Doggie Landing Is Scheduled...

[pastafreak]

...for 2pm tomorrow. I'm getting excited!
I just spoke to the behaviourist who is bringing him down...she speaks of him with so much affection.

[ladybirder]

I'm very pleased to hear that pasta that is good news. Please do keep us updated when you have time. If others on here feel like me, we have a stake in this boy as well:-)). xx

[pastafreak]

I'll definitely do that, LB. Any distraction goes a long way to keeping us positive.

[jennyjoan]

don't give up - when I got Maxie - he was such a frightened, subservient little dog - that I broke my heart. He never barked for about 4 months - kept coming up to me and putting his head on my lap - like saying "I;m sorry", I;m sorry. Vomited everywhere - I could write screeds but now he is the most beautiful dog I could have. Give him loads of time and I know of course you will - but loads of TLC

[Canary42]

Yes ladybirder, we do seem to have adopted him ;-)

Nice bit of encouragement too there from JJ.

We're all rooting for him Pasta.

[ladybirder]

Good Canary, not just me then:-)

[pastafreak]

I'll have to take more pictures of him ;)

[ladybirder]

Right answer pasta.

[shoota]

I've been away Pasta - what have you got?

[pastafreak]

Hi shoota...an ex-racing greyhound. 4.5 years old...retired due to broken leg.
There's a picture on page 3 of this thread.

[shoota]

Lovely - I did find the pic but couldn't quite pin down what he is.
I'm sure he'll be fine living with you. X

[pastafreak]

Thanks shoota. Yeh, the picture's not that great. Must try harder ;)

[Tilly2]

Sorry to hear about the setback, Pasta. So, you're having trouble getting him outside to do his business?

[pastafreak]

Yes Tilly. Since I live in an upper floor flat, I can't just open the door and let him out. He suddenly decided not to go down the stairs. I have to do a training exercise where I say a word, and give a treat...first on its own so he associates word+treat. We progressed today to doing that when there are noises or things ...children, cars, etc...that spook him. It's basically connecting something nice with something not so nice. We made some progress, at the end of our little session he didn't charge back into my flat when he saw a neighbour coming up the stairs.
More tomorrow...its going to take time.
Meanwhile, there are puppy pads by the door.

[Tilly2]

Have a look at this, Pasta. We have one which we used for Tilly when she was a tiny 10 week old puppy. Nothing upsets her...fireworks, thunder, cars, loud bangs etc.

You play it with the sound turned as low as possible so that you can barely hear it, whilst rewarding the dog with cuddles and playtime. Eventually, you slightly increase the sound and repeat the positive reinforcement of cuddles and play. And so on and so on.

It worked brilliantly for us but it does take time and patience.

Amazon.com User Recommendation

[pastafreak]

Thanks for that Tilly...it's now on my wish list.

[albaqwerty]

You and pooch will be fine. No doubt will take quite a while and lots of patience and love, of which there is an unending supply.

When your hands get achy or your legs get fatigued from the stairs, draw strength from his adopted aunts and uncles on here x

[Tilly2]

Put it on your 'To buy list'. Don't wish for it, buy it. It will help, Pasta, believe me.

[pastafreak]

Oh my...it's just landed in my basket!

Thanks, alba x
The number of aunts and uncles is growing. Lucky doggie.

[ladybirder]

Pasta does your lovely new black friend following you around your home now? If so, I was thinking you could call him Shadow;-). I thought of that at about 4 o'clock this morning when I couldn't sleep!

[pastafreak]

Lol! That's good. Yes, he's definitely my shadow. I'm still considering whether or not to change his name.
We made a bit of progress at midnight...after a lot a strolling on the balcony/walkway...he ventured down one level of steps. He also spent a lot of time gazing and sniffing the air. He wasn't so keen this morning. I wasn't surprised.
Right now, he's sleeping in the old cat bed...or at least his bum is ;)