Biscuit's rehab journey.

DISCLAIMER: The information provided here is simply mine and Biscuit's story. She is a very complicated dog and I have had help and guidance from professionals along the way, aswell as undertaking professional training myself and I have worked handling dogs for the past 5 years. Some of the training methods that I have used for Biscuit (who is essentially a very placid and calm dog with known handlers) just wouldn't work for dogs of other temperaments and personalities. Aggression is not something to be advised on by anybody other than a behavioural practitioner, which I am not! If you are worried about your dog's temperament, don't try to follow these guidelines, contact a professional!

Background:
Biscuit was taken into the shelter by a couple in 2011, stating that she was a stray. She was wide-eyed, and manically barking at everything in reception area in a state of panic. Biscuit had scarring to various parts of her body, a very swollen tummy and a bad case of mastitis, she had clearly been overbred and from her reaction to the world didn’t seem to have been socialised. After a long 15 minutes I managed to get her into a kennel, but staff saw her behaviour and didn't feel that she was safe to be re-homed. This is all I know of Biscuit’s background.

Shelter:
Many of the staff wanted Biscuit put to sleep,  I spent weeks sitting outside Biscuit’s kennel on my lunch breaks, chucking little bits of cheese through the bars, but not giving any eye contact or forcing interaction. Simply by giving her something positive, but not making her uncomfortable, she started to approach the kennel front. She wasn’t showing any positive body language, but was still approaching which was progress. I moved on to sitting in her outside run and reading a book/filling in paperwork but still ignoring her. She would initially lunge and snap/bark but would never make contact (this was a forward move but I was running out of time.) After her initial explosion of emotion she would calm and silently watch me from her bed, reacting to any movement that I made, but the threats were becoming less and less. After about a month of this she finally approached, it was a really surreal moment, she slowly crawled towards me (ears flat, tail down, making subdued movements) and then sniffed me all over, I stayed as still as possible as she was breathing on my face! Next thing I knew she started wiggling from head to toe and licking my hands as if we were long lost friends! From that day forward, she would run up to the kennel front wagging when I approached, but if somebody else was with me she would explode barking at them and run back inside. Over a 6 month period I was able to introduce her to two more female members of staff who she would also allow into her kennel to feed and put her lead on, and one volunteer lady, but that was as far as it went. If I wasn’t in work, she wasn’t walked, staff refused to go into her kennel and volunteers were too scared to walk her. I test walked her on the toe path beside the shelter to gage her reactions but they were right, it was too busy for her; cyclists, dogs, joggers, men, women, children; everything was a threat and fair game to launch at, snapping and snarling. She wasn’t safe and was likely to do some damage if not kept under control. I decided to foster her on a very short term basis (my landlords didn’t allow pets and I was living in a tiny top floor flat with male tenants that I was likely to bump into when passing on the stair way.)

Foster:
I managed to foster Biscuit for around 4 months, however, my landlords were starting to get suspicious and and told me I had to “get rid of the dog or leave.” She would be dead in a day if she went back to the shelter so I found a roommate and moved into a quiet area in South Gloucestershire. Moving was bound to upset her and it resulted in us having to start training all over again when we arrived, but it was for the best. My new housemate was a man and Biscuit still wasn’t happy, but with the use of a crate, a kong and my new housemate feeding her cheese (but otherwise ignoring her) after a few days the snarling ceased and she was okay. She was great with him after that, Biscuit is wonderful with all handling and other than in initial meetings she has never sniped at anybody, over anything!

I needed to put in place a rehoming plan so I took her to my dads house in the countryside for a week to housesit in peace and see how she was (attached to a long line) but pretty much off lead. I could exercise her in the small yard at the shelter but other than this she wasn’t off lead for 6 months! She lost the plot and zoomed around, tongue flapping, tail wagging but always staying close. She still wasn’t confident enough to play with toys but had loads of fun digging up the earth and we had a lovely, quiet week in the wilderness, by the end of the week she relaxed and was chewing on bones and chasing toys around. Seeing her like this told me more about what sort of home she would need; I felt that she could relax in this setting and could safely exercise on the acres of land happily with supervised interactions with visitors and not having to face the world every day. I worked in the city centre and couldn’t carry on leaving her for those long hours at home whilst working in kennels, so it wasn’t my home that she was destined for! I began to make contacts to find her a home with people that I knew in Devon; but the staffy situation was dire and it wasn’t looking hopeful that anybody would want to take her.

For the first 10 months of her stay Biscuit had been having phantom pregnancies and producing milk, the shelter refused to spay her as they still felt that she wouldn’t make it out of there and that it was a waste of limited resources; however on that trip to my dads we found a lump on her rear leg. I persuaded the vets to sneak her onto the list for spay and lump removal and sedated her myself (so that nobody would have to handle her.) Her spay went well and biopsy of the lump came back as clear. She met one family who were clearly unsuitable for her; a quiet home but no experience and already had a Jack Russell that wouldn’t allow them to sit on the sofa and had bitten multiple times. I then got  “that” phone call; it turned out that they had mixed up the biopsy results; Biscuit in fact had a grade 6 malignant melanoma and the prognosis wasn’t looking positive, 6 months in fact. I didn’t believe them initially; they had been trying to kill this dog for over a year, why wouldn’t they lie about this? My manager gave me an ultimatum; I keep her or she’s put to sleep that afternoon. I signed the adoption papers.

Biscuit’s behavioural problems:
Med/high level defensive aggression towards strangers (especially men)
Med/high level defensive aggression towards unknown dogs
On lead reactivity to pretty much everything
Chase instinct with cyclists/scooters/skateboars/joggers (will lunge and grab)
No training whatsoever, also pulled hard on the lead
No confidence to play with toys (and phantom pregnancies caused possessiveness with certain toys deemed to be her “puppies”)
Random toilet training issues (mostly when it was raining!!)
High prey drive (not safe around livestock or cats/small animals)
Eating other animal’s poo!!!
Mild separation anxiety (clingy behavior, following around the house, pushing affection onto you)
Deep, guttural barking at any sound perceived to be a threat, and especially sirens (?!)
Stress when voices are raised people are play fighting/messing around (stare and deep, low growl)
Severe firework phobia

Adoption;
This is where the rehab started; I have included a brief description of how I worked with each behavioural problem. If you are experiencing this problem yourself I’m happy to go into more detail to help, but as Biscuit has SO many problems it would take all day to type out the full rehab process.

Med/high level defensive aggression towards strangers (especially men)
Med/high level defensive aggression towards unknown dogs
On lead reactivity to pretty much everything
Chase instinct with cyclists/scooters/skateboars/joggers (will lunge and grab)
At first I felt that Biscuit was “angry” and myself being inexperienced possibly even “dominant;” I was new to behavior and simply learning by observing.  I soon learnt to read body language and understand that famous Terrier personality. Biscuit was lunging and showing aggression because she felt threatened due to little prior experience; her general personality type with known people and dogs is submissive and sweet, but she is fiery and true to the Staffordshire breed; not scared of a scrap. The first step was working with her to become safe to exercise; we lived in a quieter, but very “doggy” area and so the first step was to muzzle train. She was then walked with a halti head collar, muzzle, and halti double lead attached to both collar and halti for safety. Her reaction to dogs/stranger is pretty much the same (lying down, staring and keeping completely still until they get too close and then lunging, growling and manically barking at them to get them out of her space.) I trained her to sit and “focus” when dogs and people were a large distance away and she had spotted them, but then changed direction so that she wouldn’t get close enough to react, (I didn’t want her practicing that reaction so we avoided her meeting dogs at all if possible.) I used Patricia McConnell’s book “Feisty Fido” as a basis for this part of the rehab and would recommended it to anybody with a reactive/aggressive/fearful dog.  I soon learnt that Biscuit not only had a safe distance (roughly 10 metres away from said scary thing) but also a safe number; she could see 2-3 people/dogs/cyclists and be able to continue with her walk, but anymore and she became “over-faced” (so stressed that she couldn’t focus or learn) and we would have to get her home on the quietest route possible and try again later on in the day.  Of course, life happens and we bumped into the odd few dogs, but most of my time was spent avoiding people  and dogs and not allowing her to practice this reaction. I began walking Biscuit at 10pm for 90 minutes to get her training polished whilst on a walk (she was also scared and more reactive when it was dark.) From all of these diversions I managed to find some quiet grassy areas where Biscuit could play and had some long lead time to get some energy out of her and this was great for her learning, having that release of energy enabled her to learn commands much more quickly after an off lead session. (Though most of this was in the dark and using a head torch lol!)

We then progressed to larger off lead areas where off lead dogs were, but that were vast enough to avoid other walkers from far ahead. Now that her reactions to other dogs from a distance were calm, I felt it was time to start some interactions. I used calm stooge dogs from the kennels to walk her with (muzzled and on lead) with no interactions, but just having them at a close proximity. She came around surprisingly quickly and I learnt that her problem was in fact the unknown and not dogs in general. She really enjoyed interacting and playing with other dogs after polite and calm interactions, but couldn’t cope with the “meet and greet” which I feel came from lack of positive early socialization and possibly even genetics. I began to foster dogs on a temporary basis and used crates for feeding/kongs etc, we didn’t have a single problem. Biscuit would share, play and sleep with other dogs without a problem; in fact she was truly wonderful with them and even taught some shy dogs a few things about play! Though she doesn’t tolerate noise or barking, and will tell dogs off for making excessive noise.. she’s a bossy madam! We managed Biscuit like this for almost a year in South Gloucestershire, but things didn’t work out and I decided to move back to Devon.

In a very rushed move I ended up in Central Exeter in a huge house that required multiple housemates to run it. Biscuit was meeting women well now, but still not happy with men. If men were to come into the house I would keep Biscuit in her crate (still in the same room) with a tasty kong and allow her to observe and smell from a safe distance. With the right commands she would sit and take treats, but if people ignored my instructions and tried to touch her too early she would still snarl and snap at their hands. My partner was in the army for a long time and we was now living in the house with us so he had lots of male friends visiting, We were caught unaware a few times and not able to get Biscuit into her crate, resulting in her rushing up to people and jumping up barking and staring out. Where possible we continued with the crate but Biscuit learnt surprisingly quickly that men resulted in cheese or ham and would begin to get excited when they arrived, running up and sitting in front of them wagging her tail; they still couldn’t touch her, but she was choosing to positively interact. The main thing that I learnt in this situation was to watch her and not assume; yes she felt threatened by men but on occasion she would appear to have no problems. With my partner, for example, she approached as happily as she would me, and settled down on his lap almost immediately. Quite embarrassing considering how I had described her to be!! He thought I was exaggerating until he saw the behavior for himself!! Biscuit now allows all of our friends into the home without issue, though does tend to flirt a little too much (we are forgotten when there are visitors here to scratch her tummy!!) but is still in her crate if there are workmen etc, she reminds me of my nan in some ways (don’t laugh!!) because she can only relax when everyone else is sat down and comfortable. If not, she fusses and becomes stressed, trying to calm people down and acting like a fool, though this will still sometimes turn into aggression.

No training whatsoever, also pulled hard on the lead
Biscuit is foodie and praise oriented (a dream to train!!) and now knows lots of tricks and commands that also helped to build our bond; sit, stay, down, wait, heel, roll over, “bang” (play dead,) drop, leave, come, sit up (from a down position,) off, no and jump. I’m currently teaching her to differentiate between objects. The only command we haven’t been able to teach is retrieve, though just playing with toys at all is good enough for me! The halti worked well for training, along with decent off lead daily exercise. She now walks with a collar/harness and double lead attached to both and her muzzle. No more halti!

Training outdoors.
We lived on a busy road in Exeter and there were occasions where Biscuit forgot herself and lunged at people, unfortunately she pinned one lady up against a wall and I very nearly got in a lot of trouble. But this was another thing that I learnt: I was in and out of hospital at this point having various scans and had recently had surgery. Biscuit is a very sensitive dog, any change in mood or routine and she will react negatively. I can’t train this out of her, but I can manage her walks and interactions when there are troubles within the home.

One good thing that came with the move was the walking areas, we now had a very quiet nature reserve behind our house where Biscuit could run (muzzled) but on a long line; in the back field we could even take her muzzle off and let play (she discovered a love for footballs eventually!) and her behavior was even better with daily off lead runs. She needed to be trained off lead now so I began teaching very strong sit-stay and recall and impulse control commands. I did this by showing her a treat and asking her to sit stay, and gradually adding more steps into how far away I got, I would then add the “come” into this and she would run at me as fast as possible to get her treat. We also play fun games like hide and seek within the house. We put her in a sit-stay downstairs and she would stay in that place until we had got to our hiding place and called her (also helps with recall,) she would then run through the house like a bull in a china shop trying to find us, getting a reward when she did. To teach her impulse and the leave command we let her play quite roughly with a raggy toy and then taught her to leave when she was in a high state of arousal, and wait to play with it again (the playing again was the reward.) We could now use the  “leave” command when we saw other animals. Breed specific play (high level/excitement chase games to satisfy play drive helped to distract from other prey also) This is one thing that I have found with staffies, they are such fun dogs and training should be the same! I keep all sessions to 10-15 minutes and make it all very exciting, when she completed a command we basically have a party and she rolls around on the floor basking in the attention.

There were also cows, sheep and random cats in the fields that Biscuit would love to chase, we used the leave and heel commands to work with this and distracted with her “prey toy” (raggy) but also of course held onto her lead, Biscuit often has other ideas and is very clever and crafty about getting what she wants (I have seen her pretend to be calm and focused and then run off when you’re least expecting it.) Biscuit also knows the “wait” before going around corners as you never know what will be there, she will slow down to a wait and I can then command a “stay” and she will stay in place until I reach her, and then go into a heel before giving a “go play” command once in a safe place again. The best reward I have found for a dog on a walk is to allow them to go back to what they were doing providing it’s safe to do so; if Biscuit is running around and I call her back, I treat and then instantly give another release command, I have found that she will respond more if she knows it won’t completely stop the fun time!

Random toilet training issues (mostly when it was raining!!)
This has now been solved, by feeding earlier and teaching a toilet command, ours is “wee wee’s!” She would run to the corner and pretend to pee and then run back to the door if you didn’t watch her!!

Mild separation anxiety (clingy behavior, following around the house, pushing affection onto you)
Deep, guttural barking at any sound perceived to be a threat, and especially sirens (?!)
Stress when voices are raised people are play fighting/messing around (stare and deep, low growl)
Since training and routine has been established Biscuit has vastly improved, though is still as clingy as Staffie’s are! I use the stay command when she tries to get up to follow me, which she will do but doesn’t look happy about it. We also use this when we go upstairs (she’s only allowed up on invite.) Boundaries are massively important for confidence, we always insure that Biscuit understands her place in the household and what is expected of her. This is built her confidence more than anything. Socialization and gradual exposure to noises has diminished most of the barking, though she will still alert me, hackles raised and “ready” if she’s worried about something (normal dog behavior really!) And though is worried if there are arguments in the house, no longer tries to take anyone on!!

Severe firework phobia
We’re working on it! Using TTouch techniques and sedation at present.

I love this. I am going to read through it in detail in a quiet moment.

It very long lol! I'm sure other owner's won't have such long ones, she's a complicated little miss!

Absolutley fantastic post and well done with Biscuit and I hope the effort you put into this helps allot of handlers   

You are an inspiration  

Brilliant Rachel! The part where she finally came over to you in the kennels nearly had me in tears! She is such a lucky girl that you took that interest in her and saved her
Im going to re read this again later, had to keep stopping as youngest wanted to play shops! x

Read this whilst at work Rach. It's a really good read.

Well done for your persistance and great that you now have a loving Biscuit at the end of all the hard work.   

Why Biscuit? You must have come across so many dogs, some of them on the PTS list. Was it just a slow evolution?

I think this must have been so fascinating for you, and such a challenge.

I have to confess that I often look on DogsBlog only because I am interested in the stories, and how the dogs end up there. All cruelty or neglect cases are a reflection of how inhuman humans can be.

I always imagine that everyone who works in a rescue is a saint - but I get the feeling from several threads I've read on this site that there can be a lot of tension and so forth, with different motives going on.

Very interesting!

ps I think we need a little pic of biscuit on here to go with her story...?

I want to meet her now.

Thank you all very much, she's a wonderful dog and we wouldn't have come so far if she didn't have such a brilliant and gentle temperament. This is my little ladybug



To be honest, it just happened accidentally with Biscuit. I had to put a LOT of dogs to sleep at the shelter, and it killed me every time, but I knew that I could live with her. I had a lot of what I called my "heart" dogs who i'll never ever forget, who I sadly lost, but none of them could have fitted into my life happy but Biscuit just seemed to slot in. I was only 20 when I first started adopting her and completely broke, if I had the space and finances I would have taken in more.

I think this blogpost sums up how it is to work in rescue well, http://notesfromadogwalker.com/2013/09/07/self-care-is-not-optional-how-burnout-ended-my-career-at-the-shelter/
"There is one critical difference between all the other helping professions and shelter workers. We’re the only ones that sometimes have to kill those we are assigned to care for." Is most poignant.

These are some of my heart dogs, I lost them all within about 6 months of eachother, I quit my job soon after. Some really wonderful dogs x

Omw Rach, no words do justice to your post and indeed your love, care and persistence for and with Biscuit.   

Heartbreaking Rach. I'm sure some had their problems but they all look so lovely

oh Rach that had me close to tears but smiling as well,well done lovey for what you have done for bis she's a lucky girl,and gorgeous with it too   

Thank you so much guys, she repays me daily she's just got the biggest heart, I think I only did what anybody else would have though, it's never been easy and my life is very different now but it needed to be. She keeps me grounded and out of trouble

Ah they were Sue, but yes they also did have multiple problems. All very complex and soul destroying backgrounds, Milo, the crazy looking brindle bull breed cross at the bottom nearly came home, we were waiting to move and I was hoping to take him but he bit me in his kennel and my manager overrid my decision and had him PTS, was probably a silly idea to take him, he had lived in a shed his whole life and was a complete mess but I miss him so much xx

take my hat off to you love,to see all those poor dogs,i'd be a complete wreak and end up in tears all the time,you do a brilliant job   

Rachel33 wrote:
Ah they were Sue, but yes they also did have multiple problems. All very complex and soul destroying backgrounds, Milo, the crazy looking brindle bull breed cross at the bottom nearly came home, we were waiting to move and I was hoping to take him but he bit me in his kennel and my manager overrid my decision and had him PTS, was probably a silly idea to take him, he had lived in a shed his whole life and was a complete mess but I miss him so much xx

So sad especially as most of their problems could have been avoided! Bad owners destroy these dogs lives, literally!   

stella wrote:take my hat off to you love,to see all those poor dogs,i'd be a complete wreak and end up in tears all the time,you do a brilliant job   

I'd be the same Stella

One word Rach "Angel" you are totally inspiring and I am sure yhis will help many people. And of course the gorgeous Biscuit I do adore her you are both so lucky to have each other, and all these pooches are so very lucky to have you.    

I spent the majority of my 2 years there crying, I won't lie!! Aw Inez that's so sweet of you, she's a little darling Sue, you should do yours with Alfie when you get some time, would love to know his whole story and see how he progresses!!

Yes I will do Rachel, too tired to think straight tonight As you know we are at the beginning of our journey really, but mine wont be as good as yours though! x

No rush lovely of course but I'm sure you've seen lots of changes already and it will be brilliant!! Biscuits still learning all of the time and it's an ongoing process for some dogs, so a great place to share new found tips etc too x

With a bit of "poetic license" padding out the middle (i.e. Biscuit catches Bank Robbers, Finds Malaysian Plane/Lord Lucan, Saves Prince George from Dingo in Australia) this could be a Disney Blockbuster.

Rachel, I don't know what to say, you are a Hero in my eyes. I am so pleased that Biscuit gives you the love that you deserve in the way only a Stafford can. Inspirational.

Anyway, dry my eyes and back to the screenplay me thinks.........

Aw Tony! I'm visioning Biscuit with a pair of sunglasses and a skateboard saving the day (if she hadn't already eaten it first.) I'm not a hero, but thank you for your kind words!

What an inspiring tale about Biscuit, got tears in my eyes. I am going to have a look at that book and see if it helps with Lola's fear DA      

There's joy to be had in having a dog, however that dog comes into your life - whether you pay thousands for something with Crufts champion genes (I assume), or whether you give a home to a poor soul that no one else wants  (definitely).

But of the two situations (I would say this), the second joy is greater because it has the extra edge of happiness that comes from knowing that here is a fine life saved from the cruel final needle. My dog bit plenty when the poor, frightened boy was released from the SSPCA, drew blood as well. The joy that you get from seeing the transformation from suspicious, tortured soul to waggy, happy pooch is worth even more than what I assume Clare Balding earns.

So well done, indeed, for turning this girl round. You must be happy and proud with her progress, as she is happy now in her own skin, finally in her own home. Thanks for writing all this down. It is a great help to everyone who comes along and reads it.

I really respect that you held on to Biscuit despite the bit where she pinned a woman against a wall! I would have found it so hard not to have almost given up hope at that point. What happened?

I am glad that your boss stopped you from adopting a dangerous dog. Some dogs, like people, are not mentally stable - this is the reality sometimes. I am very sorry that you had to see all these dogs go. I can't believe you had to put them to sleep yourself. You must know so many stories about what happens to pets "behind closed doors". And, I think it's a strong signal if a person abuses an animal - they are likely to do it to humans too. It is an excellent measure of character.

I also think you write so clearly and so well - I hope you think about writing in the future. Possibly a dog training book!? Reach for the stars!

I love these stories. I find them just so fascinating.

Isn't it amazing the good fortune she had to come across you when she did.

I cannot believe you were training her for an hour and a half at night - starting at 10pm!

Was it you who called her Biscuit?

If you know that someone has dumped a dog, can/do you report them? Or do you have to just leave it? If you know that someone has treated a pet cruelly do they go on some kind of register?

I shall buy a raggy Kong doll for Rupert to continue training.

I will definitely read that link about working in animal shelters.

Yeahbut - I agree about rescues. I can't imagine buying a dog! It makes absolutely no sense at all.

Thank you Claire, it really is a great book! Not so much to "fix" aggression but more for teaching calm behaviour around other dogs outwardly, even if they're not feeling it internally?

I entirely agree with you "yeahbut," I will never buy a dog! I am extremely proud of her Thank you!

Rupertsbooks - The incident with the lady was only about 4 months ago, and we had been without incident for almost a year before that. I had just gotten out of hospital after surgery and shouldn't really have been walking her, she was just panicking as the lady was approaching quickly, I think, it was so out of (her newly developed) character and I apologized to the lady and explained the situation, luckily she was a dog owner herself and just said that she understood, I didn't see her again after that!

He wasn't right bless him, and though we live a quiet life now myself and my OH would like a family at some point and I've got a little niece arriving in the summer, I need to keep that in mind. Biscuit is great with kids now, but I can't adopt anymore dogs that could be a risk to people with little ones around.

That's really a huge compliment, I love writing, always have! Just not entirely sure where I could go with it to be honest. It was so lucky, if another member of staff had gone down to collect her and mishandled her, i'm sure she would have bitten and more than likely been pts there and then! I was calling her Cookie Monster for ages   but when we realised she was actually going to live we noticed that there were a few cookie's in the shelter already so my deputy manager chose Biscuit and I thought it suited her!

Do you mean when they dump them at she shelter? If so, there's no way of proving it. We had one lady arrive with an extremely aggressive pit bull and just let him go in reception and walk out, luckily he had a muzzle tied to his head and between myself and the dog wardens we managed to get him into a kennel and cut his muzzle off. Another tied a gigantic shar pei to the railings and walk out, I loooved that dog but he really was a risk to the public, so he went too. Although once we did scan a dog and call the number and the dumpee's mobile started ringing  idiot! I didn't tend to get the results of the court cases unless the dogs were going back to them, I know of a few that were banned from keeping animals but a lot of the cruelty cases that we worked with were from the gypsies who would just go and buy more! It's a good read

Wow Rach, what a fantastic job you have done, parts of that had me welling up! You should be so proud of yourself, you really are an inspiration xxx

Thank you so much Saz! Sorry, I thought i'd already replied to your comment! xxx

Just a few videos of her commands.. This is my OH, he's finally trained too lol!!

Drop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2W1_NFduPo

Sit-stay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbfW3ejKVpM

Wow well done Biscuit   and well done Rach on training them both!   

Absolutely amazing rach, I take my hat of to your, your both awesome   

xxxxx thank you

wow

Update

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t52620-lunatic

Biscuit's had a bad morning Don't know what's gone wrong, no change in routine at all. OH went to work at 7am (I was being lazy and waiting til 7.30 to get up) and at about 7.15 she started doing her panic growl/alarm bark/freak out. I left her for a few minutes to see if she'd settle but it started getting more high pitched and faster. Went downstairs calmly and she was by the window with every hackle up on her body and her bum all tucked under, couldn't see anybody outside. Let her out for a wee and she went okay, but is still all hackles up and literally clinging to me. Have given her a kong and will give her a few hours to get her head together before we try a walk. Checked her over and don't think it's anything medical. We shall see!

Could she have seen something in the garden rach that spooked her? Xxx

I was thinking that but the windows are very high so she couldn't have seen anything, and it was silent outside, everybody here generally leaves for work before 7am so I have no idea what scared her She's had two kongs to distract but she's flinching and ducking every time I try to stroke her, don't know what's triggered it She hasn't done this for years, she used to do it when she heard sirens initially but nothing here this morning. She's fast asleep now so will see how she is when she wakes up. xxx

Sounds lame Rach, but could it have been a vivid bad dream that lingered with her, if that makes sense? Sometimes if they are really scary they seem to stay with you for a while after waking. No other ideas, but hope you get to the bottom of it. How is she now? So horrible to see them scared

Doesn't sound lame hun, just don't know how their unconscious cognitive function works really, doesn't seem to have been many studies into it! We went to the woods and she was okay, but the scum of the earth have moved in a few roads down from me; they had 5 off lead staffies with them today on a busy road and Biscuit just lost her shit with them. Then started asking if she was a pit bull and where I got her from, and tried following us home with her going mental the whole way. The joys. She's a littler calmer tonight xx

Oh no that's all she needs or you! Worrying when they follow you home, hope you lost them
On a lighter side maybe she managed to get all her angst out at them and is feeling better now   

Had an incident with Biscuit on the way to the fields on Tuesday; silly woman walking an off lead collie on the pavement, who proceeded to run with all of his might at me and Biscuit lunging, barking and snapping. Biscuit hit the deck and I stood in between her and the dog with my hand raised telling him "no." His owner finally called him back and I started to get Biscuit back on her feet when he appeared AGAIN! Lunging and snarling. He finally went away and I coaxed little bug back up with treats, we had to walk through the little park to get to the field and there was a small dog next to the the walkway, we had to pass and so I put my brave face on and walked towards them and she was absolutely brilliant, focused on me and stayed calm. Was so proud of her   

Cut to yesterday after an afternoon in hospital on Tuesday and I'm feeling a bit delicate, true to form Biscuit is NOT happy with the change of atmosphere, and the one day that I need calm behaviour she turns into a tasmanian devil. Despite trying to keep commands/tones to same and confidence up she began lunging and barking at two women; one for putting bottles in a bottle bank and one for sweeping the pavement (this is why you MUST socialise as a puppy!!!) though after a vigorous play session in the field she got some of her angsty behaviour out and could focus a bit more. Walked past two yappy little terriers going at the fence and she focused on me the whole time, despite her hackles being up and clearly uncomfortable. Lets see how today's walks go! Fingers crossed!

Rachel, I have read this, I know you told me the story of biscult, but this has brought tears to my eyes. I take my hat off to you. You really are a inspiration. Biscult is so lucky to have you. I am also glad to have read this, because Pixee had a lot of issues too with men, over the time she has got better, and I am happy to say some of your training methods, I have used with Pixee. Biscult knows you are not well, you being in hospital, so this is bound to upset her. Hope todays walk goes well for you both. Hugs to you both. xx

Hope you are feeling better Rach and biscuit is a bit more settled x

Had a wonderful week with Biscuit! Thanks so much to Saz for providing the tuna loaf recipe, this has become her new training treat and she is (for now) ignoring all stimulus during focus! We even met a (wonderful) couple whilst on an early morning hike with two retrievers, one had wheels for back legs! Biscuit looked so confused  But they saw that she was uncomfortable (finally another dog owner that can read body language!!) and took the dogs to the side and put them in a sit. Bis practically crawled past them but she stayed focused with me and didn't react, the owners were lovely and so understanding! A breath of fresh air!!

No incidents and no reactions for over a week. Very proud of my girl.

Top of the class for Biscuit, star material.

    

Isn't it great when you meet others on walks that totally understand your position and are willing to help etc.

Sounds like Biscuit is a Tuna loaf convert  

Well Done Bis!   

Thank you guys! It's wonderful Ian She's had 4 big bikers come to the house today and after a few initial barks/grumbles she's decided she's smitten with them ALL  Little tart!

Just read through your and Biscuit's journey together and I have to say what a kind and patient women you are, Biscuit is so lucky to have you as her mum. Then I saw the pics of the dogs which had to be pts and the tears came!!, I just cant understand how people can be so cruel to animals, to keep a dog locked in a shed (I cant say what I would like to do to these people   ). Great work you have done Rachel with Biscuit   

Rachel33 wrote:Thank you guys! It's wonderful Ian :)She's had 4 big bikers come to the house today and after a few initial barks/grumbles she's decided she's smitten with them ALL  Little tart!

Oh love her!   

tracy boo wrote:Just read through your and Biscuit's journey together and I have to say what a kind and patient women you are, Biscuit is so lucky to have you as her mum. Then I saw the pics of the dogs which had to be pts and the tears came!!, I just cant understand how people can be so cruel to animals, to keep a dog locked in a shed (I cant say what I would like to do to these people   ).  Great work you have done Rachel with Biscuit   

Couldn't agree more Tracy