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Originally Posted by Luvdogs2  I hear you. I'm no newbie when it comes to forum activity so I'm pretty familiar with keyboard commandos and trolls along with all varying forms of patrons. My ignore list is getting a bit bigger, but the important information is making it's way here too.
DamSweet, have you had any experiences that sound familiar to mine or is it a whole different ball game in your home? |
Not totally different - but I think that I pretty much knew what to expect when I decided to get Bridget - I knew there would be difficult areas - potty training - at the top of the list. Bridget trained very easily (bless her heart). She is pee pad trained - she has (had - she now has a room mate) her own room which is gated. She is gated while I'm at work or anytime I need to leave the house. She is now 1 year old and I wouldn't hesitate to let her have free run of the house if it weren't for the things she could get into that would be harmful (jumping off furniture for example). Greta, who is our new girl, is having a hard time with the potty training - I have lined my hall (her favorite spot to "go") with pee pads, and she will walk over them or find the one place where the carpet is not covered and use that. I did order an indoor potty system - hoping the "grass" will attract her. She was used to going outdoors at her other home - but this is Erie, PA and the winters are not little dog friendly. Right now she thinks the pee pads have been put there for her entertainment - but she'll get it, it took me a long time to potty train my son - and I don't expect anything less from Greta. Not to mention, I'm sure that she "smells" Bridgets accidents on the carpet, which I'm sure is not helping.
Bridget went through some posessive issues - food, toys, and me. She snapped a few times when I tried to take a treat from her. I know - its her treat - but I have a grandson who was just 8 months old at the time, and I had to be sure she wouldn't bite him if he approached her. I as I would take one treat from her - I would replace it with something else she liked - so she didn't feel like she was "losing" anything. She would also growl and jump on my older grandson, and my fiance when either would come near me - but only if she were there first. They learned to distract her by playing with her for a few seconds first. It made it all about her - and not so much about me, and she associated them coming over to us with having fun. I was very nervous about getting Greta, because Bridget did seem so posessive and definately the "alpha" - but they both have two different personalities (Greta is much more easy going and laid back than Bridget)so it has worked out well.
Not having children....and not being a woman, I'm not sure you'll understand - but it's like having children......the outcome far outways the pain of the labor.
Good luck - and hang in there....it will happen when you least expect it. (I've learned not to expect it - so when it happened it was a pleasant surprise). Relax and enjoy her - I guarantee - she'll make you smile at least a million times a day!