Many of the naughty behaviors Betti displayed are receding. She doesn't jump up much anymore...sinc e we began grasping her front paws and asking her to dance. She has many toys that, over time, I've tried to show her as a deterrant to chewing other things. She went from stealing things from my bf...like his hat...and taking it to the back room to chew it up...to merely collecting little piles of things in the back room...compili ng them amidst her toys and NOT chewing them up. So, I can say the destructive chewing has come to a near halt. Sometimes she gets some junk mail or steals the bf's lunch off the cutting board in the morning because he makes the mistake of leaving the room once in a while.
She is coming when called now...which was a big problem since she didn't trust people much. She's been here for about a year now...with me and adjusted to many new changes, including the new boyfriend. She used to pound on the door all night and pace and chew things after he started spending the night. Night after night he could not sleep and said it could not go on like that, but eventually she warmed up and is much more friendly since new people have come into the scene.
It is true that it just takes time and patience. Now she is the cuddliest, sweetest little thing. Not that she's not always been sweet, but she has never growled at anyone once or made any aggressive moves...not even subtly in her posture. She is happy and healthy and I am so glad I took the chance to introduce her into my home as scared and unhealthy as she was in September of 2004. She's come a long way. All they ever want is a home with a warm, soft couch to lay on and a family (or person) to love them.
One very important aspect of Betti's success is the fact that I make a lot of nonthreatening eye contact with her...began using the click-treat method. She began to look at me and trust me and I also talked to her all the time in a kind and conversational manner...as if she were another person and could understand me...which I think she can.
There is only one person she does not like and she play bows and barks and tries to nip his butt (playfully), but he does not talk to her or treat her with compassion. He makes faces at her and speaks harshly.
So kindness and personability matter utmost. I loathe the philosophy that "it's just a dog". There's no such thing as "just a dog".
