Hachi had a good week. He had lots of challenges but usually kept his composure.
We had strangers working on the house, banging so hard that things fell off of shelves. They also began appearing outside of 2nd story windows - and that surprised even me! Hachi startled and barked many times. His startles were not at the loud bangs but at the sight of people where he didn't expect them to be. Even after some rapid fire barking, he recovered and relaxed again pretty fast.
We made sure to keep having fun with him. Our kind neighbors let us play in their amazing meadow. Look how happy and relaxed Hachi was! The loose tongue tells the story!
We continued our usual training, and he seemed relaxed in the evenings after everyone departed our house. During the day, I also took him outside to observe the workers from a distance. The hard part is getting him out the door because the workers are focused on the house. After we successfully get outside, we walk away from the house to observe from a distance where he can handle it.
He generally stopped paying intense attention to them after we got far enough away. However, I did have to stay on my toes. Whenever he stared for too long, I needed to get him moving and redirect his attention to avoid him going over threshold. Overall, I get the sense that he's learning to accept that strangers will sometimes be inside our bubble. He may never learn to love those strangers but he may learn to ignore them.
I kept trying to spend one-on-one time with him outdoors. I think that his photos in the meadow show how much more relaxed he was about that than in the past. That makes me very happy.
It was a happy week for Hachi.
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteGetting there... YAM xx
how great!!! and the meadow is a wonderful place... happy hachi ;O)
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ReplyDeleteWe always love to see when these posts start by saying, "Hachi had a good week." It certainly would be startling for anyone (human or canine) to see someone appear outside a second story window. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteHe's some a very long way. I'm so happy he's had a good week.
ReplyDeleteI linked this post to Awww Mondays.
Have a fabulous day and week. Scritches to the precious pups. ♥
so happy for the happy week and that tongue is priceless.. he is so photogenic
ReplyDeleteWe love great news. Romp on, Hachi!
ReplyDeleteHachi darlin' you look so relaxed...and what a beautiful meadow
ReplyDeleteHugs Cecilia
We're thrilled that Hachi had a good week!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you, as well as Hachi and Shyla will be happy when the work is completed on your new home. In the meantime, well done Hachi!
ReplyDeleteA happy week for Hachi means a happier week for everyone in your household. Yay!
ReplyDeleteWay to go, Hachi!!! We have new neighbors and that sets Lightning's barking off. Between just new people and all the workers they have coming and going, his alerting noise is getting quite the workout:)
ReplyDeleteWe call tongues like that 'fun-o-meters'. :-)
ReplyDeleteChris from Boise
I love starting a week with a good Hachi report.
ReplyDeleteHe is doing pretty well considering strangers and noise are all around his home. It would be hard for a lot of dogs we think.
ReplyDeleteYay for a happy week! We haven't had any work done on our house for a long while now, but I used to do the same thing with Luke - let him watch at a distance. Sometimes it was challenging to get out the door first, it's such a help that our house has many doors to choose from!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see he feels best when romping in the meadow.
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