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Originally Posted by jsbart  I just have to brag on my Brodie. Today was his bath day which I had been dreading because that's when he is at his worst with the biting and I've been having to wear gloves. Today I had the gloves at hand but didn't put them on, and he did so good I didn't have to use them. I have to keep him soaped up for 5 min. with the Douxo and he eventually laid down and almost went to sleep while I massaged him. I was thrilled. He's still staying in the bathroom but not nearly as much and a couple of times he's come running to see me when I'd be outside and come in . I'll be gone for a while tommorow so we'll see how he acts when I come home. I have a feeling he's still going to pout and not come see me, but I'll just let him do his thing until he gets over it. I think he's made a lot of progress for such a short period of time. |
Oh, I think this is real progress. Keep up whatever you are doing, it's making him feel safe again and he's beginning to see things have changed and starting to heal. He'll get there - it's just that some dogs with troubled histories with humans have been through so much loss of trust, they just are quick to lose all of it all over again in their interactions with humans when things worry or frighten them. All rescues don't have the same history or even react the same to things that happen to them - just like people don't all react to trauma or trouble the same way.
I think you two are on the right track and if he were my dog, I'd keep ignoring him, allowing him to heal and begin to trust again(he got there during his bath!) and start to seek you out once he's more recovered and less anxious. I'd love to have the challenge of this dog and watch him come back to gain a wonderful relationship with humans again and count my successes more in terms of months rather than day-by-day and if he were actively seeking me out in a couple of months, I'd see that as a huge step forward and not worry so much how he's acting today or next week.
It's hard - but I'd take it at the dog's pace he sets - no need to speed things up - and allow him to make all the gestures of approaching and interaction and you will be able to tell when he's hungry for human companionship again and in time, even reward that and he'll begin to see it as a good thing in his life and learn he can fully trust you and humans again. Bless his heart - and yours - you've had a rocky time, but you are hanging in there in spite of being worried about being bitten by a scared and anxious dog and still wanting to help him! I'd say you are exceptional - have the inner desire and determination to hang it all out there for a troubled dog and I so admire that attitude and heart. So many people would have already given up on the dog but you have made it clear, you are going to help him. Thank you for helping these poor rescue dogs!