Weekly Training Update (Oct 23)

Goal:
To return to regular training classes and eventually agility classes, with the idea of potentially competing

Medication Plan:
75 mg clomipramine twice daily
.75 mg alprazolam (aka xanax) twice daily

Behavioral Plan:
1. Address resource guarding of me by removing myself from room (and taking Ginko with me, if necessary)

2. Retrain transitions by driving Lilly to many different locations and using our customized version of the Relaxation Protocol for a few minutes in each spot.

3. Once arrivals improve, then work both the Relaxation Protocol for people, movement, noises, etc for anything that happens during the transition work.

4. Progress to sitting to the side of doors at various non-pet stores so that people are headed in, but not toward us specifically. Pair any activity with food as usual.

5. Using various locations invite strangers to toss Lilly food but not approach her.

6. Repeat store process at pet product stores, starting at the back of the lot and moving closer and closer to the doors, with the goal of eventually going inside.

7. Attend training classes when possible. Arrive early to give Lilly time to adjust, then work in sit-relax anytime new people or dogs arrive.

8. When ready, schedule a private agility lesson.

Progress Report:
I do think the increase in the alprazolam from .5 to .75 has helped. The best example of that is my ability to open the scary window in the kitchen.

Lilly is somewhat better about resource guarding me from Ginko, but (as predicted) Tom hasn’t been following the rules when she guards him because he thinks it’s cute, so the behavior isn’t gone by any stretch.

Our transition work has been going really well, so we’re typically working on steps 4 and 5. We’ve tried hanging out in the back of a Petco parking lot a few times, but it’s not exactly in our usual route of errands, so I’ll need to make a special trip to complete that task. I also need to get better at asking people to throw Lilly food.

We have being going to class as the locations and timing fit into our nonstop-family-medical-drama-filled lives. You’ve seen past reports on those events. A check of the calendar reveals we haven’t been to class since mid-September, though. I’d like to go more regularly for step 7 before I even think about step 8.

The ultimate goal of doing agility for real still feels out of reach, but we’ll see. I’ll likely have to do another consult if/when we return to agility lessons (even private ones) to get a plan for handling whatever comes up there.

You’ll note that I’m still practicing the ZERO visiting rule with other dogs, for the most part. When we are in public or class, I NEVER ask or allow Lilly to engage with other dogs. The only interactions she gets are the ones we plan with friends’ dogs in controlled situations. And, honestly, Lilly seems fine with that. (Though, I know she misses Katie terribly.)

I’m less and less concerned with Lilly’s fears of other dogs that I allow her to meet. I feel, most times, like we’re at a place where it’s more about other dogs figuring out how to put up with her poor social skills than it is about me being able to teach her “normal” skills. Sadly, I think that normal boat sailed a long time ago.

So, that’s where we stand. Classmates and others who get the chance to see Lilly in daily life or working in public, feel free to report on any changes you’ve seen in recent months.