Today brings new hope for Lydia after getting her home from the PSPCA some where around 8:30 pm Monday night.She was still a little groggy after surgery but still over all in good temperament and alert.First task ready my house for safe entry.When arriving i asked my wife to get all the dog isolated from the main house.This would be either outside or in a room.Mean while i took Lydia for her first walk in as far as i know 11/2 in the out side world.Lets just say for a dog that has come from such a checkered past she was wonderful and very well behaved.Nest was to get her inside and give her time to settle before putting her in the room for the night.Once i got her in the room i was not hard to fall in love with those sweet eyes looking up just thanking me with kisses.I really feel that some how she knew we saved her from certain death.That would have been a sad thing for suck a sweet dog.
It was now 9:00pm and after such a long day i choose to just stay in the room with Lydia giving her love and helping her find a calmer state of mind.This i was able to do with just some gentle touch and sweet talking.To which she was very grateful for,As she did manage to lay down for a bit and a gaze up at me with love in her eyes.Soon enough it was 10:00 pm and my wife comes into the room and asks me to put her show on so she could spend time with Lydia to.So now her you have me Lydia and my wife laying on my sons single bed all cuddled together watching TV.(tight fit)But loaded with love.We stayed with Lydia till just around midnight when my oldest son comes home from night school.Now my son would normally jump on the computer and a game till the early morning hours usually about 2:30am or so.Tonight would be different.he choose to spend time with Lydia and help her find a calmer state of mind.And as per request of the PSPCA we were asked to kept her separated from our dog for the night.
The next day Tuesday morning comes and its time for Lydia to get out side a use the bathroom.With no accidents Threw the night it was nice to see her head outside and pee than come right back in using the dog door.Now wide awake showed and ready for my day.I get my son up and start doing the introduction with the other dogs.First i started with Blue Berries another rescue with mental scaring.Knowing he would be first and most likely the most difficult her would be a good judge of how things would go.With no disappointment he acted up like i thought he would.No surprise there.i spent 15 minutes tempering him and Lydia was awesome very little reaction from her and some carrying on from Blue.After 15 minutes i than put Blue away so he could calm down and we could start with the next dog.
It was time for C.J..Now C.J. hes a 13 year old Pitbull and Kramer's little brother.He has many roles in the pack but most of all he always does the cleaning like a good mother would.C.J can be very playful but with just a bit of dominance to him.He's never mean but will stand his ground to let other dogs know he's still the boss or so he think.With very little effort C.J. was more than happy to great her and with a snarl and playful bark it was all good let the but sniffing begin. Lydia was doing very well with no aggression in sight.Some how i think she knew this was something she was going to have to deal with.A true to form C.J. put one paw on her back and started to mount her.I very quickly stopped him but she was OK with it not even a dirty look from Lydia.So i removed the leashes and they did there thing.
Asshat time ! I say Asshat because This is another rescue with a back round of not so good a start for him.All tho Bentley a pitbull basset hound mix is great with dogs people not so good.with Ben-Ben's harness on i bring him out and right off the bat its play time for Bentley .As with most dogs he meets he takes a non threating poster almost submitting to her and with some of the goofiest body language her makes her feel very at ease.For Bentley its play time that it.So off goes the leash and all is well she takes to him with no trouble at all.
It's Alfa time.This means Duke 90+ pounds of pitbull with a very good head on his shoulders.For a dog that has a mean growl and bone chilling look to him hes really good with other dogs i have brought in to my house.
Well this time was pretty much the same duke was very calm and very slow moving .Now that being said i think her looked at her as fresh meat .Thats a girl for him to play who's your daddy with .I did not let him mount her but man thats what her was wanting to do.I must say Lydia was very calm and showed no signs of fear or wanting to attack.
Last was Sarah this is Daddy's little girl all play and rubber bans for legs (jumper).Sarah does not have a mean bone in her body and she was also a rescue.Now Sarah can be very playful sometime she gets to excited to see other dogs.But i knew she was going to do just fine as long as Lydia did not over react to Sarah's excitement.And with great poise she did just fine.
It was now pack time,and with my guy being pretty stable this is where i count on my guys allowing Lydia to have some space. Well as i let them all get their sniff on i was very relieved as with a very calm manner they all greeted her and let her have some space.This is always very amazing to me even though i have done this many times.But as any dog handler will tell you thing can change very fast with something as small as a hard look. Tensions are running on high at first but soon thing will change as each one of the dogs helps Lydia find her place in the pack.
Here it sit 1:00pm Tuesday working with Lydia and her desire to get to my cat Rocky. Now rocky is 18 and he know all to well that if he runs or strikes the dogs or they will want to go right back at him.Since my dogs are not allowed to get rough with the cats this is never really an issue .All my dog from time to time will take time to clean and lick the cats.My cat do climb on my dogs and sleep with them at night on my bed.Now Lydia does get a little worked up knowing the cat is right there.She has propped up on the desk and this puts her with in inches of Rocky .By Rocky not reacting this allows me to help Lydia understand that the cat is not to be hurt .This process can sometimes take a long time .Hopefully Lydia will become tempered to cats .I hope with the intelligence she has show to poses this will be done with in a short time rather than a long time.One thing i found helps is showing her the cat and telling her over and over friend the cat is friend . When she gets more and more excited i have her come back to a calm state of mind .By using techniques like
removal or even putting her in a submissive position on her side having her return to a state of mind where she
is no longer only able to see the cat.Well for now i must go but theres always tomorrow so please check back to see how Lydia is coming along .
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