Sorry I am just now catching up on your progress... great! And good to still meet with the behaviorist... being there and seeing the personalities interacting can help a lot.
I can't say I no longer have to pay attention and not watch for bad behavior, most of the bad behavior has stopped but every now and then, somebody tries to start something. It is easier to deal with now, because I can usually tell what's going on and who the culprit is by their growls and barks, and they will stop when they hear my voice, so I don't have to be right on top of them all the time. Plus my Biewer has turned out to be quite the little tattletale, and she'll come running to me out of the blue and will try to get up in my lap, usually in a panic, either for protection or to let me know something's up with one of the others. I never ignore this behavior in her, I always stop what I'm doing and go check on all of them.
And yes, puppies will play, also young adults and seniors too, lol. But by watching them, I have learned a lot about their triggers and reactions, so I can intervene, keeping the fights to a minimum and teaching them how to get along with each other in ways that I approve. And in watching them, I have learned also things that are acceptable to them, and I have found special qualities in each that endears each one to me. So each one is special to me, and we don't end up playing the favorites game. Each one is my favorite, in their own way. |