyway, I walked on eggs all day yesterday with Dixie and never took her off her lead IN THE HOUSE. Dr. Lindell thought this was a totally excellent idea and even before I saw her I noticed that Dixie was calming down a bit if only because the tether was keeping her from getting under things and turning into Cujo. The behaviorist suggested targeting and keeping a pillow in each room where she hides with a treat on them to lure her out but to NEVER, EVER go AFTER HER. Those were her two main suggestions:targeting as a game in each room to get Dixie comfy again IN HER OWN HOME and providing a lure (not me calling her or pushing her) that she could take or leave at her leisure as I LEAVE HER ALONE.

She felt certain that these past four days were episodic (esp since she saw Dixie's sweet personality at the facility--and please understand that DIXIE IS SWEET, FUNNY, ADORABLE, BRILLIANT but kinda shaky in the emotional dept which I have always known) and that Dixie, with the tether (this truly was the key if you ask me), treats, ignorning and calmness would 'come out of it'. And right now, I am afraid to breathe cause my little girl, this morning, is off her tether, has allowed me to brush her and is back at her windows making a general pain of herself by barking.

I never thought I would see the day when her barking would thrill me but OMG, Dixie seems to be back!!!! I could see that she was coming out of it BEFORE I took her for that $250 appt with the vet-behaviorist but still, she gave me some good ideas and will now be a 'free' consult for three months. This is included in her initial fee.

Anyway, whatever happened to this little beauty seems to be waning now and as time passes, Dixie seems to be forgettting what hurt and so frightened her. My God, what an ordeal this has been. And, I am not holding my breath that this will last but from what I am seeing now, I think it will until the next time she is terrified or hurt. She MUST HAVE BEEN STUNG BY SOMETHING OR STEPPED ON A THORN OR SOMETHING!!!! All if know is that I never, ever want to go thru anything like this again..I was soooooooo scared that I had "lost' my Yorkie that I adore; sooooo scared when my thoughts turned to..well, you know.

So far today (more happy tears from me) she has brought me her toys, barked in my face and out the window, accepted grooming and is at this moment bringing me her squeaky ball to play with her. This has to be how a parent feels when an autistic child recognizes her as Mom and even hugs her--the feeling I got today seeing Dixie almost normal is beyond description. Thank you all and again, I will keep you up to speed on this little 'almost' heartbreaker. Whew.....