[Dailydrool] Sally

[Opal-Deitering, Gaylene]

Hi Emily,
YES, this is a dominance issue.  We solved it with our first basset by not allowing her into the room with us.  Perhaps when she tries that snotty behavior you can head it off so that she doesn't get braver by success.  Snap a leash on her collar a couple of hours before bedtime, walk her little legs off so that she is very tired, then leave the leash on when you get home.  Then, if she gets snotty at bedtime, DH can grab the leash, and without risking being bitten, he can march her into a prepared bathroom or laundry room, and there she stays for the night, no matter how much she fusses.  Do this every time she snaps or growls at him, at bed time, food time, any time.  She will get the message pretty quick that growling means separation.

You will need to agree on a "correction command" that you both will use every time she gets growly.  You will both need to commit fully to the discipline, remain fully calm, and plan to execute it at the drop of a hat.  You will need a basset safe space already prepared when you decide to implement the plan.  A laundry room is great so long as she can't get to any laundry detergent or other harmfuls. Detergent is very caustic, can cause serious skin burns in an hour or two.  A few years ago there were some awful pictures of a basset who got horribly burned all over her underside and feet and legs because some detergent had accidentally spilled into her bed.  Talk about a horrible situation!  Make sure that she can't get into any danger where ever you put her, and make sure she is far enough away that you can get some sleep through her howling.

A few years ago there was a drooler who posted a similar solution to a Dalmatian (?) who  would wake up in the middle of the night to potty and play.  They started locking him up in the laundry room when he started this, and after very few repetitions he learned not to do it anymore!  When they get exactly the opposite reaction of what they want, they stop trying pretty quickly.  Sally wants to keep you and your room to herself.  She needs to get exactly the opposite.  By making DH the one to remove her, that gives him power and position. If she is on the bed with you for any reason, you must remove her because you allowed her to get that far.  Head off the confrontation by continuing to disallow the behavior before she gets growly, and if she makes a peep, she goes to the alternate place.  Whoever she growls at, that person takes her to the other place.  Try it consistently for a month.  If it doesn't work, try something else too.

Best of luck!

Gaylene Opal-Deitering
My passions do not replace my relationship with God, but are instead a reflection of it!

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