Quote: Becky Niedbalka

No, he shivers before walks, when the kids are running around, and when outside. I can understand the walks, as we are in winter here, and the temps are -44 with the windchill, I don't think he likes the winters here period, but I have to walk, and we don't go very long on colder days, if the temp goes over -30 with the windchill I just take him on leash with my skidoo and trot him for 30 min rather than walk.
I have fish oil, he hates fish, so I have to sneak it in, with the coconut oil, I forgot about that. I only do a tsp of each. I don't even think he thinks the meals are extra special, as he really doesn't eat the scraps with gusto, he picks up the bits of chicken or beef with curled lips, like he doesn't want to touch them lol.
I give him the extra more for myself, feeling that he burned the extra calories to get the extra fats. I don't see much of a diff when he eats it, he doesn't wolf his food down, and it takes him about 10-15 min to finish his meals, if he is still eating I let him finish, if he walks away, I put the bowl up, by the advice of those on this board. He never goes back to finish the bowl, anyways, after he walks away.

Others have said that it will take time, so I am just wondering if it is just too many changes for him, our house is now twice the size, and his behaviour did start bvack to square one once we started , we did more long walks when they were building and spent more of the time outside doing my summer chores. Than we had to stop out of the yard walks for a month due to the influx of bears in the area, only because I had to wait for my PAL card to come in, now we can go anytime, as I got my gun license.
I really hoped with the morn meals he would perk up. After his evening meals he gets up more greets us more, and seems more interested in what we are doing. In the end, once the warm weather returns, I firmly believe he will get better. I will be using the e-collar so that he can be off leash more, as I trained him with it this fall to proof his recall. I would like to use it outside now, but am not sure if having it on him would cause frostbite where it is near his neck? If it won't, than I would love to use it on the trail too, as he is collar wise, and as soon as it is on, listens very well, to everything I say. I think they prev used one on him, as the change in him was instant as soon as I put it on. Perhaps that is why he does not bark. I find it hard to believe a dog whom was with 9 other dogs in her kennels does not bark.
Do any of you guys use a e-collar in the winter?

"Use an e-collar"... Becky, your dog seems to have Trouble with Trust & Bonding & Engagement from what I can gather here, so I personally would not use an e-collar on him (just my gut-feeling, and others may think differently) but I would not use one on an Overly Stressed dog that tends to "shut down" even under the mildest & most minimum pressure -- I do see where you already introduced him to the e-collar last year, though, so if you had GOOD results with it, then OK (sorry I have no experience with frost-bite issues).

So, I did a test..and now I am sad.
I had a dinner party with a friend and her husband who just beat cancer, so since I knew Jazz wouldn't eat if we fed him while they were here, and I know he won't eat if I feed him during the day, I asked my spouse if he would bring him in if I put him outside for a pee, and feed him after half an hour.
So I put him out, and than got to my meal making, and sure enough, as I knew would happen, he brought him in, and Jazz ate the whole bowl at 3pm, and drank his whole bowl of water..
This dog does not like me period. I give him a biscuit and pet him, he drops it and lays down, The man does and he eats it.. I think I am fighting a sexist dog.. I mimic what he does when I see a reaction out of Jazz that is positive. I don't think this boy is going to accept me.
I was not floored but really sad that I spent so much time trying to get this boy to eat.. And the bad thing is that when my spouse does the feeding or potty stuff, Jazz will act like I don't exist. Which is why I asked my spouse not to do anything with him, so I could build the bond with Jazz. But I have been sole caregiver and treat dispenser for him since july, and what Jim can get Jazz to do, with the same attitude that I have, is amazing.

Don't feel sad. I know that some dogs prefer either men or women. But we don't know why. He might have had bad experiences in the past with women, not necessarily with women in general, one single one can be enough. You can not know the reason, you can only take guesses and this makes things even more difficult.

I don't think it is good you are thinking you "fighting" a sexist dog. You seem to have lost courage and out of disappointmment developped the atitude Jazz doesn't like you. I know this can happen easily after all the good intentions and work you put in him.

I doubt that he dislikes you personnally, he has just not gained enough trust yet. Not your fault. He might have a pre-history which made him distrust women, it can also be a distrust against certain circumstances which he associates with you. It can have a completely other reason. I think he will need more time, maybe much more time. I'm convinced if you go on calmly, try to handle him with a positive atitude, not "he dislikes me", not "I'm fighting a sexist dog". These are interpretations with which you transmit a tension between you and him. which will not improve the process of gaining trust.

We all have sometimes doubts and also feelings of sadness because of dogs who seem to have aversion against us or because of disappointments in other ways. This is normal, especially when we've put such a lot of effort in an animal and it seems to us nothing has improved. Nevertheless keep your mind up, find your courage and your patience again.

Great words Christina I am going to be putting my IPod and headphones on when I handle him now, I think a bit of good music will put my mind at ease when working with him, and perhaps do the same for him.
For now I am going to give myself a break and take a few steps back. I am no longer going to him, he can come to me.. I will consider it a mini holiday, food and water will be provided at the usual times, but I am going to let us both pretend otherwise that we are invisible and go along with my day without adding him to it.. We will see if he chooses to follow, or not.

He needs to be added. He needs to beome part of your family. But of course you can reduce it bit. Sometimes just your quiet presence helps. Don't xpect too much what refers to following. It you Lucky he will. bit I doubt it a bit for time being.

Once he has overcome his distrust, will gain more confidence and make signs to search your company he will probably start to follow you But think about the baby steps. It is unlikely he will do this from today to tomorrow. Reinforce him for every tiniest attention he gives you. At the very moment he does this I (t may be just a step , a head turn towards you or a look. You should mark this immediately and then reward. Do this many many times and consistently.

A time out in the crate perhaps a little bit longer than usual (provided he is well used to th crate and doesn't feel uncomfortable) might make him learn to wait, creates a bit impatinience/frustration and hopefully he will wish to communicate.

Then It be will be a reinforcement to be freed from you. As far as I read your and his history it will take some time until he will capture this. He needs to experience this very often until he makes an association between his behaviour and your mark/rew.

Mark/rew also the very moment he gives you attention while being in the crate.
When you let him out of the crate mark/rew too ifhe makes the slightest sign to come. E.g just one paw outside.

Don't just deliver food or other reward just in stationary position. Take one, two ore more steps backwards after marking or at least move your baited hand away fro him. This motivates most dogs to come to you instead of you to him. Without this he cannot connect this behavior and the result of it.mBut don't forget the very exact timing of the mark..

All this begins to create movement. (it's not for nothing they call the Terminal Marker also Movement Marker in contrast to the Duration Marker, where we want the dog to remain stationary. ( Later they also use it for going on doing something ikeep doing what you're doing, even if in movement. But at the movement is not important.)

Using your IPod, Becky, is a good idea, if it helps you relax. I hope it helps you to believe in a better future with Jazz, win a more optiimistic attitude May be good for Jazz too. I don't know how he reacts on music. But some dogs do love it really. If it is like that, would be wonderful. In that case you would already have something in common. Depends of course on the music and the volume. Remember, dogs hear at least 5 times better than we! So what for us is a nice calm music might for them be noise.

Wish you all good luxk!

 Quote: Becky Niedbalka

Great words Christina I am going to be putting my IPod and headphones on when I handle him now, I think a bit of good music will put my mind at ease when working with him, and perhaps do the same for him.
For now I am going to give myself a break and take a few steps back. I am no longer going to him, he can come to me.. I will consider it a mini holiday, food and water will be provided at the usual times, but I am going to let us both pretend otherwise that we are invisible and go along with my day without adding him to it.. We will see if he chooses to follow, or not.

EXACTLY Right, IMHO.

The above is a type of Groundwork Protocol where you just IGNORE the dog "psychologically", only providing Its BASIC Needs (shelter, food, potty) with absolutely ZERO emotional Pressure (stop trying to be his best friend, no doing anything to make him like you, quit burdening him with your "needy" feelings) -- No offense meant at all, Becky, as I would be doing to same thing too in trying to win him over Either he will eventually warm up to you OR he won't ... Either he's a hopelessly One-Man-Dog or a One-Sex-Dog or Jazz will end up "coming around" at some point in time

That's the plan Candi will be less stressing for the both of us, and a mental break too!
No offense taken! It is true, my calling him over and giving him food when he does obviously does not work, so what is the sense in keeping it up. After almost a year, or will be a year at the end of Feb, it is time to switch gears.