Specific, Persistent, Assertive
Samantha is afraid of the rain.
Yeah, I know a lot of dogs are afraid of storms and thunder and lightning, but Sammy's fears go a lot further than that. It's understandable when you consider her history. She came to the shelter after someone found her tied behind a trailer, forgotten and emaciated.
She was three years old.
I knew her story when we brought her home, but I didn't really understand what that would mean going forward. See, things like that don't just go away. Entering into a loving future didn't "fix" her right away. She had to learn how things worked in the present, and I had to learn how things had worked in the past.
We didn't have a fenced in yard. Our house was a rental, so we couldn't build a fence either. I tried to tether Sammy to a tree, but being tied completely shut her down. Even if I sat out with her in my lawn chair, she would just sit and quiver with frightened eyes until I brought her back in.
Then, she would pee on the carpet.
And, those were the sunny days. She was petrified if it rained.
I don't just mean the loud, theatric thunderstorms that shake the best of us. Light rain, cool mist, snow flurries, chilly breeze, and distant heat lightning all scared her so much she refused to go out the door by herself.
This really put a damper on house training. Sammy was three, but having never lived in a house, the concept was entirely new to her. I read several books and articles about training adult dogs, and what I gleaned, if you have a Weimaraner, train it young or you may be out of luck.
Weimaraners are intelligent, headstrong dogs, and as puppies they're very impressionable and responsive to consistent training. But, as adults they may prefer to do their own thing. They respond best to persistent, specific, assertive commands, and are not usually recommended for first time dog owners.
Well that ship had sailed. Here I was with my very first dog and no idea how to ease her anxiety enough to keep my floors clean.
We started taking her for walks four to five times a day. This we effective when it was sunny, but as I mentioned, Samantha is afraid of rain. At any sign of inclement weather, she would pull back on her lease, lay down, thrash around, or just plain fight me to go back home. It would leave me so frustrated and angry.
But, why? Why was I angry? Why was she so adamant?
She was afraid of rain because she had spent so much time outside in it, by herself, with inadequate shelter and no one around to keep her safe. I wasn't mad at Sammy; I was mad at whoever had neglected her. She didn't know yet, that I was different.
I couldn't go back and fix the past, but I could set a new precedent.
Persistent. First thing in the morning, before I leave for work, first thing when I get home, and right before bed, we're going for a walk.Specific. Every time we're going for the same walk. Down the road to the T, turn left for a block, back along the railroad tracks, and in the back door.
Assertive. Yes, the weather sucks, but we're going. And when we make it back, you can have snacks.
She fought, but I wouldn't let her win. It took days, weeks, and months of tedious persistence, but she started to trust me. Even if the thunder was rolling, she would walk out the door with me, cautious but willing. She knew we'd only be outside until our same, simple walk was done, and I would get her back home safely.
Some days were better than others, but gradually, the fighting stopped, and Sammy slowly made peace with the outdoors.
Now, four and a half years later, she loves to be outside... most of the time.
Samantha still hates the rain, but she's learned how to face her fears, and I've learned a lot about patience along the way.
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