Necessary Conversation

Dealing with a shy, tender-hearted dog is still relatively new to me, making this so much harder to write. My previous three dogs were also shelter / rescue dogs. The two adult rottweilers clearly had a past but clearly appreciated me drawing a line in the sand for their guidance. I'm not saying I wasn't a pushover. Milly came to me understanding a litany of commands in both German and English. It took me about a week to surmise she would respond to the last one I tried! I made the switch to English only made when she failed to respond, I would show her. She quickly got the message that what Mamma says, goes.

Milly, Maggie and Mabel all tested me and pushed my limits in their first weeks with me. Eventually, I would feel threatened enough that I felt it was time to let them know I was the Alpha and I would pin them to the floor. Once that conversation was over with, the one exception being Mabel, it was never tested again.

Mabel Lou, as always, was a different story. She tested me throughout our twelve years and I would periodically remind her I was Alpha with a pin... usually in a play session that had gotten too rough. This happened maybe four times in twelve years.

And then there is the tender heart I live with now...

Macy is the oldest dog I've ever brought home. And the best behaved. Honestly, the worst thing I can say about her is I wish she stayed a bit closer on the trail. I wish her recall was better. But  she will often come when I, in exasperation, shout, "Find a good mom!" Then she will come find me...

She didn't want to get on the furniture... I taught her that. She allows me to work on the computer and do my thing... She never demands attention (I really should've known she wasn't a rotten!). She has come around to like petting, finally seeming to understand that my hand can mean good things. I have to remind myself to play with her! She seems to get that just because Mom is loud and boisterous doesn't not mean she is in trouble.  Macy does so many things right, but when I enter the room, her face will often flush with fear... What have I done wrong now?  Nothing my dear. You are beautiful, you are kind, you are sweet, you are important. I SEE you Macy Girl. I see YOU!  I tell her this daily.  It's nice to get lubs... Lubs don't have to hurt.

Except for the Biting:

Macy got into a cholla the other day. This one in her shoulder and many in the top of her head.  We were hiking alone and I knew I couldn't get them out of by myself. I phoned the hiking buddy and we stopped at her house. She had gloves and pliers ready. I removed my shoe lace to try and muzzle the girl.   Macy tries her best to bite us when we're trying to help.

I just couldn't seem to get the muzzle on her and before I knew what had happened, Macy had bit and scratched both of my arms.  She doesn't break the skin...but it's a frightening exchange and leaves me spent every time she tries this!

I think back on the pure bred rottweilers I've brought home as adults and the big powerful mix Mabel Lou was.  Collectively, the three of them snapped at me four times. I startled Milly awake... trying to put a sock on Maggie's cancer ridden foot and it HURT... Mabel with cholla twice.  but NEVER did they make contact! Not even that close. It was more of a "Hey, I don't like that but...ok..whatever...!" And it was over. 

Macy doesn't really bite that hard but my body parts are definitely ending up in her mouth!

Yep, I Have to Do This:

As she slid down from biting both my arms, landing in a "sit-pretty," she fell over. I found myself dropping with her, crawling up her body, no weight on her...just the threat of my body being up in her business. I calmly grabbed her throat, held her to the ground and in a low, calm voice told her, "I am your Alpha and forever Mom. I will never hurt you deliberately. It is not OK for you to bite me or your Aunties when we are helping you!"  She had been struggling but as I talked, she stopped. When she stopped, I caressed her and quickly got off of her. She stayed put for a second before her canine buddies rushed over to her and it was over.

That night she pouted and I fretted. Did I break my tender girl? A friend pointed out that if she was pouting, she was over it... I laughed and waited. By bedtime, she was cuddling for her usual two minutes and not a second longer.

A day later, my annual sinus infection hit with a vengeance. I had a fever of 102.5, crawling into bed, I was shocked Macy was joining me. She's slept with me for most of the last week, save for one night!

I hope we've turned another corner...