A Mini Meadow Update

After two weeks of Prozac, Meadow has not displayed any negative behaviors or other side effects.

Actually, I don't want to say this very loud, in case I should jinx myself, but Meadow appears to be improving. Just last week, someone shot off a paintball gun in the woods behind our house, and Meadow startled, then looked at Nick, then wagged her tail. Granted, this noise was not as loud or scary as a firework or thunder, but it wasn't quiet either.

Leah sure didn't like it - she appeared out of nowhere and glued herself to my side.

On Wednesday, Nick and Meadow accompanied me and Toby to Rally class, and Meadow was so relaxed that several people, including our instructor, commented on how well she was doing!

There have not been anymore fireworks in the past two weeks, (luckily), and during our last storm we managed to get the dogs outside in between thunderclaps, so I'm not sure if Meadow is recovering naturally, or if the medication has helped, but whatever the reason - I'm happy that she's happy.

As far as Meadow being snippy with Toby and Cinder, I did resort to using a water gun. Before you gasp, let me explain that for three weeks previous to that, I tried keeping Meadow on leash in the house to prevent her from going after them, but even with bitter apple on it she ate through the leash no less than five times, shortening the ten foot line by approx two feet each time, until she was wearing just a nub. She also ate through a harness - all this while sitting quietly at my feet!

Along with managing her behavior, I tried verbally correcting Meadow, and then ushering her to her crate for a brief time out - during which she stared at me reproachfully as if I had beaten her. This too had no affect on the unwanted behavior. Every time any of the dogs barked, Meadow would fixate on either Toby or Cinder and chase after them grrring and air snapping. Several times she actually nipped Toby, wetting his fur on his neck and face, and I was afraid that the behavior might escalate into an actual bite.

Something needed to be done.

The water gun seems to have gotten through to Meadow, and thankfully, it does not terrify her. Additionally, she seems to relate the correction to the spray bottle itself - no longer shooting me dirty looks through the bars of her crate. And the best news is, she's only gone after Toby once since I started using it, and it was while Leah was between Toby and the water gun. The little brat evaulated the situation first, looking from Toby to me holding the water bottle, and then she slipped behind Leah to chase poor Toby.

Some dogs are too smart for their own good.

The cat, well, we're still working on that, but Cinder is fast enough to duck under the kitchen table and turn around and give her a good hiss, which immediately backs her off.

Over the last month or so, Meadow had also been barking at nearly every noise, (a precursor to chasing Toby and the cat), but during the past two weeks her barkiness has subsided too. Nick and I felt the barkiness started when Meadow's vet increased her Proin dosage, which was subsequently lowered. So I'm not sure if Meadow stopped being barky because we lowered the Proin, gave her the Prozac, or a combination of the two, but either way it seems that we are finally back on track!