Perhaps I should explain the pictures I posted last night. No, Elvis did not break into the ratty condo and eat his sisters. He is only trying to bond with the family - he reads the paper with Dad and then shreds it with his little sisters. Our little barn dog who never lived in a house before is coming around quite nicely. Now...if only I could get him to bond with me while I clean up the house....
After two succesive rounds of basic obedience (for which he won the blue ribbon his last time around) and several months of private sessions with an animal behaviorist (educated at Cornell - only the best for the King) Elvis has been allowed to join "Hound Happy Hour." Hound Happy Hour is a play group for dogs run by said behaviorist. Happy Hour helps Elvis to socialize with dogs and people and will boost his self confidence. After only three happy hours Elvis has gone from standing completely still in front of the door waiting to get out, to zooming around the room, greeting people and running with the other dogs. The people who have been through classes with us and at the first happy hours can't believe his progress. We are really proud of our boy. He is even starting to play at home - he throws his toys around and then jumps after them, play bowing and flopping around like a normal, happy boy. The behaviorist wasn't sure that he would ever play...but he is!!! Now we are going to try to get him to play with us.
Oh! He now eats in front of us and with our other dog, Molly. He used to not eat unless he was alone in a room and in his crate. He is now confident enough to eat his dinner in the kitchen with the rest of us. He has also given Steve several kisses and now, when we lie down on the floor, he comes right over, lies down next to us and rolls over for a belly rub. We even get some nuzzles once in a while.
It is so satisfying to see this dog gain confidence and act like...a dog. He was such a scared mess when we brought him home, and totally mistrustful of us...and so....naughty!
He is still naughty...but now he's blue ribbon naughty.