Well, I went to the vet today with Cookie. She said he's fine...no fever, weight's fine, etc. Just to be on the safe side, I'm having a $96 blood panel done to rule out any probs. Although I believe that everything is most likely behavioral, I just feel better having this done once since we haven't had him his entire life.
She's very big on Cesar Milan and recommended that I get one of his books. I already read one, and I have mixed feelings about his methods. I'll probably reread something (or borrow the dvd from the library) to see if there's anything I want to use here.
In the meantime, I am feeding every piece of his food by hand and making him earn it by doing commands (sit, paw, down, etc.). I did do some of the Cesar stuff, like making him sit before going out for a walk and having him walk beside me rather than ahead of me. I'm also keeping him off of the furniture for now.
Believe it or not, YEA!...he didn't bite me tonight or act up. I don't know if it's b/c he spent the night in the crate last night (he never sleeps in that...only when we first adopted him...before we trusted him) or b/c I've been doing more of the obedience stuff. Who knows....just....please...pray it works.
Oh...I also put some of his kibble in the end of a kong bone and he was focused on that for a while in the living room. (but he was good before that, too). I think I'm going to use that more. When I reprimanded my roommate for allowing him to jump on the chair with her (and taking a good minute and some petting before she put him on the floor), he started to bark a couple of times, but then put the bone in his mouth and shut up...almost like he was trying to control himself.
Again...please say some prayers that things stay good. I have a constant knot in my stomach right now.
Kathy |