Here is my update on Bailey. I think since August she has relaxed and become more comfortable in her environment. We are continuing private classes once a week. As a result, her feeling of security and increased self confidence shows. I also try to take her out for about an hour each day to try to desensitize her to certain situations. Sometimes she’s just too stressed to go out. At those times I limit her activities. She’s a dog that very much likes routine.

She seems to have her tail up and wagging most of the time now. Some days she’s so happy that she looks like she has a spring in her bottom. She’s getting better at sharing her toys but still loves to rip them apart to get the squeaker out. She has grown to really enjoy people and will look for affection whereas before I’d have to go to her and pet her. And when certain visitors come over to the house she can hardly contain herself. It takes some work to get her to sit/stay for just a couple of seconds before I release her. Then she just wants to see the visitor and the cookie is an afterthought.

I was going to take a CDC class with her starting today but I felt it was too large with quite a few big dogs. So I’m arranging for her private classes to be held at the same time. We will actually work in the same ring as the class. Our goal is to be able to sit in the hallway and allow other dogs to come and go within a couple of feet us without lunging and snarling. When the next CDC class starts, I’ll check to see if we can take that class.

Overall, Bailey is turning into a very nice and affectionate dog. I plan on continuing the private classes for as long as it takes. She has made so much progress in just the 9 1/2 months that she’s been with me. It’s still 3 steps forward and 1 or 2 steps back. But we are still moving forward and I’m learning a lot in the process. Its also giving us an opportunity to bond and she’s starting to look to me as the pack leader more and more.