With Confidence Comes Attitude

I love building confidence in shyer dogs. To see them come out of their shells into the dogs they are meant to be is very rewarding. However, as much as confidence building is a good thing, it comes with the added inclusion of: attitude.

Because the dog is developing their sense that they have some control, that they are safe, and that they are capable, they also figure out fast that they can get away with some things with other dogs (and/or people). Confidence isn't a bad thing, it just comes with its own set of hurdles to tackle.

Chow is far from the shyer dog she was when she came. She interacts well with people and other dogs, and has great introduction skills now, where before she was a little on the fearful side. She has learnt a lot of things. She loves going for long hikes and no longer hides from bikers/joggers/horses. She is still a great dog, but a dog that is definitely confident. Her sharpei and terrier are emerging, and she's figuring out she likes to be bossy!

She reminds me very much of how Honey switched. One day Honey was a fearful terrier mix, and then the lightbulb went off that she was indeed a terrier. She never went back. I don't think Chow will either.

With her attitude, she's getting to be a bit of demanding dog. She's pushy. She's got a strong personality. And Beckett and Lemon don't, so they don't put her in her place.

But -she's got me. And I'm got personality and attitude that trump hers for miles and miles.

Yesterday saw the arrival of the Taiwanese dogs, and although Chow did have good introductions skills she tried to make it known quite quickly that Beckett was 'her dog'. Poor Jasmine, who is one of the most submissive dog I know- got a good nip. But Chow got the shitty end of the stick. I don't usually practice rolling or pinning dogs, but the instant I heard that cry from Jasmine Chow was on her back. There is one fundamental rule in this home, whether you're a foster or not.

You do not get to hurt other dogs.

Not that Chow really HURT her, it wasn't an attack of anything. But a strong nip is an upgrade from her usual guarding tactics,and it hurt Jasmine as far as I'm concerned. You can be confident, but you can NOT be a jerk!

Chow hasn't gone back for more or tried anything further. Except she's tried to make friends with Jasmine and Jasmine is like 'what the hell puppy, you snapped at me. You're SCARY!'. She got the point. Foster mum is the biggest bitch on campus. Chow hasn't tried to guard Beckett or her bed again, and she seems to be looking at me more thinking things though. 'Hmm... should I share my bone with those outsiders??' The look goes a long way with her. Still, she's kind of like that teenager who is weighing their options (reminds me of Beckett actually). Can I get away with that, or am I going to get in shit. Strong personality dogs need strong personality, confident people. For her, I'll be that person -I'm SO used to it with Beckett. The 'no shit' mantra.

She's also been a little guardy with her crate and food from the new dogs. With Beckett and Lemon, her 'pack', she'll let them right in her crate and right into her food bowl. It's so sharpei. That outsider thing. They are a type of dog that is very sure of themselves, very confident. Doesn't trust easily. And the terrier in there pushes it. I know a lot of terriers with guarding tendencies (still, it is a behaviour, not a genetic trait, so can be worked on. Just needs to be worked on harder than your shitzu or whatever.)

This does not mean Chow is a difficult dog, or a bad dog. It means she is finding herself, and her breed traits are showing through. It also makes it easy for me to work on it, as I have every opportunity to correct her and show her the correct way. And, it makes it obvious that even though I love her, she'd rather not be a dog that lives in a foster type environment. She needs 'her pack', and of course friends, but not the stream of dogs that comes through like here. Of course she'll be just fine to finish up her fostering here, and I'll still enjoy my time with her -even though she's now a confident, slightly bratty youth and not a shy girl.

Still, I love her very much, and she is a good puppy who just needs further commitment to her ongoing training and education. This is the dog underneath the shy girl. This is Chow!

Doesn't She Look Proud!