Sunday, August 30, 2009

Ben Still Lives Here


My vacation started out as less than relaxing. Ben became roaringly obnoxious which happened to coincide with Don's absence. I put up with resource guarding, and the leash resistance. At the cottage he had pulled my bag of clothes from the bed and had my clothing strewn about. I went to see what was going on and stood in the doorway. He was nasty. I just had to go the fridge and out he came. I put the bag away.

He then pulled a pair of pants from the bed and guarded those. All for a Charlie Bear. The list of nasties goes on. By the Sunday night, I was very ready to drive into town and have him put down on Monday. I had to have Don's agreement. He called on his return from fishing and was heading up to the cottage on Monday. He suggested I wait and we would talk about it.

The rest of the week, Ben was very good and I cooled down. I managed to cut three nails but the next day he became a bear and I couldn't touch his feet.

He did become more sociable. He wanted to spend afternoons on the deck with us and seemed to enjoy the campfires. He got to have his 20 second crazy play run even though Trickster tried to end that. Trickster will not play with Ben but then, either will we.

I will be speaking to his breeder to discuss his issues. My hope is that she will take him when we go on vacation. Should we decide Ben is not safe enough, I am hoping she will take him, as well.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

The French Bread is Best

I forgot about Thursday morning.

There it was, the ripped plastic on the kitchen floor. I looked on the counter. Yes, Don had left two loaves of bread there but one remained.

Don was in charge of the food for his camping trip. And, yet, he left it there on the counter for Ben. The soda bread was not Ben's preference.

It's Saturday morning and I'm ready to head up. Ben managed to break through the stair gate to get upstairs. He's parked under my desk.

Wish us well at the cottage.

Friday, August 21, 2009

And on the Fourth Day of Christmas

Four nights in a row, Ben has slept right through. That is a Christmas gift.

I've heard this from other crazy people who take in rescues and that is that it's as if these dogs are living the puppyhood they never had. I took Ben out for his usual after work walk and then fed him. Don had left for the fishing camp that morning.

I was going over to take mom out for groceries. Sounds easy, doesn't it. The routine was broken. Normally, Ben would get to stay outside after the little walk but not this day. I closed the door and Ben started bouncing off it, big paws sliding down the door windows and crying like he was being left behind forever.

I had to move Don's car to get mine out. Don's car battery was dead. My great brother-in-law came over to boost me (I'd forgotten what to do but will be fine next time). While waiting for Steve to come over, I brought Ben outside and he barked up a storm at being ignored. I then tried to get him to go in but he appeared angry about that by his growls so I left him. Once the cars were sorted, I made the bright mistake of opening of the hatch to return the booster cables and in jumped Ben.

I had to resort to food in his dish. I shook this and he couldn't quite decide which was more important but finally relented and in he came. I realized I had forgotten my wallet in the house and had to go back in. Of course, when I left, the big paws and fat face showed through the window.

I left. When I returned, I took the guy for a big walk on which he was determined to be obnoxious and was. He barked at a couple of dogs coming along and lay on the pavement. He got up when they went by, still barking. I waited until he sat before we moved. He was just looking for things at which to bark including cars that went by.

I was just tired last night and it's as if he knew this and took advantage of my weakness because I just wanted to relax and get some sleep. I think, too, that Ben's routine was broken because Don wasn't there. There are so many things to which Ben needs to adjust. He's a few years behind.

I'm off to the cottage with Ben and Trickster for a week so there won't be any posts. I think it will turn into a bootcamp for Ben and heaven for Trickster. Wish us well.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Riding the Wave

Things are coasting along for the moment. It is now two nights in a row that Ben has slept through the night without barking. I am so happy.

He has been fairly quiet on his walks. I catch him looking interested in something, and if I think he may charge, I tell him no and leave the leash loose. So far, so good. Okay, I get the occasional leap so, no, he's far from perfect. But we're getting there!!

This morning, I left the gate unlatched. I watched Ben get up, go over, as if he knew it were open, stick his nose in to open it and upstairs he went. That's where he is spending the morning. I think he thinks he is in paradise so he'll get his way this time. It is my fault for leaving the gate unlatched.

Last night's training was cancelled due to the heat wave. Our resource guarding session won't be until the first of September now.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Coming Clean

I don't even want to report this because we have been so careful. However, Saturday evening we were all heading out to see the sunset. Don was in the boat with Trickster, I was busy putting a treat on the seat to help convince Ben the boat is fun. Unfortunately, Don's niece (she is an adult) reached down to pick up his leash. I wasn't aware that she was doing this. I just thought she was untying the boat. Because Ben did not want to get in the boat, he barked and growled at her. Don got the leash and got things under control but I was pretty upset. I was angry at Ben. I didn't talk to him for a day and half. It really hit home that some things may not be fixed.

Being upset does not fix the situation. There is a reason I have Lynn to help and she has said he has to wear a muzzle all the time. She has the expertise and I do not. I have learned the hard way and he will wear the muzzle in other's company. I really want to get one that fits him better. He tries to get it off when walking. Working with the muzzle company has been a slow and arduous process. They take 2-3 days to get back to me each time I have questions and then they don't answer all the questions.

Euthanasia came back up again but then, it has never really left.

Sunday, I walked him with weighted saddle bags and he was a good boy. And muzzle training, of course. I think the muzzle is going well now. It still takes a few treats before he'll let me strap it on. I think he plays me so he'll get more treats. It's also been so hot that he just drips drool, poor guy. I've been working to put it on, groom or walk him, take it off, put it back on etc.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Not a Ben Day


This is my friend's woolly mammoth, the one on the right. And she has no issues!!
Just for the record, the bare bum, the one on the left, was soon covered.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

I Get By With a Little Help from My Friends


After the fiasco last night, I have turned to drugs (the one given to some dogs for flying) to help relax Ben when I am working with his feet and brushing his tail. The vet has worked with Ben and knows of his aggression issues so has agreed to this. It's not something I wanted to do but for more relaxed sessions, it will benefit both of us. He will still wear the muzzle during this time. With a little patience, I don't think I will have to use drugs because he will see it does not hurt.

I used to say, whenever I heard about a dog bite, that I would never have a dog if it bit just once, nor would I ever have a dog who needed to wear a muzzle. I could never figure out why people would have those kinds of dogs. They are dangerous. Then there is that old saying 'don't judge a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes'. That was me. Being judgemental.

Now that the tables have turned and I have the kind of dog I never wanted nor agreed with, I am walking that mile. It's an experience I never thought I would go through. I did not know how to handle this kind of dog. A dog who spent three years in a garage, was underweight, had sores on his neck from an embedded collar and wasn't neutered nor did I think for a second he would have issues. I'd never had a dog like this so I did not know.


People have their ideas on how I should deal with Ben and impart them but they have never had a dog like Ben. I am surprised to hear the ideas that come from seemingly gentle people with dogs. They suggest violence against Ben which really puzzles me. I should beat the crap out of a dog who has already had a rotten life. A dog who does not understand how to behave and I should beat him to make him understand and make him submit? I should hang him as does Ceasar on the more violent dogs? Sure, there are some days when I get so frustrated I want to kick him and hit him over the head. Well, instead of this, I was on the phone immediately to a recommended trainer–Lynn Hyndman from Dogs in Harmony http://www.dogsinharmony.ca/welcome/. She knows exactly the kind of dog Ben is and has advised us accordingly. She used to use old methods but has turned to much kinder methods and they have worked so well with Ben. It really is a matter of patience and consistency.

No, Ben will never be Clara nor the perfect dog who is totally trustworthy because of the first four years of his life but he'll be a much more manageable dog. We brought Ben in to give him a chance because he deserves that much. Today has been a good day so I can say this. Tomorrow is another day.

He's come a long way with Lynn's guidance and so have I. She has an amazing amount of knowledge and wisdom. I feel extremely fortunate to have found her.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Patience is a Virtue



Update: No longer do I use 'no' but rather distract and teach them how to trust me that good things will happen when we me.

The walk after work was really good. I stopped to talk to a neighbour and Ben was, of course, his usual charming self, sitting and wiggling his bum like a happy guy. Someone went by and I wasn't paying attention. Yes, Ben attempted to leap but I was able to stop him in time and said 'no'. Next time, someone went by and I watched him. He wanted to leap but I said 'no' very firmly, even though some would say my firm is like a pat on the head. He listened and looked but did not leap. Much praise. Then he became bored and stretched out fully on the walkway. That's my boy.

After we took our leave, I checked over my shoulder down the road for vehicles at which Ben might bark. A dump truck. I waited until he went by us and watched Ben, kept a shorter but loose leash. Ben looked intently and I said 'no Ben, no' and left the leash loose. He was such a star and didn't leap but instead, listened to me. Much praise was heaped upon him.

That good part was forgotten when I muzzled him and started the desensitization to the nail clippers. When I got to the part where I tried to pick up a foot, he was nasty. I had Don holding the leash up short but loose so he couldn't lower his head to paw the muzzle off. Ben's reaction, even with the muzzle on, still shook me up. I wanted to end on a good note so I simply moved my hand across his paws and put a little pressure on his pads. He was okay with this. I praised him a lot for that. I then made him sit, gave him a treat and removed the muzzle.

There is a lot of work to be done in the nail department. Patience, patience.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

A Good End to a Really Bad Day


I had been pretty distraught all day. I want to be able to handle my dogs without fear of threat. This isn't always possible with Ben. And more than anything, I love to groom my dogs. I did get so much hair out of Ben in the beginning. He really enjoyed it except when a hair was pulled the wrong way and he barked and growled at which point I stopped. I think he learned this behaviour and grooming became more difficult.

The muzzle training has paid off and last afternoon I was able to groom him while he wore it for about 10 minutes. I kept telling him what a good boy he was and gave a very occasional treat. I was thrilled as huge tufts of hair came out of his 'pants'. I had been wanting to get to those for so long. I started on his tail but that is where I got some growling so I just did some so he would get used to it and not hate it so much. There were no barks, though, and that makes me happy. He probably hadn't been groomed in three years as you can see by the original photos of him.

We took the boys out to the farm on this humid evening. You can't really tell how fluffy his pants and part of his tail are in the above photo but they are!! Ben was wearing a leash but thanks to Photoshop, he's not. You'll notice the strange angle of Ben. The photo is a funny angle but he does have extremely dropped hips or croup which gives him a real rolling gate in the back end and he really brings his hind end under himself. I really hope this won't present him with problems in the future.

I do know who his breeder is and they are no longer breeding.

Ben has bought himself some more time. That changes a lot, too. He's down there barking for attention. He wants to come upstairs but no way. He just doesn't behave well enough yet and he sleeps so much better downstairs. I never thought I would keep a dog from coming up here until Ben.

Bad morning

Rather than wondering if he was going to bark/bare his teeth at me for picking up his leash this morning, I ate, got ready to walk the dogs and then fed them. As Ben was eating, I picked up the leash no problem (could have been a fluke because there are times I can pick it up when he is lying down), waited until he finished and off we went for our walk.

I don't like this. I don't like that Ben does this threatening to me or Don about the leash pick up. I can train him on putting the leash on which I am doing now but that won't do me any good when he doesn't want to go out. It's frustrating. He can be fine sometimes and grouchy other times but we don't know what he'll be at any given time. It's such a simple task yet it's become stressful.

All we can do is go for the leash, regardless, and hope he just threatens but never does anything. If he does bite, the decision is made. He is on borrowed time as of today. In fact, I'd rather just be able to clip the leash on and not leave the leash on all the time. What an idea!

I love him to bits and it's the last thing I would want to do. I will keep working with him and do everything I can to help him.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Goods days Bad days


Ben did not end Saturday night at the cottage well. We went to take them out for their bed time walk. Don reached over to pet Ben's head and Ben went for his hand. Don pulled his hand away in time. Ben did not want that leash picked up. I got the broom out again.

Sunday was another story. I worked on him with the muzzle and all went well. I groomed him for 10 minutes with it on, working on his chest. He does not like this and I've had to stop all the time before. He growled and barked but couldn't touch me. He did this three times and then stopped and he was quiet and seemed to enjoy it. We then went for a long walk down the cottage road. I can put the saddle bags on with no problem. I put weights in them and off we went. He was so good. Cars went by on the narrow lane. We pulled off into the grass a bit. I kept telling him what a good boy he was (I had run out of treats) and he was. He gave a small attempt to leap once but I had a short leash on him and insisted he was a good boy. It is so true that when the leash is tight, this aggravates the situation but when loose, he will all of a sudden stop when there is no tension.

He loves the dock and barrels down there with us. We will be vacationing there for a week. He'll be a very happy boy.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Good Ben Ben

I haven't written much on Trickster. He is such a good boy and who wants to hear about how good he is when we have Ben.

That being said, yesterday was a perfect Ben day. Using the broom in the morning, I picked up the leash but Ben just got up without a sound and came outside with me. In the afternoon, Ben walked around the block with the muzzle on. I think I may have to get the Leerburg muzzle back because this one may move back into his eyes.

Don went to the store for the chocolate treat. I was upstairs at the computer when I heard the big footsteps coming up the stairs. I hadn't locked the gate. I listened. Up on the bed he went. I could hear him going crazy pulling at the bed clothes. Man, he looked so happy. I could only laugh. I got him off with treats and downstairs.

And best of all, he didn't even bark at last night. That's my Ben.

Trickster is always helping me with Ben as he is always standing by at training time. He deserves treats for being so good, too.

Things all changed this morning when I put some treats out for Ben but he wouldn't even get up for them. So, I got the broom out. He barked at me and showed me some teeth but I didn't give in and took my chances. Out the door we went with no bites.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

The Terrible Fours

Ben had a great time at the cottage. We let him romp about at times. And then night time came. As we lay in bed under the mosquito net wondering from whence the droves of mosquitos were coming as they buzzed in aeroplane unison, Ben barked up a storm upon hearing a noise of any kind. At one point, he went up to the screen door. He is good with his big paws and one swipe would put him through the screen so Don went to sort this out. Ben did not like being told what to do and barked and growled but finally went and lay down.

This did not set a good tone for the rest of our stay. When Don and Trickster went out for their sunset boat ride (Ben wouldn't get in the boat), we trekked back up to do the dishes. Ben proceeded to look for some attention so leapt up on the couch and went crazy pulling at the cushions whilst looking at me, waiting for my reaction. None came. He finally lay down, looking very cute but I couldn't let him know that. When the dust had settled, I called him off with a treat.

We left after dinner on Sunday night. The mosquitoes and Ben were too much for another night. Ben let the neighbours know we were back as he barked all the way into the driveway at 10:00.

Monday was a better day especially for Trickster. We went to the farm where I let Ben go chasing ground hogs. No worries. He is not a good hunter, at least not yet. Trickster thought this great fun and would run after Ben and then leap onto him. Ben didn't seem to notice and kept running. Trickster then tried leaping solely on his head but still, no reaction.

I'm back working with the muzzle on him. It's too long but it's all I have and he needs to have it on. After trying to get the leash on this morning, I can't wait.