Hello Monday - welcome to the new week :)

Interesting this morning - OH was at work so it was only me feeding Earl - at the usual 5.30am feed (YAWN) no problems at all - he didn't come near the kitchen gate - he made one attempt to come over to me and backed off when I told him - he sat and then lay down and waited to be asked to come and eat.

Tonight will make sure that both of us are involved in feeding him so that we can then deal with any issues he might have with someone else being there when he is fed.

Have been thinking about the follow ups Mark has offered us - think I would like him to check out what we are doing at feeding time and with not letting Earl in our space - make sure that we are doing it correctly and effectively - and I would also like him to help us with someone new coming in to the house - how to introduce Earl to them calmly without him barging in - and how to manage this - pretty sure I understand the principles of the thing - it's the same as we do with the kids - we claim the space - but with a stranger Earl might act differently and I would like Marks input.

Anyway - off to spend the day shopping with my daughter while my son gets some footy tips from the legendary Jarman brothers - will update later today after the next feeding time (Sounds like we live in a zoo - OK - feels like we live in a zoo sometimes *LOL*)

8:57 pm (approximately)

Got an email from Mark today - I sent him a copy of the notes I made after our consult and just wanted him to check they were Ok and I had them right - I feel better now that he said they are fine - one thing he did say was that only to use the 'bite' on the neck if needed - if Earl was being really overbearing.

I did some quick training sessions with the 2 dogs this afternoon - i bought a round mat and my goal is to have them sit on the mat when they are told 'mat' - so did some treating for being on the mat - leading them away and then having them come back to the mat and treating them - it was nice to be able to be enthusiastic and positive for Earl and have a bit of fun. WIll try a few small training sessions with this focus and see how I go - the mat is now liberally decorated with bloodhound drool from Earl scoffing up bits of fritz from it - nice and slimy.

Anyway - feeding tonight- I prepared the food and OH waited in the lounge with Earl - who sat down on the rug immediately - and then lay down at OH's feet - lots of praise for him. I came through with the bowl and he didn't even move - he walked one step towards me and quickly responded to an 'away' - lying down and putting his head on the carpet next to OH. We made him wait a couple of minutes and then invited him to eat - he didn't rush over and I left my hand on the bowl for a couple of seconds as he started to eat.

He had his follow up visit to the vet to have his stitches removed - finally. I tell you - a dog that drops and rolls submissively is the perfect dog for having stitches on his stomach removed - he barely flinched as the vet removed them - lots of praise from me for being so submissive and calm.

I am even rolling him onto his other side if he is lying in front of me and tries to roll onto my feet - I roll him over so his legs are facing away from me and THEN he gets patted and praised.

So - again - small steps - positive steps and inspiration and determination to continue this journey we have begun. 


Oh - and off the doggy track- my feet hurt from shopping and my 10 year old daughter is now the proud owner of 3 Zhu Zhu puppies (much less challenging than real dogs I tell you THAT much), a Bark Park playset for said puppies, a veterinarian centre (Well - they will be healthy puppies anyway), 20 new Littlest Pet Shop animals (told you I lived in a zoo) and 2 pairs of skinny jeans (NOT jeggings - even at 10 she has the good taste NOT to like them) but I am going to watch my crappy TV shows (Americas next top model and Project Runway Australia - I know - I have no taste in TV shows but what can I say ............................) while the hound bakes his head and the kelpie leaps up and runs out of the room at every little sound. 

Early night tonight - sleep well all................