Re: Stuck between a rock & a hard place...
Tessa has taken a liking to an old recliner, though she sort of overflows from it. It sits right by the window & sometimes lately, she's showing interest in actually looking OUTSIDE.
Last night, Tessa was standing on the recliner looking out & let out a ***GROWL*** YAY!!!! It lasted a few seconds, but was a good growl-not a play growl.
I told her she was a good girl, but did not want to distract her, since this is the 1st time she's ever growled at anything that outside. So I sat back quiet & just watched her hoping to see some other reactions.
As luck would have it, I had a friend on his way over to help me cut her claws, & he pulled up a few minutes later, & she recognized him immediately, so happy- happy joy- joy, guard dog session over.
Now onto the other miscellany:
From the time I got Tessa at 11 1/2 weeks, she's had a serious aversion to certain things.
Brushes, combs, actually *ANYTHING* that looks like a grooming instrument, even if it is not, she wants to destroy it.
Aside from the fact she wants them no where on her person, she actually has gotten upset seeing me brush my own hair, or brushing the cats.
It was clear to me the very 1st week that she recognized these instruments for what they were, but I dismissed it initially as puppy curiosity, until the 2nd & 3rd times & so on.
Over the months, no amount of "desensitization" has worked.
Tessa HATES these things, period, & she has destroyed any brush she can find, & knows full well where they are kept, but has not (yet) taken to opening drawers, where they are now kept.
I have a pair of Miller's Forge nail clipper cutters that look similar to a pruner, and anything that resembles this gets the same treatment, like my needle nose pliers if I have them out...or any pliers actually.
I know I've mentioned previously about Tessa having trap scars on her back foot/leg & that it damaged her tail as well, & that her fur was clippered when I received her.
She wants no one, including me, touching that part of her tail, & gets agitated when I inspect her leg where the scar is.
Her foster's had Tessa for 3 weeks, and the rescue said the scar on the foot was there when they took her in, & it is also noted on the papers when she was taken by the rescue.
So whatever happened to Tessa happened when she was younger than 8 weeks-it was partially healed by the time she was in rescue at 8 weeks, but her memory is rock solid-whatever occurred imprinted on her so deeply that it is a problem to this day, & has gotten less manageable, despite my efforts at soothing & positive reinforcement.
Trying to cut her claws is like wrestling a person, there has never been an incident or mishap in trimming her nails since I've had her, at 11 1/2 weeks, but that doesn't matter to Tessa.
The issue is not with me, the issue is with the tool she sees.
I can no longer do it alone, as she's too big, & it's difficult even with 2 people, 1 being a 220+lb male...
The ONLY thing on my side with this issue is that she is submissive & sweet to me, & adores the person I have helping. She DOES WANT to bite, but has not.
if I put the tool down, the situation changes.
I do not think I would trust a situation of another person, like a groomer trying to clip her nails. I think Tessa would bite.
What ever trauma occurred when she was that young, she's dedicated her memory to specific objects she recognizes, & it's not going away.
Now of course, I'd not planned on having a pooch with a coat such as Tessa's, nor the maintenance required. At this point, her coat is still developing, & no shed yet, so no real maintenance has been needed.
But, I know it's gonna come eventually, & while I might get lucky & have 1 big TM shed that lasts a while & is over, she's a mix, so chances are that's not gonna be the case.
I *think* (hope/pray) that I *might* be able to get the grooming of her coat issue resolved by not using anything that resembles a comb or brush. She loves when I rake my fingers through her fur, & they have gloves with nubs on them that may allow me to work her coat that way. it will take more time & effort, but if it gets the job done without issue, that's all I'm looking for.
Tessa does have an issue with gloves,--go figure-- but it's not a fear thing, thankfully, it's because of the sweaty smell--like when dogs go for shoes/socks. She has stolen & destroyed every glove she can get, dish gloves, work gloves, yard gloves...latex/cotton/leather...so these must be kept up too.
