Willow's confidence journal

[Granca]

That's interesting. Dogs often pick up on things which we don't notice. When my grandparents moved 'over the hill' from Portsmouth to escape from the bombing during WWII, my grandfather's Airedale, Jack, evidently refused to go into the house initially and was very unsettled, but my grandparents couldn't understand why. A while later, they were devastated when Jack was found to have contracted TB. Apparently the person who had been looking after the house had had a dog which had died of TB, so poor Jack must have sensed that something was wrong.

Willow must have noticed the tension and the differences in the state of the house, so she too is sensing that something isn't quite right. I hope she begins to associate it with better things soon.

 

[Lisa]

Yes, having different people there as well as different smells from the others who left, plus the state of disarray plus lingering tension...all could add up to her being unsettled. Hopefully she will feel more relaxed as the days go by.

 

[JES72]

I hope she feels more settled soon.

 

[HAH]

Really interesting. Glad she’s gradually coming down; would love to see photos of bitey face game (plus nose biting )

 

[snowbunny]

I will try to video it one day

 

[Candy]

When Joy was a small pup, a friend of ours stood on her accidentally. She was a very underfoot puppy and I did this often myself, so he was in no way to blame and was really upset that it had happened. About a year later we were having problems with our laptop. This friend was quite an expert with computers, so Trevor asked him to check it out for us. He came and sorted it while Joy and I were out walking. By the time we returned he had left and Trevor had gone for a haircut. As soon as I opened the door Joy's hackles went up and she was growling and barking. She sniffed the chair that he'd been sitting on and her barking became quite frenzied. I had to take her outside and do distracting and calming games before we could go back inside. Whenever we have met him since she has growled and cowered away, which has distressed him as he is a gentle man and a real dog lover. He has always said that it's his fault and been very apologetic. Today however, on our way back from our morning walk, we passed him on the street. He and I were attempting to do social distancing but Joy pulled me towards him, greeting him like an old friend! He and I just looked at each other in total amazement! Well, what's all that about then? I can't believe she's forgotten what happened, but has she forgiven? Or just grown up and moved on? There is so much for me still to learn about these dear sweet dogs.If she's happy, I am though. Maybe she's just growing up and moving on? Any thoughts, anyone?

 

[snowbunny]

Today I was outside when there was a gunshot really close to the house. The dogs all went rushing past me, excited to see what was going on. Then Willow turned back and ran to me, all loose and waggy, looking for a treat. So we ran inside and she had some squirty cream from the can. So lovely to see how far she's come; she wasn't in the slightest bit concerned, was excited to see where the noise was coming from but also still has the association that loud noises equate to Good Stuff From Mum.