Rowdy, our friendly POA (Pony of the Americas) has been with us now for two weeks. He's a rather calm and friendly horse, but easily ten times a day, Phoenix HAS to be let outside and the routine is the same: she charges down to the gate, jumps up and barks in her loudest voice, "MOM, THERE IS A HORSE IN THE PASTURE!". Let's see... 10 times a day times 14 days means this has happened 140 times. Maybe more. At least she no longer barks at the cats. Why bother with measly cats when THERE IS A HORSE IN THE PASTURE!
We are looking for a new home for the horse. I know our neighbors will thank us. They may even throw us a party.
Phoenix will not be invited.
7 comments:
Oh dear! I know exactly what you are going through.
Can you let her in the horse pasture or bring the horse into her pen? Immersion therapy? That's what worked with our Cardis; our horse was very nonchalant about them and after barking like ninnies at her for an hour and making little rushes at her hay they realized that she was not a clear and present danger. Once they could get to her they stopped freaking out so much.
My sister's Catahoula, on the other hand, never stopped thinking she was the biggest pig on earth and had to be run to ground and killed. We had to stop letting him visit without his bark collar on.
Phoenix is her mother's daughter... Phoebe is fine as long as nothing is out of place and nothing changes in her life - but the minute you leave something somewhere it doesn't belong...!!!
I am SO glad that Wally doesn't normally pull that stuff. It's irritating and she may always be that way, but at least you've done wonders with her otherwise.
Sedona doesn't weird out when we have new things happening, but MAN ALIVE does she wig out at noises that aren't considered "normal". The worlds most annoying "bow-wow-wow" barker in the highest pitch possible so the world has to cover their ears.... *sigh* I feel your pain, Heidi...
I would love for Phoenix to meet Rowdy, but although he is normally fine with dogs, it would be my luck that he would kick her. I wrote more out of humor than frustration. What my trainer helped me with was desensitizing and distracting her. In class we got to where the neighboring boxer puppy ran over her and she didn't break her down. I swear she knows if something has been moved two inches!
I am working on the horse issue with play. She wants a tennis ball more than anything, even barking at the horse.
Secretly, I think the horse likes the attention.
Yes, I think she gets it from "my side of the family."
"Mom-mom-mom, there's a CAT!"
"The wind is blowing!"
"Look, birds are on the ground!"
Okay, now that I am used to it, her OCD is one of the things I like about Phoenix. At least she is not boring. I would hate to have one of those dogs that just lays there. She has per-son-al-i-ty!
Ever tried a laser pointer with her? The minute I got it out, before I turned it on, she was in border collie mode. She'll tear after that little red light like nobody's business.
The "Chuck-It" was her other favorite.
GoGo will fetch sticks if you throw them in the water, but none of mine are very interested in that kind of play, and I wish they were. Phoenix was fun that way.
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