The Ballad of Maja and Carbón

Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
Well, tomorrow will be one week down and one week to go with Miss Maja. We have a routine of sorts now, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Happily she still seems to like ME even though I regularly put her in doggie prison for brief stints, but her hatred of Carbón is completely unchanged. She either ignores him (which is fine) or bullies him.

He gets a couple hours a day Maja-free time, but it’s also time alone as I’m out with her. He seems to appreciate it, but it’s not helping improve things overall and the second we come back in, she’s at him again. I’ve had one other dog like this, and sadly he never changed. I’m afraid that may be the case with Maja.

She’s of course not a bad dog (no bad dogs! ☺) but she’s exhausting. I can see why her ML called me in tears back in the spring. Walks are constant pulling and lunging in bizarre directions like someone stuck a cattle prod up her posterior. She’s much better reacting to other dogs (huge progress) but is now on to pigeons and trying to bite people’s feet. All very randomly.

To have some peace and quiet on walks with Carbón, I’ve just started using her sling carrier for 80% of the walk. I feel guilty about this, but she’s really doing my head in. Any suggestions welcome.

Amyway, this is all temporary, but I’m disappointed in myself so far. I wanted to build something with Maja and maybe help her overcome her fears, but I feel more like the house policeman who has devolved into ‘Let’s just keep her from torturing Carbón and alive for the next week’. Which I guess is already something. 🤪
 
Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
kateincornwall said:
It sounds like Maja needs some serious help but from her owner .
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To be fair to Maja’s ML, she has pulled out all stops to help Maja from behaviourists to trainers to puppy classes to holistic supplements.

Considering her first dog, Fine, was a puppy who required none of that and was an exceptionally chilled adult dog, it’s really admirable how she has sought lots of professional help with Maja. Of course, she still has time to evolve, she’s only 10 months old.

But it was waaaay overconfident of me to think I could make a dent in a couple weeks. I have been humbled! 😬
 
Atemas

Atemas

UK Tour Guide
Location
North Cambridgeshire
Emily_Babbelhund said:
but I’m disappointed in myself so far.
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Please don’t be @Emily_Babbelhund. I’m glad you have evolved a routine that works and I guess you will be mightily relieved when you hand her back. I would carry on using the sling as much as possible. It’s sad she doesn’t like Carbon but you are giving him as much respite as possible. Hang on in there :hug:
 
Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
Jelinga said:
You have done your best Emily and you have achieved something, she appears to adore you. Maybe it is the nature of the breed, most of the ones I have met have been like Maja. She may improve after her season.
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Not sure WHY she likes me, but I’m grateful she does. Without that much, we’d be sunk! 😆

She had her first season back in June.

I must defend the noble and brave chihuahua and say that I’ve had quite a few as fosters and they are cool little dogs. Most are VERY clannish: infinitely loyal and loving to their family (animals and humans) and everyone else can jump off a bridge. That’s why you probably have a tarnished view of them. 😉

I used to think they were all snarling nasty wee beasties. That’s why I started fostering them: who could get attached to such a mean and funny looking dog? So no broken hearts saying goodbye - just get them on to their next homes with a good feeling of accomplishment.

Then I fell in love with my first chi foster Emma, and I was sunk. 🙄

I think that’s also why I assumed that once Maja was with us for a few days - even earlier this summer - that she would see Carbón as family and treat him as such. All my other chi fosters LOVED my Rotties. But no dice so far.

I’ve taken Maja to the shop so Carbón and I can have a 2 hour break. It was a lovely reunion with some of his beloved stuffies. 🥰


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HAH

HAH

Moderator
Location
Devon, UK
It’s really tough, they do find ways to remind us that we’re all - humans and dogs - individuals with quirks and foibles and neuroses, eh? You’re doing what you can with the time and energy available, and it sounds like you’re making a good (kind, compassionate) go of things so don’t beat yourself up. Clearly Maja has Big Feelings to work through and that’s not an overnight challenge, so hopefully her ML can find the right specialist to support their journey. Who knows, this time next year it might all feel very different.
 
Candy

Candy

Biscuit Tin Guardian
Location
West Yorkshire, UK
I suppose that dogs, like people, have a right to be different, personality wise. My friend Fiona manages her two Fox Terriers really well, but has to be incredibly firm with them (she was a Primary school headteacher, so has had years of practice!)
I also think she has a touch of Terrier in her personality, she's lovely, but I am without a doubt calmer than her. She always tells me that I'm best sticking with Labradors or similar and that a Terrier would run rings around me, and I am sure that she's right. Fortunately I'm very happy with Labradors, and have no particular wish to have a Terrier. I actually think that if I was a dog I'd be a Labrador, generally calm and friendly, loves food, responds well to treats. I think you're managing the Maja/Carbón situation in the best way possible, but my heart goes out to your gentle Señor, it must be like having a badly behaved guest to stay but being too polite to say anything!
 
Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
HAH said:
Who knows, this time next year it might all feel very different.
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Yes, I hope so too! Funny thing is that when we went to pick her up from her 2 hours in the shop, she and Carbón greeted each other like best friends: tail wags and kisses all around! You would think Carbón couldn’t stand her by now, but he appears to be infinitely forgiving.

Of course then he tried to snuggle in her shop bed (he found a treat in there once) and she promptly bit him on the nose. Heartwarming moment OVER!
 
HAH

HAH

Moderator
Location
Devon, UK
Emily_Babbelhund said:
Yes, I hope so too! Funny thing is that when we went to pick her up from her 2 hours in the shop, she and Carbón greeted each other like best friends: tail wags and kisses all around! You would think Carbón couldn’t stand her by now, but he appears to be infinitely forgiving.

Of course then he tried to snuggle in her shop bed (he found a treat in there once) and she promptly bit him on the nose. Heartwarming moment OVER!
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At least there's a positive starting point, eh? Carbón really is the consummate gentleman - what a boy.
 
Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
Candy said:
She always tells me that I'm best sticking with Labradors or similar
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Isn’t great though that there is a dog breed for every human personality? 😁

Personally I’m still trying to wrap my head around having a Labrador, even after 6 years. I still think of myself as a Rottweiler person who somehow ended up with a ball-obsessed food addict. I mean, I’m VERY grateful for my ball-obsessed food addict, but sometimes I can just see him rolling his eyes at me. 😆
 
Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
HAH said:
At least there's a positive starting point, eh? Carbón really is the consummate gentleman - what a boy.
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He really is SO good. This experience is reminding me just how chilled he is 98% of the time! He’s also big and squishy and cuddly and has never ever tried to gnaw on my nose or wee on me when I put his harness on. I never properly appreciated that before. 🤣
 
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