This week in Trigger's "new life" has certainly been interesting. I think, definitely, I am more "on guard", perceiving every little thing and trying to analyze it. Anyone who knows me will affirm that I overthink things, and this has been no exception. But there have definitely been things that have stuck out:
1. Trigger has been EXHAUSTED. I don't think it's the physical activity of the walk. We're not breaking records here. I do think that the whole "new environment" and "structured activity" aspects of it have put his brain into overdrive. Not to mention that within the house, the atmosphere has changed too. He can't just sit and mooch while we eat - he's expected to lay down and stay there. He's not allowed on the furniture.
Previously, I think I had two mindsets: training mode and living mode. Now they've been more or less combined, and I expect Trigger to listen like we're training at all times.
Honestly, for a while this week I worried that he had eaten something he shouldn't have, or was sick, because he was so lethargic (and was having some very, VERY loose poop). This has waxed and waned as the week has gone on, leading me to believe it's relating more to changes than a physical ailment.
2. Trigger is pushing more boundaries. Yesterday morning, as I was getting my lunch ready before work, I suddenly heard Trigger growling. I turned to look, and Cannon was in the kitchen over by the door to our basement. She wasn't even paying attention to him. I reprimanded him and he looked away from her. A moment later, when I went to put food away in the fridge, he went after Cannon. Marlies and I pulled them apart. Not knowing what to do with him, I threw him in his crate as I tried to figure this out. After a few minutes we took him out. Now we were in the living room instead of the kitchen. He again got intently fixated on Cannon and was tracking her every move. It was obvious he was going to try and go after her again. I put him back in the crate and covered it up. I had to leave for work. After a couple minutes, Marlies took him out of the crate, put him on leash, and made him do focus work and sit stays. He finally seemed to calm down and she took them both outside and played a bit of frisbee.
It was weird to see him go after Cannon. Any skirmishes they have had before have been instigated by her, and it's the first time I've ever seen him on top - normally she pins him. Not to mention the innumerable times that they have sat in the kitchen together as I cook or prepare my lunch. When Trigger was younger, he started to try and pull some food aggression with her, and it was something I worked on with them both quite a bit. I can (or could, up until even a week ago...) sit them beside each other and feed them each treats with no incident, so I was a little thrown by this.
It's hard, because I start to feel like I'm still "doing something wrong" because honestly, to me this is the stuff you don't see on the Dog Whisperer. Where is the family pulling their hair out over the process when Cesar leaves? There are so few episodes where you see the follow up with the family putting in the work and the dog being less than perfect. It makes me feel like I'm still doing something wrong! This is to the point where, after Friday's incident, I was calling Ivan for reassurance and more information on what I should do in situations like the above.
I was relieved to find out that we were at least on the right track. I was told:
* don't treat it like a big deal, or he will treat it like a big deal
* make him sit-stay
* don't give him attention - give it to Cannon instead, while he sit stays.
* use training a a block and a way to refocus him
We will get there.
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