You've heard of "Horse Whisperers"? People who can tame the wildest
horse just by talking to them? By being gentle and reassuring and
earning the animal's trust? :) Well Gosh I have something I want to
share in getting my affable nearly two year old shih tzu/terrier Abbie
to overcome what seems to be a fear of her going for walk harness. She
loves to go for walks but she shies from the harness. Once it is on she
is okay, it's getting her to come and have it put on that shies from.
I suspect that when she was abandoned as a pup, the Animal control
People were non too gentle capturing her. Or something like that.
(Or the original  owner wasn't gentle...)

First off Abbie wants to be good. She loves to be good.... When she so
much as thinks she's naughty she acts rueful...

Today I finally got her to come to me instead of having to play chase
.... She was by the back door sitting there. I was by the door to the
garage. We were in line with each other. I crouched down and patted
the floor telling her in a low friendly voice to come... She knew what
was going on. Cosmo was in his harness waiting by the door. She got
about five feet away sat down... I kept talking to her about going for
a walk... she came closer. I pet her. I let her sniff the harness and
I told her it's okay, just for going for a walk. I slip it on her and
praise her... .. I'm going to keep this up and I hope eventually she'll
just come when she sees the harness and the old fear will go away. :)

So far so good! She's such a sweetie!

Cindy





--- PPoint 3.01