(no subject)

[urocyon]

Dog training started earlier this morning than anticipated. Max got crated overnight--the Hall of Mirrors* comes in handy again! Ingvar took him out to pee before he left for work, so Max wouldn't stop barking and whining after he went back in the crate. It woke me up through earplugs at 7:30.

He got to go for a short walk, after I got some coffee in. I did let him out of the crate, but ignored his noise.

But, there's already some progress. Max is obviously used to people doing what he wants to stop his whining, and he's wanting to do a lot of nervous whining last night and this morning. Already he seems to be learning that it just is not getting him what he wants. I've just been going about my business, and paying attention to him when he stops making noise and acts calmer. Besides being annoying, being whiney nervous can't be pleasant for him. Encouraging that is about the worst approach I can think of.

He's been shut into the kitchen and TV room with me, so far this morning. If I leave, he whines, but he's already not keeping it up for nearly as long.

Feist is lurking in the TV room now, on the boxes in the corner, where she feels secure. I'm not sure where Punkin and Mirrors are. Mirrors approached me a couple of times last night for attention, when I went outside for a smoke. Right before bed, Max was in the crate, so I carried Mirrors inside. He saw that the dog was confined, but freaked at the whining and scrambled into the server room here. He probably went out again this morning. I think he will be less upset when the whining calms down; he was fairly calm, if wary, last night when Max was not actively barking or whining.

Edit: Speak of the Mirrors boy! Just a couple of minutes later, he's back in the server room, getting loved on. He must have been lurking in the library. Even with Max whining some, he's fairly calm, with a door between them!

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* This would be the cage Ingvar built for Mirrors to recuperate from his broken hip. It's got plastic mesh, but the spacing makes it difficult for Staffie jaws to grab onto. So far I don't think Max has tried to gnaw on it.*crosses fingers* Mirrors needed it again when he had surgery for a badly infected puncture wound, then Punkin was in there after her presumed run-in with the car. We've hung onto it, just in case!

Comments

[gipsy-dreamer.livejournal.com]

Sounds like really good progress is being made, and I agree that catering to the whining is about the worst thing you could do.

Seems that the cats are beginning to adjust to having a canine housemate now too :)

[vatine]

Mirrors was in the bed at 6 this morning, wanting attention. At that point, Max was making what sounded like dog-snore sounds, so I proceeded as normal in the morning. He was quite happy being taken outside for a brief walk, but I suspect future morning walks will actually feature "put coat on", as it got a wee bit chilly with just a tee on my upper body.