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Zara Update (long, but good news!)

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  • Zara Update (long, but good news!)

    Thought I would give you all an update on Zara, and her behavior issues.

    Zara is now 9 and a half months old, and previously I had posted (a couple times) about her aggressive and obnoxious behaviors.

    I called my local all breed club (no dane club nearby), and the person who helped me get Ari's CGC and TDI, got a few names, and found a local person on everyone's list. I did interview a few behaviorists, and found one who seemed like she would work for my daughter and I and Zara.

    We had almost a 3 hour consultation, and a 2 hour follow up home visit. Lynn interviewed my daughter (a teenager) and I, she observed our interactions, and came up with some really good ideas for us.

    We are doing some very simple exercises that can be done in the house, at random times, by my daughter or I to help Zara to focus on us - (rather than getting crazy over some little thing). We have taught her to "touch" our closed fist as a target, and are now working on teaching her to target each others hands across a room. We also are teaching "look at me" something we had not done before.

    She showed my daughter how to make Zara move away from her when Zara is treating my daughter as a sibling, and not an authority figure. It was funny, because one of the only things that Zara respected in terms of a boundry was a chair or a baby gate. So my daughter was either picking up a chair (see lion tamer here) or a baby gate, and walking straight into Zara to get her to give her space. This worked in less than a week, and now all daughter has to do is get up and walk toward Zara, and she backs off. Hopefully, another couple weeks to get it on a verbal or hand signal.

    Out of the house, I am taking Zara back to obedience class on a pinch collar, without my daughter who cried at the sight of the "torture" collar. Zara has made some good strides in class, and is really DOING "sit" and "down" and "stay" this time around. It may take us a few more 8 week classes to get the pinch collar off of her, and be able to do it in a martingale, but I see so much change in her.

    She is a smart dog, and is more highly strung than most other danes I've had/met.

    She still gets growlie when a child or adult approaches that she (for whatever reason) has deemed scary, but she has completely stopped lunging, and can be (about 50% of the time) re-focused with treats, and commands to "touch" or "look at me" --- without having to give the collar a jerk.

    So, it can be done; it's not easy, nor do I expect it will be, but I can see that she is going to turn into a great girl one day!!!
    Andi

  • #2
    Good for you for taking such a responsible tack on Zara's issues. Sounds like she is really coming along great!
    Ann & John and Navy (b. 1/5/14)
    Whisper (Avatar 3/9/07 - 11/19/13)

    Zip (2000-2007 - waiting at the Bridge)
    http://dolforum.com/forum/image.php?...ine=1215894342

    Also at the Bridge: Woof, Natasha, Kippie, Black Jack, Thumper, Nigra Altair and Sean

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    • #3
      That IS good news! I'm happy to hear all of your work is being rewarded! Kudos to you and your daughter (and Zara, too).
      ~Patty~ I have the right to remain silent; I don't have the ability.

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      • #4
        This is WONDERFUL news!!!! Good for you and your daughter, and great for Zara!

        Good job!
        Lissa's furkids: Jupiter (RIP), Merlot (RIP), Savannah, and Poet
        sigpic
        Visit them at: http://www.lissa.net/Joya/
        MAGDRL: http://www.magdrl.org/
        AKC CGC Evaluator #9661 since 2003
        Feeding RMB since 2001

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        • #5
          Excellent news.

          Keep us posted on her progress.

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          • #6
            I was wondering how it was going. Great to get a positive update!!
            sigpic
            Lori, Desi & Grimm
            RIP my beloved Murray 5/17/07-09/13/12
            Join Boise Danes ... https://www.facebook.com/#!/group.ph...66337846714730
            Proud to be a Boise State Bronco!

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            • #7
              Yay!!!! So glad to hear happy news!!!!
              ~Laura~

              Dori: 7 years (TDI, CGC), Toby: RIP SWEET BOY (CGC), Cami: 7 years (TDI, CGC)

              sigpic

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              • #8
                YAY, ANDI!!! That is such promising news!! I am so relieved that things are changing for you, your daughter, and Zara! Keep up the good work, guys!
                June, Bumper (deaf & blind), Joey, Daisy, and Angel Ann (deaf)
                RIP Dakota Blue Moon
                Oct 27, 2006, Oct 01, 2012

                "I'd tell ya...but I'd have ta lick ya"
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                • #9
                  Good for Zara, your daughter and you.

                  I swear it's always these sweet little girls that are too smart for their own good that can give you fits. I'm back on dialup right now because my Cha Cha managed to dig thru 12 inches of snow, and 6 inches of dirt to find the broadband connection.

                  Dee
                  sigpic

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by devil dog View Post
                    good for zara, your daughter and you.

                    i swear it's always these sweet little girls that are too smart for their own good that can give you fits. I'm back on dialup right now because my cha cha managed to dig thru 12 inches of snow, and 6 inches of dirt to find the broadband connection. :d

                    dee
                    wow !!!! That is impressive!
                    sigpic

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