7.19.2018

July 18, 2018

White Dog softly said, "You hold him to VERY high standards, momma. It was just a little slip."

Roman, our reactive boy, lives under a zero tolerance policy for certain behaviors. One of them is baring teeth and rolling back lips at a sibling. Immediately he goes into his crate for timeout and to diffuse the situation. There are no warnings; if he reacts like that he has consequences.

Dr. Julia and our behaviorist are strong in their agreement that as we reshape Roman's drive to over-react that we must have rules and NEVER deviate from the boundaries he has been drilled on. No matter how guilty his sad eyes are. Consequences are not mean but gently separate him from pack interaction. It causes Roman to process the engagement and protects the more vulnerable members of the family.

Tonight the White Dog Army was helping me break a head of cauliflower into florets...and getting samples, of course. All are expected to wait until they are offered a morsel and no pushing or shoving is allowed. If manners are not observed, all of the supervisors are "fired" for the evening, meaning no more veggie samples.

Zsofia was sitting in good manners form as I reached out a small floret to her. Roman leaned over to grab it. I gently pushed his head away. "No, this is for Zso." As she softly took the vegetable Roman gave a growl and bared his teeth.

He was headed for his crate, he knew, before I said, "No! Roman! that is NOT the way we talk. CRATE!"  He stayed there, clearly filled with remorse, until Steve released him for his dinner.

Since, he has hung back a little watching me, his body language pleading for forgiveness. I have called him over, and he comes head hanging. "You messed up and you need to remember but momma loves you, always, no matter what. And you have served your time out. come back and join us.

3 comments:

Random Felines said...

A sign he is learning though

TimberLove said...

Dear Roman,

Strive on my friend, we have so much faith in you!

Nuk & family

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