Zach has improved
2009
Finally, Zach the white russell terrier, is now … somewhat …. become … more or less …. part of the family. Nearly 12 months ago when he joined the family, he was one angry dog. He didn’t like to be touched on his backside, any side where he can’t see you coming. He sat by the front door hoping to go out. If I wanted to go out he would become aggressive, showing his teeth and growling quite loudly. If I approach him, then he would attack, ie bite. And I’ve been bitten by him 4 times already.
He looks really cute but in reality he’s Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. He would be lovey-dovey one moment and the next, he would be growly, showing teeth. Trainer Alfred came and saw his behaviour. He said Zach is showing insecure dominance. He’s unsure so he’ll try to dominate first, be bigger than the bigger dog.
So to teach him to be submissive, his possessions – his bed in his basket, his toys – were taken away from him. He had to sleep on the floor and he wasn’t allowed to spend the night in the bedroom.
Zach and I were to go to Alfred to get training so that Zach would be more controllable. Turned out our busy schedules didn’t allow us to do that. So both of us learnt to live with each other. I learnt that he doesn’t like to be surprised, neither does he want to be threatened with the cane. So I’d to use voice ie tone of voice to tell him I’m angry or happy with him.
So I raise my voice if I’m angry that he’s barking too much. I let him know when I was going to touch him, and I would stroke him firmly and I wouldn’t pull his ears or his tail. So now he’s much better and I can actually play with him. He would give me his toy and we would play fetch and retrieve. He would turn turtle and let me scratch his belly.
On Sunday came a tipping point. He’s in the kitchen when I was preparing dinner. I told him to go out of the kitchen and he did. Backed up and sat outside the kitchen and acted as the door guard. I’m quite happy that of the progress we’ve made but still the lessons with Alfred will start next Sunday.
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