Our Amichien Bonding session
Our Dog Listener, Penny Alexander came over yesterday and spent around 5 hours explaining amichien bonding to us to enable us to get ongoing harmony in our 'pack', which comprises 2 humans and 3 doggies. Right from the get go things just felt different. The dogs were quiet (very little getting up and barking at the outside world) and did very little to seek any of our attention during the session. Wolf even slept under the table near a person he didn't know. It was not till the end that Penny invited each dog into her space and Wolf opened right up to her talking and doing tricks straight away. This is a dog who normally takes several sessions to even go near a new person. Ricky had to be woken up to even meet her.
The best I can explain it is that there has been a change in my sister and I - we call ourselves Alpha (DM) and Alpha-Alfalfa (me). Together we discuss and make decisions about what the dogs will and wont do and when. All the dogs have responded IMMEDIATELY to this. They pay attention to signs from us indicating what is expected of them. We talk to them a lot less and when we want their attention we talk directly to them. This means we can still treat them like our furry friends. For instance Stussy loves to play. Usually she starts misbehaving and we yell at her and make noises and wave our arms. Usually I get down on the ground and start playing with her. What happened last night is she did her high pitched bark twice and Alpha and I kept talking and ignored her totally. About 15 mins later I went and grabbed a toy, called her to me and indicated I wanted to play. We played and then stopped when I wanted to. There were no I'm sorry's from me - I just took the toy, got up and left.
Some other small but significant things were - all three dogs have eaten together for the first time EVER! We have gesture eaten their food each time before putting their down in order - Wolf, Stussy then Ricky. I have Stussy leashed to me and I feed her half then refill her dish again - food just keeps coming from the heavens! If Stussy finishes first I simply then walk her on the leash out the back and around the yard. The dogs have also been eating quickly and I reckon this takes less time that it did before with them all in seperate rooms.
They are getting used to waiting for us to enter and exit doors and stairs first - they need constant reminding still but often look up at us to see what we are doing before they bash ahead. Getting on the bed and lounge requires more work as they are used to getting up at their leisure. But we are the Queen's and we decide if we want them in our space. Last night I invited Ricky on the bed and she went straight to my sleeping spot. As soon as I went to that side of the bed she got up and moved to her side. Usually I have to push her there. Stussy also jumped off the bed right in front of Wolf last night. She has never done that and usually goes to extreme measures to not get close to her. Stussy also tried to lie on top of the other pillow - higher than me and Ricky. I ripped the pillow out from under her. She moved elsewhere.
The barking has been very minimal. As soon as they bark at something we acknowledge something is going on outside, praise the dog and walk away. They stop the barking as soon as you 'have a look'. It's amazing. This has been a very quiet house since yesterday. Same when we leave and return to the house. DM and I speak to each other and ignore the dogs then simply leave. When we come back we ignore the dogs until we are settled then call them to us one by one and say hello.
We have given them each roles in the pack and are trying to reinforce those. Wolf is the Guard as she is most likely to alert us to potential 'danger'. Stussy is the Inquisitive Learner. This way we can encourage her adventurous and active nature in a more positive than destructive way. No acknowledgement for chewing up a pillow but lots for spotting a mouse or doing a new trick. Ricky is the Comforter. She has always been quite nurturing to the other animals we've had - always grooming and welcoming them. She also watched over me when I had a fall a few years back till help arrived and has been known to sit by the bed when you are sick. She also likes to snuggle in to everyone when its cold.
That's all I can think of at present. I feel like part Queen and part Commander. The wierdest part of all this is that it seems normal to the dogs, like we are suddenly speaking their language. I know Stussy will push at the rules more than the others but that is because she is the most insecure of the pack from the outset. I want her to build her skills and be an asset to the pack, not a troublemaker. I know she can do it!
