PPBC - Meg A

It's my 6th birthday today and mum has baked me a little cake :)

Mum keeps telling me what a pretty girl I am and how much she loves me, but she also says I am such a nightmare and that I give her headaches (and other pains in her body). I don't want to misbehave, I've just got such an urge for freedom because I've never known anything else.

Thursday 17th November 2022

Despite the awful weather we went to the Banff golf course. But rain has its advantages - it keeps people away, so there were no golfers on the course. After the initial 10 minutes of madness, the usual spinning/barking/jumping, I went into a phase of walking fast but not exactly hanging in my harness as I usually does. We had lots of calming stops on the way round which made it quite a pleasant experience, and in due course meant that Kettu was enjoying his walk too. However, just before we were about to leave the green and walk back to the car on the path I spotted yet another 4 wheeled and manned vehicle (a mower I think). I instantly went into fight and flight mode, and as flight wasn’t possible as I was on the lead, I just started my usual reactivity. So we sat for a while for a while staring at the little cart, but nothing mum tried to distract me worked. So we started to walk away from the situation, but I didn’t want to budge and mum said she is not dragging me. I felt that she was battling to not let her frustration get the better of her and tried to not make me aware that she was even getting frustrated. But of course I knew anyway. So the last 200 metres just ended up being a battle of wills unfortunately.

Then about 20 metres from the car the lead buckle just suddenly snapped. I started to run, but stopped instantly. Mum crouched down and called me and I made the decision to go back and let her put me back onto the lead even though I hate it so much. How is that for trust? I got lots and lots of praise and was given plenty of treats. Mum said that maybe we lots and lots more long lead training I might eventually get the freedom to run.

Wednesday 16th November 2022
Mum followed Mark’s suggestion and started saying “thank you” when the we bark at somebody at the door and when we react to threatening noises outside, like banging car doors or shouting people. After all, we have to make mum aware of a possible danger.

She has also started to lay little trails of crumbs of treats for me to start some nose work. Of course I am very clever and meticulously pick up every single little bit and mum praises me when I have finished. We tried this in the garden as well as when we were out. The latter was less successful as there were far too many distractions - cars in the distance, birds flying up, a helicopter overhead and of course people even though not near by. Working outside will be difficult for a long time mum reckons.

We walked the local golf course cliff walk. I was partially quite ok, but then a little golf buggy passed by about 100m away and this was a major trigger. I wanted to chase it and got very frustrated that mum didn’t let me. So I was biting into the grass whilst sitting/walking (calming signal) and did my usual jumping up at mum and at Kettu and barking into their faces. Mum feels she had a little bit of success by making myself look very stupid. She was making excited noises by holding a treat close to the ground, simply trying to distract me from the distraction. Whilst she was ooo-ing and ahh-ing and hopping around herself, this had some effect. But the moment she stopped (it’s physically challenging for her), I immediately returned focus to the buggy and still tried to stare into its direction long after it had gone. After that the pulling on the lead and trying to dash into high grass for sniffing (calming signal?)increased and so did the jerking on the lead. I am only just over 14kg, but mum says it feels like that weight is trebled when I yank her arm/shoulder. This causes her to be in a lot more unnecessary pain later in the day.

At home we played some enrichment and calming games, which resulted in me being crashed out after 8pm.

Tuesday 15th November 2022

This afternoon mum had a zoom meeting with Mark, the behaviourist. This what mum thought: "It was quite overwhelming and made me realise how very wrong I am “behaving”. I did find it difficult to take it all in as it was an enormous amount of information, training suggestions, explanations of canine enrichment as well as finding jobs for Fritzie to do, even though she is still so nervous and overstimulated. Luckily Mark send me a long list of links for me to read and which I will work through. This of course will take time, after all I am 64, not all that healthy and with brain fog that makes things difficult so often. No doubt I will have to read articles multiple times before they properly sink in. For now one thing is clear: I need to change my approach and behaviour."

Article for reference on calming signals:

Calming Signals - The Art of Survival Author : Turid Rugaas , ©, 2013. For species who live in packs it´s important to be able to communicate with its own kind. Both in order to cooperate when they hunt, to bring up...

Today mum finally took me for a proper walk - well, almost proper. Not quite a long as I would have wanted and she didn't allow me on the long lead, but by golly I did get some good sniffing in. I was so happy on the way back home that I totally forgot to sing to mum and my fur brother Kettu :D

My spaying last Thursday went well. On Friday I was a little bit tired, but by the evening my appetite was back as well as trying to get on the sofa next to Mum. But unfortunately even until now, I have only managed to get up there once and she lifted me straight off. No idea why I am suddenly not allowed on the couch anymore or why we're not going out for walks. Mum did try to take me and my 3 legged brother out for a short one yesterday, but I think I was too naughty, because we turned around to go home very quickly. Mum says we have to go and see the vets again as my dressing, whatever that is, won't come off. So she's at her wits end! I will have to walk over to the vets, as I am not allowed in the car yet. As you all know the car is where I particularly go mental :) So I will get at least a little walk. I feel a bit sorry for my furry brothers because they have been missing out because of me, but I keep telling them that in another week things will be back to normal. Even though nothing in this house is "normal" - not even mum hahaha

So, I got "snipped" today. It was a bit strange being dropped off this morning and having to go off with a strange woman, but I was so glad to see mum in the afternoon. She had brought my crate with soft blankies, so I travelled home comfortably. Uncle Ryan from next door helped to carry me in, safely in the crate. Of course, the first thing I did was to get onto the sofa, but mum had put a lead on me, so I couldn't *hmphhhh* I've just had my dinner (it was a small one and I hope there's more later) and a wee in the garden. No idea why mum was so happy about that. I guess I shall do a bit of chilling now. By mum's feet or on them seems a very good place :D

I got a new harness today :) But I can still pull neener neener :D

Apparently I am going to have my insides taken out on Thursday ... well bits of it. Namely I am being neutered. I have no idea what to expect, nor has mum. But I can tell you one thing, she will have a job on her hands keeping me calm on the small walks I am allowed ;) She also said we won't have treat until Christmas because the vets are so expensive! Somehow neither me nor my 2 fur brothers believe her. She can't resist our pleading eyes - never :D

Mum says we are going to the beach, but we have to wait half an hour for something called "low tide". No idea why, because I can chase birds at any time :D The last time I went really mad apparently - pfffft, I am a border collie, what does she expect - but I might try to behave a little bit better today. Because mum says we're working towards eventually getting off lead, so I know that will be fun, because in the past I have been off lead a lot ;)

Living the good life :)

FM says she is very happy how I have bonded with my 2 FB's. Mind you, I still don't like it if either of them gets fuss and I don't, but I tolerate it now. I have stopped grumbling at them, I know I will get my turn as well. FM is very good in spreading love and attention between all of us

FM is worrying what she did wrong tonight? I got myself into such a state on the walk that we had to shorten it and go home. Nothing would calm me down. We didn't do our usual evening walk. FM thought as our morning walk wasn't overly long (just an hour) and we had been stuck at home all day that a nice walk in the cool would be good. But that didn't work out :( Normally she sits me down and strokes me for a bit and I get calmer. But for some reason I was wound up like a spring and nothing helped me. I only got calmer on the drive home.

If anybody has any ideas or suggestions I am sure FM would be grateful.

P.S.: I get h**p oil twice a day, but it does nothing. FM has ordered some "Settle Me", so hopefully that will be better.

FM took me and my FB Mr K to the secure off lead area today. Mind you, that was for the FB to have some fun. I was really only interested in doing my job - trying to herd the geese. They have donkeys, goats and chickens too, but I don't care about them. The geese however ....

FM says I have quite a few naughty habits which are stressing me out, so she is working with me using the "incompatible" training method. And we do fun things too like I learned to leg weave today. That was cool, because there is a treat after every weave. Have a nice weekend. Love from the Mad Noodle M :D

My FM says I have the most soulful eyes! And believe me I know how to use them ;)

Ohhh, I have got my own page now :) But sorry, no time now, I have a kong that urgently needs my attention :)

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