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Originally Posted by matese  Have to agree with the lotta trauma.
Appox. how old is Maggie, I have forgotten since your last post of when you adopted her
As for nipping at your bros heels, dogs feed off our emotions, this is your dog, you are the one that walks her, feeds her, and sooths her when she is frightened. By the tone of your voice and your inner emotions, Maggie was defending you.
Her being easily spooked / alert, again, you don't know her past, she may have had to lived on the streets, always being alert to her surroundings, other dogs, mean ppl.
Dogs know / sense what our disabilities are, she is aware of your poor eye sight therefore goes into protective mode with her 5 steps. It sounds like you keep Maggie away from ppl that come into your house, I am just assuming this by what you wrote. If this is so, by keeping her from not meeting these ppl is telling her they are a danger and reason she goes into her 5 stages. Also sounds like she has not been socialized with all types of ppl since you have her.
The neighbor incident sounds like those two kids were teasing Maggie, not a good thing for her and it was a wise choice to go indoors, why have Maggie upset and set her off.
Getting back to ppl coming into the house and Maggie's 4 growls the 5th-biting. Is it possible when you know someone is going to be coming into your house, put her harness on and attach the leash, have treats on you, while holding the leash allow her to meet / greet the ppl or person, let her sniff them so she will learn their scent, let her ease into this and reward with a treat if she doesn't growl at them, then take her back to where ever she was before you put the harness on her. Repeat this when ever someone comes to your house, you can also give the visitor a treat to give to Maggie, Maggie will then associate this person or ppl as a good thing because they give her treats. By not allowing Maggie to meet the ppl she is growling at is like telling her these are bad, stay away, so what Maggie is doing is protecting you from these bad ppl.
Putting bootie's on a dog is a lot different then putting a sweater or coat on them. These are their feet and covering their feet is weird to them, some will freeze like a statue. not move lol, funny. It' s a very strange feeling to them and they need to learn how to walk with them on, that's why you need to get the correct size for them, it is not a "one size fits all". You need a lot of patience and have her wear them and practice how to walk one step at a time and reward with treats when she takes each step with the booties on. These practice lessons should be indoors. Don't expect to put booties on her, take her out and she'll go trotting off, nope, not gonna happen lol. She has to learn how to walk in the booties. |
If she doesn't put her booties on; then she'll have to get used to doing her business quick because where I live it'll likely be full of snow often in winter.
As for the alertness, I myself am alert. I personally had emotional trauma as a kid(I lived in a very rough area) so I am cautious everywhere, anywhere. Not paranoid or anything-- just straight out vigilant. I don't expect things to go south everytime I walk out my door-- I am just prepared I guess? I don't particularly live in a good neighborhood now either. It's going to sound offensive, but it's a neighborhood with people being on a much much lower income than average. Now I am not saying that is a bad thing-- but I've had experiences with that... in places like that is where I used to get jumped and beaten just to have my money stolen... which the ironic part of it is that I too was, and still am not super well off-- thus I live there. So why would I have any money on me if I was just a kid at the time? lol just the thought process doesnt make sense to me.
But I digress, my mom is less nervous than me and she's still like that when she walks outside with her. Shes not nervous- just alert/vigilant.
There are times I am spaced out, and have what I call my "dopey moments" where I feel nothing, nor am I thinking of anything. Even times like that, she's like that...
I do see pretty badly. I just broke my smaller toe nail (the smallest toes') by seeing the wall farther than it is and I hit it pretty hard against the corner of the wall. Didn't realize it broke until I saw blood on my carpet. So I guess she might pick on that.
For some reason she likes heavier petting. Sometimes I am just goofing off with her and I dont pet her hard where it hurts, but if I do that to the other dog she won't like it. But maggie treats it like its a face massage; because if I stop doing it she starts licking my hands like crazy(I think she knows I dont like drool lol) until I continue petting her like that. I dont know how to explain it without showing it. Because the way I am probably making it sounds is if I am being way too rough-- to the point I could be hurting her. But she's not in pain from it. When I do that she seems less tense and sleeps on my arms.
I've been giving her "me-time" for a few weeks because I also dont want her to get separation anxiety like the other one. It seems to do wonders. Then I spend time with her at random times of the day of my personal choosing so she doesnt get used to a set schedule of cuddle time. Because I noticed the other dog if you did that-- she'd bark non stop if you werent there at that time
Anywho yeah I was very uncomfortable that day and I think I was agitated but I didnt say anything. I guess I was agitated as much as she was; but being he's my brother I tried to calm down and not get out of hand or anything.
She's okay with him at times... If hes not stomping around the floor like he usually does with his heavy breathing. Idk how to explain it.He just has a strong character I guess.