And we just keep at it...

This is a photo of Oliver coming when called. I just love his enthusiasm.

We've had some up days and some down days but mostly, he's doing quite well. He is still barking his head off and there are times when he growls and snaps when someone tries to pick him up. He will let you pick him up most of the time and I am having some challenges figuring our what it is that triggers his dislike of being picked up. I can tell if he is going to have trouble with it but have no idea what it is that sets him off. Some of it is over excitement I think but there seems to be something else because sometimes when he's super excited, he will still let us pick him up.

I think I may start picking him up more often and then just put him back down after treating him. I think I have been picking him up when I wanted to move him somewhere instead of just picking him up. Maybe that'll help. We shall see.

And, here he is sitting when asked.

Lest you think all is dismal here with Oliver

Here Oliver is with my dogs sitting quietly for a treat after going out for a potty break. Not only does he sit quietly, but he is doing it for my husband who has never asked for a it with the other dogs before. Actually, I'm not training a clued sit. I'm training a default sit for greeting. No treat unless all 4 feet are on the ground. And it's very hard for this little bundle of energy. He is super smart and loves to figure out what you want him to do. Oh, please, someone who really wants a smart dog, find us!!! I have GOT to start videoing our training sessions. he just amazes me.

Snarl and snap

Oliver just snarled and snapped at me. It was kind of half hearted but he was digging in the bushes i the back yard and I called him to come in the house and he ignored me. I went over to get him and had a treat in my hand. He snarled and snapped at my hand but pretty quickly calmed down and let me pick him up and took treats from me. My husband is due home soon. I'm interested in seeing how he handles that.

Wishin' and Prayin'

Yesterday was another tough day. He's getting more and more anxious and barking at every slight sound. My dogs are getting anxious from his anxious demeanor. Last night  my puppy growled, barked, and lunged at the cat. Up until now, she has been so gentle and loving with her. So this morning I ran down to the pet store and got some calming drops. I've never used them but I felt like I had to do something. If they don't make a difference, I may try my vet. Or, I may bite the bullet and try the vet behaviorist. She's very expensive but we can't go on like this.

I don't know if it's the calming solution or what but he slept a good bit this morning  I took him for a walk around the neighborhood and have been keeping him in the ex pen most of the time. He has his big bed in there and he just curls up in it. When he's out with my dogs though, it's a different matter. He picks on my Cavalier and he and my puppy were far too rough. He still barks at everything. And both of my dogs are barking more now. My husband has been at work today so the house has been quiet. We'll see what happens when he gets home.

We worked for about 1/2 hour this afternoon on sit, down, impulse control, shake, and attention as well as mat work. I know I should be working on relaxation but I can't get him to be still very long yet so I am not pushing it. We are doing all our work on the mat though? Not sure if that's a bad thing to do.

I probably should be taping our sessions. He is really such a cool puppy to work with. He is so agile and picks things up pretty quickly. If we can get past his anxiety and reactivity, he will make someone a fabulous dog. I don't think will have him long enough, though and I am not sure it's in hte best interests of my own dogs to keep him very long.

Major Meltdown

And it was all human error.

I had been sitting on the sofa with Oliver and he went over and sat on the pillow where my husband usually sits. My husband came into the room and since we had an incident yesterday when he tried to move him off the pillow, we had a plan of action ready. He came over to him from the side and actually presented himself from the back all the while giving him treats. I also gave him some treats and he came over to my side of the sofa. My husband was able to sit down while he was with me and all was well. BUT for some reason, my husband got up to get something and he took the pillow with him (later stating so that Oliver didn't get back on it). When he came back, carrying the pillow, Oliver started barking and jumping around all agitated. My husband had left his laptop sitting precariously on the arm of the sofa and Oliver knocked it over. My husband reached for it with the hand that was holding the pillow. Oliver went so far over the top that I thought he would explode. Very understandable. I have to wonder what on earth has happened to this puppy. He didn't bite anyone but I imagine if there had been someone near enough, he might have.

The good news is that I was able to give him treats and calm him right away. He never redirected towards me and I realized pretty quickly that what he really seemed to want was for me to reassure him. He really responded to my soothing and holding and petting him.

I took him outside and let him just decompress. Unfortunately, there was the garbage truck making all kids of noise out front right after we went out but he came over to me and took treats. It seemed he was seeking my reassurance. Not sure.

Spoke too Soon

We had such a good day yesterday and this morning  I thought we had turned a corner. Then this afternoon, he was just a snapping growling machine. I'd like to think it was an extinction burst but I dont think we've come so far for that. He growled and snapped at my husband twice. Once when he came in from outside and put his hand down for Oliver to sniff. The 2nd time happened soon afterwards when my husband tried to move him from the sofa so he could sit down.

A bit later, our son came out and he was ok with him at first, even let him pick him up and hold him but later, when he bent over to pcik him up, he did his vicious dog imitation.

I talked to my trainer and at her suggestion, I began mat work with him. He is doing really well with sit and down. We've been working on them all day. Well, he started throwing sits and downs at me. Cute as could be. We did get some mat work done though and I let him have some free time.

It was dinner time so I gave my guys their food and fixed him a very small meal. When I tried to pick him up to ut him in his pen, he acted like he wanted to snarl and snap at me but didn't quite do it. Not sure if it's because he has developed a bit of a relationship with me or if he is getting better. Wil watch.

I had taken him outside just before we started working and he peed. I should have taken him out again after we finished. He had diarrhea all over the kitchen floor:-( I should have expected it after all the treats he has had today along with having eaten a big breakfast. Oh well, hopefully we have had all the excitement for 1 day.

And We are on Day 4

I am seeing SO MUCH improvement. At least with people. He is starting to be growly with my Cavalier. I think it originated with my dog. He's a bit jealous of having to share his castle with another dog. He's adjusted to my puppy but I think he feels this is just one dog too many. So far it hasn't been more than grumbles from them and they will quit with a verbal instruction from me.

Oliver has decided that he loves our son. He (son) was sick yesterday and didn't come out of his room much but when he did, Oliver went right into his arms. No growls at all and seemed to be very happy to be held and petted.

This morning, I worked with all 3 on the floor in the kitchen. I put my dog and puppy in sit/stays and worked on Oliver's sit (as well as a bit of inadvertent It's Yer Choice/Leave it as he was mugging me for treats and I needed him to back off so we could actually do something:-) All during our session, he was happy and upbeat. He's getting sit ok. Not real fast but I think perhaps since he's never been taught anything, he doesn't yet catch on to the concept of learning but he's getting there. Haven't added a verbal cue yet but am fading the lure.

One thing I see that makes me very happy is that he has learned "wait" without me even trying to teach it. If I take one dog out at a time (to make sure they actually potty and not just play), I will tell my guys to "wait" at the door. He seems to have picked up on that just by watching them.

I don't think he has growled or snapped since the newspaper incident yesterday morning. He let me take another Day Lilly out of his mouth a bit ago. Seems not to have a problem with resources, again at least from people. He and my Cavalier are constantly trying to hoard the chew toys. They'll gather them up and then grumble if another dog comes near. Prim just plays happily with something else or follows them around to see if they will drop it.

I'd really like to see how he is with other people but think I may wait a bit longer. I do think he is decompressing and gaining a feeling of safety. I just can't imagine what was going on in his last home.