We have made big progress today. When we got up this morning, there was a noticeable difference in Lexi’s attitude. The look in her face was less of a nervous, stressed, aggressive look, and more of a I want something from you look. I was able to stand next to her crate and look at her without a sound from her. The growling only began when I bent down to her level and spoke to her. When she was quiet for a little bit, I put my hand through the bars and scratched the top of her head. She melted. She began relaxing, and finally lay down.
After last night’s show when we tried to get Lexi outside, I knew I would need to have the leash on her to get her to leave the crate, let alone to get her outside. So I grabbed the leash and sat down beside the crate and waited. As she began to relax, I put my hand between the bars and scratched her. She melted again. As she relaxed more and more, she got closer to the bars. It was at this point that I was able to clip the leash to her collar.
I opened the door to the crate, and she stepped out timidly, but I couldn’t get to the leash. I convinced her to back into the crate again, and to move into the back of the crate so that I could pick up the leash. After unraveling it, I used it to guide her to the back door, and out into the yard. As I suspected, once outside, Lexi was much more comfortable with me. She didn’t feel trapped in the confinement of the house with no place to escape if something bad were to happen.
When we came back inside, I dropped the leash and allowed Lexi to roam around the front of the house. She drank water, sniffed around, and finally came to me and asked to be pet. My husband came in and met her. She decided he’s alright too. As Aaron and I sat and had coffee together, Lexi lay on the floor, watched chickens out the window, and found her way under the table and got comfortable.
I needed to work with another dog that I’m training, take care of my own dogs, and get some grocery shopping done, so it was time for Lexi to go back into her crate. I walked to her crate, and said, “Lexi, crate.” She growled from under the table. The leash was off of her at this point, and I wasn’t about to reach under the table and try to put it back on her, so I began pushing all of the chairs back in under the table until she came out. I was able to put the leash back on without incident and guide her back to the crate. I put her food into the crate with her, locked the top latch, and as I was locking the bottom one, she began growling. It is possible that being in the crate causes an immediate change in attitude. Or… She did eat for the first time since arriving.
When I made it home from shopping, Aaron mentioned to me that Lexi had howled a little bit. When it was time to let her out of the crate, I didn’t need to put the leash on her or do anything to persuade her. She came right out and got some water. I put the leash on her and took her outside. She went to the bathroom (#2) for the first time since arriving. Finally! We came back in and I let her roam around the front of the house. She met all of the kids, drank lots of water, and asked for food. I used the opportunity to work on “sit,” “down,” and “shake.” I then made her a bowl of food. I put her in her crate again with the food while she ate. After eating, I let her back out. She stretched out on the floor and just relaxed. When it was time to let the other dogs come into the living room, I first asked Lexi if she wanted outside. She ran from me, and hid behind Aaron, so I walked to her crate and asked her to kennel. She went right in.
She began growling again – I thought. This time, I don’t believe she was actually growling. I think she was complaining. The growls turned into whining, followed by soft barking. Night one and this morning at the beginning, Lexi was really growling, but this evening she was complaining. She’s already beginning to come out of her shell. I am looking forward to dryer weather when I can begin walking her in the back yard.
Lexi has a few health issues. She has a wound on her leg and the back of her ear, the inside of her ears are swollen, and she limps on her back, left leg. I am almost positive the wounds and the ear swelling is yeast and/or allergies. As soon as she finishes the bag of dog food given to me, I will be changing her diet. I have also started giving her probiotics and prebiotics from Nzymes*. I expect to see a difference within the next month. Along with the change in food, I plan to reduce the amount she eats. Keeping her weight down will help the problem in her back leg to heal or at least to feel better.
On a personal note, tonight has been a little difficult emotionally as we have noticed how similar Lexi is to our Roxie (who we lost almost a month ago). A lot of the looks she gives us as well as her snoring are big reminders.
Keep following Lexi to see how she does with formal training and correction.
*For more information on the pro- and pre-biotics I am giving to Lexi, go to www.nzymes.com.