Dori turned three in November, 2000, not quite a month after the first anniversary of her home-coming. As I reflected on her first year at home, I realized how much she (and I) had changed without my realizing it. As I had predicted, I didn't remember that flying was ever a problem. That was just one of many things I was beginning to forget as Dori matured and "mellowed out".
Our time in the tiny apartment was a very positive thing. Circumstances led me to move back into my parents' home for a time, and it was there that I have come to realize how valuable our time in the apartment was. Without other people around to distract her, she bonded with me and some of her "normal" but undesirable behaviors began to disappear. So gradual was the change that after we moved back in with my parents, it was several days before any of us realized that she had not eaten the cat food or retrieved any empty toilet paper rolls from the trash can in the bathroom! My niece, who had in the past been frightened by Dori's exuberance, began to play with her and to ask when we were preparing to go somewhere, "Can Dori sit in the back seat with me?"
Dori accompanied me to the ACB national convention in July and to a smaller but much busier professional convention in November. She worked well through the crowded hotels; however, the atmosphere was very stressful for her. I learned that down time was vital for her if I intended to take her on trips with me. Not only was down time important, but down time spent with me was important. Dori needed my reassurance that she was doing well. I learned while at these conventions that her undesirable behavior was often a sign of stress and that I should interpret it as an attempt to communicate her needs in the only way she could. Increasing the strength of my corrections was not beneficial at these times. In fact, this often caused Dori to experience more anxiety. Not only was I becoming more harsh in my discipline, but I was at times failing to meet her other needs.
As I began to respond to Dori's signals and provide her the reassurance she needed, her behavior improved dramatically. Learning to be patient and steadily gentle with Dori was an ongoing process, but I began to see the rewards.
Dori's temperament allowed me to do another thing I have wished to do for a long time: go back to work in the church nursery. In February, 2000, I was hired to do just that. Dori was exposed to young children during her training, and her behavior while working in their presence was very good. She was a steady, faithful presence in the room, and the children often looked to her for comfort when they were unhappy.
Training and adjusting with my second dog was in many ways more difficult than it was with my first one. I still sometimes felt that I betrayed Elli, but I know that I didn't. Dori was finally becoming what I knew she could be. She was, indeed, a different dog. She was a wonderful dog!
This document is copyright 2003 by Sarah J. Blake. For permission to reprint, please email Sarah at sarah@growingstrong.org.
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