Sonny

About 5 weeks ago a NMAF (New Mexico Animal Friends) foster called me about an 8 year old American bulldog female named Sonny. She’s got problems controlling her aggression around other dogs. During my initial visit I showed the foster how to convince Sonny that her human care-taker is the boss and then how to start controlling Sonny more with her mind than with the leash.

On my second visit two weeks ago there was some minor improvement in Sonny’s behavior. The foster (who works as well as cares for several animals) had been unable to work with Sonny daily, and the other dogs were not reacting well to my presence. Both of these circumstances prevented Sonny from showing her best behavior.

Today we met outside of a Pet Smart where NMAF had an adoption clinic going and we worked at a distance from all of the activity. Dogs were brought singly to the area as we worked with Sonny and she definitely put her best foot forward. At one point, Sonny was lying on her side and totally relaxed within 5 feet of 4 other dogs!

We practiced walking past and then behind other dogs that were being led on leash and we practiced having Sonny sit calmly as other dogs walked past her. We led Sonny within a few feet of a dog as we circled that dog, and at one point we walked beside another handler while she led a different dog. There were some minor attempts by Sonny to react to the other dogs, but she was easily persuaded to ignore them.

Sonny did extremely well and I hope her foster is giving herself credit for the progress they have made. I also hope Sonny’s performance convinced some skeptics that the dog CAN be rehabilitated, no matter how bad her previous behavior has been. Once people learn the keys to dog behavior, NO dog is hopeless!!!!