[salazark]

I'm still working with Beemer but it is slow, slow going. He is very hesitant about even walking in the door. Once inside, he will do a few behaviors - he lasts about 5-10 minutes and then he shuts down. He just curls up in a ball and lays on the floor. We've been trying to catch him just before he shuts down and leave with him. I don't think it's working. This session he is in agility - with the idea that it's very different from most of the other classes and a lot of it will be outside. Honestly, until he gets over his fear of that room, I don't think there's much point. We've decided that I'm only going to bring him if the weather is nice and we're going to be outside. This part is my idea but they think it's worth a try. I think he needs to be inundated with that room. It will be difficult with my job but I think I need to take him there every day for five to ten minutes when there aren't any dogs around and just get him back to comfortable in the room. After that, we're going to begin to introduce well trained dogs into the room with him - not in a play atmosphere but on leash in a training type of environment. If we actually get to that point, then I think maybe he will be ready for a class again. It still just breaks my heart to see him - no-one there ever sees his impish little personality that I know he has. We are not even close to this being over. It's been five months. I just hope that I'm doing the right thing and one day we'll be past it. The director did tell me that he may never be the same dog as he was before this happened. I hope we can at least get closer than we are now.

Once again, if you've read this - thanks for reading my book.