I realized when I got home today that I didn't update you guys on Fletch and my brother. I realized it when I got home and Fletch was in the hallway barking like crazy at my brother. Lots of barking, several growls, and a couple of snaps is basically what has happened over the last two days. The brother is not happy at all. Any ideas? Fletch won't take a treat that is tossed by my brother - he won't go near it. If I pick it up and try to give it to him - no go either. If I take the same type treat from the bag, he does fine. To test things, I kept the dogs in my room and had Steve put their food in the bowls. Jazz ate hers, but Fletch goes near the bowl, but won't eat from it. Suggestions?
time is going to be your best friend here I would guess...
with hachi, we make a 'trail' to John with treats right after her panic mode (or if we can anticipate it, before it). they have to be something very high value and the last is in his hand.
Staticnfuzz said that if you have the feared person hold a wooden spoon with a high value treat in it and have the dog take it and work slowly until the spoon in is his hand, than work the treat from his hand.
Maybe he can initiate a play session with Fletch and Jazz? or just Jazz and fletch can watch w/o being coddled for any snarkies he displays?
I don't know if you'd consider it but having the pen out with hachi in it to observe John day to day has really lessened her reactiveness to him.
And remember what you told me to do? ) Try to get fletch to sit on your side with your bro on the other side and slowly get fletch to sit next to the bro.
Seriously though, its all about the time factor and making sure you (or your bro) are working towards a trust understanding with fletch. i hope it all works out! Tell your brother to hang in there! I have to remind John to hang in there every day, but it is getting considerably better as the time goes on.
It's not a panic mode - which is the part I don't get. I did try the sitting thing, but I can't Fletch to sit if my brother is in sight - I'm going to keep trying - I'm just a little frustrated.
i didn't think he was in panic, but if he fears him in any way, those are the suggestions that we've been using successfully!
dave has a point - i've had John walk hachi since day one, and she is super calm with him outdoors, he can even lean in to pet her without her flinching outside on a walk, and he'll talk to her on a walk - its an extraordinary bonding time.
LJ - Your new pup is cute, the park pics area great and things seem to be going well. I'm sure Jazz will need a little adjustment but things have gone really well so far. I'm happy for you. Congrats again!
Rachael / Dave - That pic of Sasha is very cute.
Alex - Buckle your pup in the backseat, its not worth the risk.
Steve has walked Fletch every day...however, Fletch won't allow Steve to leash him (snarls), the entire time he's walking, Fletch is pulling and barking at him.
LJ - I think Fletch is going to need some rough love. I think your brother should do EVERYTHING for fletch. Walk him, feed him, etc.
If he doesn't eat his food within 30 minutes, pick up and don't let him eat it. Keep repeating...he is going to get hungry and eventually eat probably after the first day of not eating. Keep things routine. Is your brother not very confident with Fletch? Or is he even maybe scared of Fletch? I would suggest running with Fletch versus walking. It's hard to bark and pull while running and dogs' seem to lose their fears while running or moving fast.
It is important that your brother does not back down from Fletch. And it is even more important that you do not coddle Fletch when he acts the way he does towards your brother. Also - try to avoid all attention seeking behavior.
Does Fletch act this way only with your brother? Or with all Men?
Steve isn't scared of Fletch - he's like me on the puzzled factor. Due to Steve's whacked schedule, he's not able to have as much involvement with Fletch that he had with Jazz. My brother is a big guy - 6'6, 250 lbs - Fletch also barks at my elder brother in the same manner, he's 6'4, 270 lbs - maybe it's a thing with big, tall, white guys?? He's been around several men in my presence, but none as big as my brothers.
Fletch isn't the coddling type - he definitely has more of the shibatude concerning being loved on - I have been watching how I treat Jazz and Fletch and making sure that they get equal time & play and not giving in when Jazz is jealous.
What about I walk Fletch and Steve walks Jazz in a different direction and we pass by one another?
Other than my mom (5'3"), I was the shortest in my family at 5'11" - I am the "baby girl" and always wanted to be tall like my brothers (6'6", 6'4", 6'3") - my dad was 6'3".
WOW! Your family has some height! Maybe it is the fact that they are so tall - since he is ok with men that aren't as tall. I think you just have to keep it consistent and take really small steps. You might want to look in to reading "The Cautious Canine" by Patricia McConnell. She gives great training tips on how to slowly overcome fears step by step.
My dad's parents were both over 6', but my mom's were both under 5'! I'll check into the book and hopefully can find a good solution. Both of my brothers also wear the same aftershave, so Steve is not using it this week either. My brother and my nephew use the same brand deodorant and soap, so we know it isn't that, since Fletch is fine with Steven (he's 5'11" and weighs in at 160 lbs).
Might be a size thing. I'd help you, if I was near you since I'm about the same size as your brothers, but I'm not being very helpful on this side of the Atlantic :-) Do you know anyone else that is about the same size as your brothers, to test that?
LJ-Fletch didnt have any reactions with Chad. Chad is 6'3 260? It may be that we were at the park but he interacted well with Chad. We will see how he does at the meetup and I will tell Chad to give Fletch some extra attention.
Apparently he has limped off & on for a while. I've gotten the previous vets' info and have called them. We are in the process of getting copies of his records. At just over 3 months, he was seen by the vet (June 07) because he was limping and favoring his rear left leg. It turns out there was a break. The vet says, "The owner was unsure what happened, but knew he did fall down a hill." He was seen in July 07 and it was noted that he had 85-90% of usage of the leg, no additional information was given to me over the phone - hence the formal request for the record.
We'll be headed to my vet tomorrow so she can take a look at him.
Well, I didn't want to post this comment, but I need to get it over with...Fletch will be going back to his foster home of my friend Amber. She's says there were a couple of other people interested in Fletch, so I feel confident he will soon have a permanent home. He's still barks at my two brothers and yesterday began sneak nipping my brother when he'd walk down the hall. Steve, while loving dogs, isn't used to having a dog not respond to him quickly.
I don't know what to say...I'm gonna miss this guy.
Yes, I am - I told this to Rach on the phone today that further explained my brother's feeling better. When I told him that I wanted to get a 2nd shiba through rescue, he thought I was talking a couple of years down the road (like the 3 years that it took me to get Jazz), not "oh, by the way, I'm bringing one home tomorrow". If I had understood his feeling about a 2nd dog better, I wouldn't have brought him into the house. The good thing out of this is that I know that Jazz can play/live/be around a 2nd shiba and do quite well.
Thanks! I really didn't want to make the post and don't really want to give him back either. However, he deserves a home where everyone is going to work with him and be a part of his life, instead of doing it out of obligation. He's a good dog - I'm glad I'll still get to see him at meetups, though.
Comments
with hachi, we make a 'trail' to John with treats right after her panic mode (or if we can anticipate it, before it). they have to be something very high value and the last is in his hand.
Staticnfuzz said that if you have the feared person hold a wooden spoon with a high value treat in it and have the dog take it and work slowly until the spoon in is his hand, than work the treat from his hand.
Maybe he can initiate a play session with Fletch and Jazz? or just Jazz and fletch can watch w/o being coddled for any snarkies he displays?
I don't know if you'd consider it but having the pen out with hachi in it to observe John day to day has really lessened her reactiveness to him.
And remember what you told me to do?
Seriously though, its all about the time factor and making sure you (or your bro) are working towards a trust understanding with fletch. i hope it all works out! Tell your brother to hang in there! I have to remind John to hang in there every day, but it is getting considerably better as the time goes on.
dave has a point - i've had John walk hachi since day one, and she is super calm with him outdoors, he can even lean in to pet her without her flinching outside on a walk, and he'll talk to her on a walk - its an extraordinary bonding time.
Rachael / Dave - That pic of Sasha is very cute.
Alex - Buckle your pup in the backseat, its not worth the risk.
----
If he doesn't eat his food within 30 minutes, pick up and don't let him eat it. Keep repeating...he is going to get hungry and eventually eat probably after the first day of not eating. Keep things routine. Is your brother not very confident with Fletch? Or is he even maybe scared of Fletch? I would suggest running with Fletch versus walking. It's hard to bark and pull while running and dogs' seem to lose their fears while running or moving fast.
It is important that your brother does not back down from Fletch. And it is even more important that you do not coddle Fletch when he acts the way he does towards your brother. Also - try to avoid all attention seeking behavior.
Does Fletch act this way only with your brother? Or with all Men?
Fletch isn't the coddling type - he definitely has more of the shibatude concerning being loved on - I have been watching how I treat Jazz and Fletch and making sure that they get equal time & play and not giving in when Jazz is jealous.
What about I walk Fletch and Steve walks Jazz in a different direction and we pass by one another?
I'm sure with time Fletch'll eventually get to the point where he can tolerate him.~
Do you know anyone else that is about the same size as your brothers, to test that?
Apparently he has limped off & on for a while. I've gotten the previous vets' info and have called them. We are in the process of getting copies of his records. At just over 3 months, he was seen by the vet (June 07) because he was limping and favoring his rear left leg. It turns out there was a break. The vet says, "The owner was unsure what happened, but knew he did fall down a hill." He was seen in July 07 and it was noted that he had 85-90% of usage of the leg, no additional information was given to me over the phone - hence the formal request for the record.
We'll be headed to my vet tomorrow so she can take a look at him.
Good luck, LJ! Fletch is one lucky dog now!
I don't know what to say...I'm gonna miss this guy.