As the title says Earl tried it on again tonight at feeding time - OH was in the lounge to back me up as I got the bowls and put the food in - we didn't have the leash on Earl but he is still wearing his collar (have ordered him a leather K-9 Pro collar for comfort and strength) - as I was putting the kibble in the bowls he came towards me - I walked towards him and OH took his collar - saying "NO" - he jumped at OH but OH kept hold of his collar - repeated "NO" and Earl lay down - OH immediately praised him but Earl went to walk towards me again - and again jumped at OH when he took his collar. No way was OH not going to be assertive so - another collar grab - another "NO" and Earl obviously went "Sh!t - it's not going to work" and lay down submissively. I walked into the laundry with his bowl and put it down - he stepped towards me and was immediately walked back by me with an "away" - hell - he couldn't have gone any awayer than he did - he sat right away by the chair and didn't make another attempt.
He lay down and I called him over to his food - for the first time he was a bit reluctant to come over - good sign I think - he is accepting that we own it and he doesn't automatically get to eat it when he wants.
Talking to OH afterwards he observed that because he knew the possibility was there that Earl would try and make him back off he was prepared for it and confident in what to do - and I can understand exactly where he is coming from. Having seen Earl try and make Mark back off we know what to expect but we also know what to do and what Earl is likely to do -which in his case is submit - and to praise that straightaway.
He picked up some gross piece of paper from the gutter while I was walking them and my immediate response was to grab his collar - say "NO" and take the paper (Yuck) -so the response from me wasn't hesitant - and needs to stay that way.
We are not letting him hang around the kitchen gate - he gets an 'away' each time and moves away - his tail drops slightly as he does.
So - little steps - day by day - but each time - each incident - each "NO" - each "away" - each time he sits in front of us quietly for a pat - each one is a building block in the strong relationship we are building...................
..............so hang in there.
Look at me - how can you resist this cuteness?
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