[Dailydrool] Mabel

[Dale Rutz]

We went through something similar with Snoopy, who we adopted from the pound in 
January.  He would be fine during the day with Cyrus, in fact, they could be 
left alone all day together while we were at work after only a week and were 
fine, happy and loving with each other and us upon our return.  HOWEVER, after 
dinner a different Snoopy emerged ... he'd howl and chase Cyrus and Cyrus 
started spending more and more time outside in the evening.  At first we allowed 
this but then we noticed that by ignoring it, it got worse and Snoopy started 
enforcing Cyrus staying OUT when we were home.

We tried a solution which worked for us .... sounds kind of weird but I'll share 
it.  At our house my husband and I consider ourselves alpha ... and if a dog 
acts in a way we don't like we stop it.  So, if Snoopy started howling and 
chasing Cyrus I'd take him by the collar and tell him sit ... down ... stay ... 
and enforce it.  A couple of times I had to actually lay down on the floor with 
him (actually on top of him but no weight on him) to get him to settle.  Had to 
be repeated a bunch of times consistantly ... but eventually he realized we 
would not allow him to "hog the people."  Snoopy has all but quit this kind of 
thing.  We DO notice that Snoopy "sunsets" around 9PM .... and he is 
consistantly cranky if you wake or bother him after that time.  He's like a 
toddler up past his bedtime.  Snoopy sleeps on the floor on an orthopedic dog 
bed next to our bed so around 9PM we put him to bed.  We take him back there and 
get him in his bed and cover him up with a blanket and snuggle him and tuck him 
in.  Sometimes it takes 2 or 3 tries but he settles and stays and is happy 
(feels safe).  

Honestly I think a large part of the challenge for Snoopy (and maybe Mabel) is 
that I'm fairly certain he was crated before and we do NOT crate .... long story 
... we don't do it.  Also, Snoopy was a stray.  Between the two Snoopy has some 
real fear when he's sleepy and/or when he's woken up and isn't in an enclosed 
space.... he is comforted by the dog bed in the corner and especially by being 
covered up there.  Between that and the cuddles and hugs he dozes off and won't 
be woken up in the back of the house.

Good luck with Mabel.  G-d bless you for rescuing a dog and working through her 
intial bumps in the road.  I just know it'll all work out.

--Dale   momPerson to Snoopy and Cyrus (the nonBasset)
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