River ate cheese and chicken from my hand again this morning. Tossed some into Allie’s kennel, which she waited till I left to eat. Both have the tops of their kennels off, each inside an ex pen. I go in there periodically throughout the day to spend time with them and offer food. Allie did eat her food in my presence today which is a positive step. She had her head buried into the crate bottom today so I sat next to her for a while, and then stroked her back a couple times, she shivers when over stimulated so I ended our session very quickly, I dont want to push her too far too fast. Later in the day she was laying relaxed facing outwards, more progress for her. River will now come to the front of the ex pen when I enter the room, looking for yummy treats! Still not able to touch, but thats ok. I sat down away from the pen and left the door open, with a trail of food a couple feet away from me, and he ventured out of the ex pen! Sniffed around gathered his treats, as long as I didnt move a single hair! He also mouthed a toy I put in there and tore up the newspaper, and as far as I am concerned is a normal doggie behavior and anything “normal” they do is a step in the right direction!! Allie appears a little less frightened today and a little more relaxed, though still have not seen her out of the crate. Thats all for now!
24 Feb
Day Two
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Posted by David Buccolo on February 24, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Looks like you have a couple of ferral Texas Heelers on your hands. I have one myself. I think you are making steller progress for the first two days. I think the best unique advice not already given is that you be aware that the ferral hearding breeds like this carry a little black book around that you don’t see and they write down in great detail all the movements, sounds and smells associated with everything you do. If they like what you are doing they will key off of the slightest sounds, movments and smells associated with that activity and anticipate it next time. That will help you greatly as long as you are consistent in the beginning. On the other hand if you do something they don’t like (like drag them out of their crate), the next time they will know you are going to do that way before you even start to think about doing it. So they will be in a bad state way before you even start to do the thing they don’t like.
So keep it positive. Once they trust you a little they will soon trust you a lot.