Over the past several weeks, I have written several posts in my head but did not get out the computer for about 2 weeks. Partly it was because Carli made it impossible. If I sat at a table or desk she jumped in my lap. I would accommodate her and start to type and she would stand on my keyboard. I would sit on the couch so she could lay beside me and she would lay across the keyboard. I was easy to distract with TV and cuddling with her.
We have arrived at this compromise position where she is content and I can work on my computer for extended periods of time.
Carli has been to the vet and is deemed to be healthy except for being a bit heavy. Now that I don’t need to worry about finicky eating, she is eating much better and seems to want to eat all the time. I am not sure how I am going to get her to lose weight since she does not want to get any exercise. We continue to have daily standoffs in the parking lot as I try to get her to go on a very short walk. She sits or lays down and refuses to look at me or respond to any command. I literally have to pick her up or drag her.
Carli has been pretty aggressive with my son’s two dogs and he had to play alpha dog with her last weekend. She did not back down and kept nipping at him. I want to be able to do some traveling with her so I need to learn how to assert my WILL over hers when necessary. She is very treat motivated but I need guidance on how to go about changing some of her behaviors.
The vet recommended a private assessment with a dog behavior specialist and I have one scheduled for early October. The intake form I had to fill out took nearly an hour and they charge $175/hour. This may help me feel a tiny bit better about charging for my own services at some point.
She makes me laugh every day and gets me out of the apartment several times per day – if not for very long. I have no regrets but want to get to a better place with her stubbornness.
Tamara Unleashed 