Day 3 - maybe he isn't as thick as we think

Hey all -  another day - another few steps forward.

After getting up again at an inhuman time so that OH and I could both be involved in feeding Earl (5.30 am and I do NOT agree with each other) - I did the actual food preparation and feeding and OH did the monitoring of his behaviour and supporting if needed. He (Earl - not OH) lay down on his back on the rug while I prepared the food "good boy Earl" and it only took one time telling him "away' and walking him back from his food bowl after I claimed it for him to have that little light bulb go on - "Oh yeah -  I need to lie down over here and wait till I am told to eat" - and that is exactly what he did.

We got him to wait a couple of minutes and then gave him the OK - and he ate. (and then me and the dogs went back to bed while poor OH went to work)

Given this we decided that today I would feed him without OH there - which is also a positive for my confidence that I felt that this was something I could do.

We had a lazy day around the house today - I cleaned out the spare room - and kept Earl from coming in by just walking him back and saying 'away" - he spent most of the day asleep in various places - hallway, rug, lounge chair, sandpit, corner of the garden - you name it - he has probably slept there - and is currently in front of the heater (again)

I just moved him back from the heater by taking his collar and moving him then having him drop where I wanted him to - no resistance and now I can't smell his fur burning anymore :)  (Thank goodness - do you know how bad that smells - YUCK)

He did steal a packet of hair clips from the coffee table but - as Mark said - I took his collar - said 'NO' and took the packet out of his mouth.

So - feeding time came around - bonus for the doggies today - a mixture of raw meat and table scraps to go with their kibble - YUM (OK - they like it) so I asked the kids to play in the other room - put the kelpie outside - took a deep breath, saying to myself "Calm, confident, assertive" (I have this written and stuck next to my chair in the lounge) - got the bowls - put kibble in them and walked through the lounge - past Earl - to put the wet food in.

He sat down on the rug and as I started mixing the food he lay down - no attempt to come over to the gate (YAY!) and I walked him back saying 'away' as I went to put the bowl down. He stepped forward once but I walked him back again and then stood by the bowl till he lay down on the rug - gving him a couple of minutes there before giving him the OK.

Then I fed the kelpie - I have started claiming her food too before I let her eat - just to reinforce that I own the food and the bowl.

So - feeling pretty good but still taking each day and each situation as it comes - it's hard getting used to Earl not leaning or laying his head on your lap for a pat but now we know what he saw that as we see that it is much better that he comes and sits in front of us for a pat or waits until we call him and even then doesn't push all over us - if he tries he gets a push away and a "NO" and then he generally walks away and lies down elsewhere (In front of the heater *L*)

A journey indeed and one which will be ongoing from what I can see - but one which doesn't scare me as much as it did 2 days ago.

Oh - just a note about something he has started doing - he always sat and 'waited' for a treat and then was told 'OK' and given it - he has now started sitting and then shuffling his bum back one step when he is told 'wait' and then being given the OK and the treat as usual. I think it's a side affect of our 'ownership' of everything and a submission - but will show Mark on his next visit and see what he thinks :)

So - cheers all and thanks for reading - and journeying - with us - what will tomorrow bring - who knows?