Well many of you know about Zacharys past health and anxiety/behavior issues.
Today we took a big step. Zachary has NOT been in a Petstore or big public situation in about 10 months. (Last public situation he freaked out and embarassed us terribly, we had him at the flea market with us something he had done his whole life and he was just very unfriendly. Barked and whined the whole time, growled at passing strollers (and he was in a stroller which we don't have anymore, but just know I don't feel a stroller is a substitute for exercise, he just wasn't allowed in if he wasn't in a stroller) And this was a pattern we had been noticing for awhile.)
Anyways we cut off big public outings and little by little introduced him into situations with people and other animals, and now that his anxiety is under control its time for bigger outings. Ofcourse his last 2 were at the park. (we had stuck before that to mainly seeing friends, and friends of ours he hasn't met, walking around our apartments and having him face interaction situations, and having him meet different dogs in a controlled environment....overall he has been doing very well)
Today we took him to one of our local petstores, just to go in and get out of the house.
He did Wonderful.
He was a little nervous when we went in, he let out 2 big barks. But it wasn't at anyone or any dog, it was actually at a life size plush Bernese Mountain Dog Toy. After that he settled right down. There was another dog in the store and I don't think he realized it. He did real well with people and compliments and he didn't growl or act out. He was real quiet.
He passed the rabbit cages, and the bird cages and didn't even flinch. He went down the dog food aisle and didn't whine.
By the end of it, he had been a model dog and he got to pick himself out a cookie. He ended up getting an all natural Carob and Peanut Butter cookie the shape of a mailman that was as big as my hand.
Overall he had a good day, and he has made so much progress over the last few months that I am truely pleased. Its nice to know he is at a point where we can take him in public place like a store again, its been a long time and a lot of work.
I think he was more proud of himself than we were of him.
It was a good day for Zachary
Today we took a big step. Zachary has NOT been in a Petstore or big public situation in about 10 months. (Last public situation he freaked out and embarassed us terribly, we had him at the flea market with us something he had done his whole life and he was just very unfriendly. Barked and whined the whole time, growled at passing strollers (and he was in a stroller which we don't have anymore, but just know I don't feel a stroller is a substitute for exercise, he just wasn't allowed in if he wasn't in a stroller) And this was a pattern we had been noticing for awhile.)
Anyways we cut off big public outings and little by little introduced him into situations with people and other animals, and now that his anxiety is under control its time for bigger outings. Ofcourse his last 2 were at the park. (we had stuck before that to mainly seeing friends, and friends of ours he hasn't met, walking around our apartments and having him face interaction situations, and having him meet different dogs in a controlled environment....overall he has been doing very well)
Today we took him to one of our local petstores, just to go in and get out of the house.
He did Wonderful.
He was a little nervous when we went in, he let out 2 big barks. But it wasn't at anyone or any dog, it was actually at a life size plush Bernese Mountain Dog Toy. After that he settled right down. There was another dog in the store and I don't think he realized it. He did real well with people and compliments and he didn't growl or act out. He was real quiet.
He passed the rabbit cages, and the bird cages and didn't even flinch. He went down the dog food aisle and didn't whine.
By the end of it, he had been a model dog and he got to pick himself out a cookie. He ended up getting an all natural Carob and Peanut Butter cookie the shape of a mailman that was as big as my hand.
Overall he had a good day, and he has made so much progress over the last few months that I am truely pleased. Its nice to know he is at a point where we can take him in public place like a store again, its been a long time and a lot of work.
I think he was more proud of himself than we were of him.
It was a good day for Zachary
I can very much relate--our Cricket has dealt with some anxiety issues as well. She is much better than she was before, but we still deal with her issues. Her issues are not so much with other dogs, but with humans she doesn't know, especially men. Good job Zachary!!! 
