...and to celebrate this, Griff decided to throw in the towel, starting first thing in the morning by trying to barge out of his crate as soon as I opened it ajar. So I saw this day coming before he was out of his crate even. As I have experienced this with other young males, the testing continues throughout the day with the "Don't take no for an answer" attitude. After closing and bumping his nose three times he finally decided that it was business as usual; waiting until verbally released. Then he took on Deja for the very first time and there was a brief fight that I immediately broke up by putting both of them in a down stay and crated both for an hour. I worked with Deja and she never gave me any trouble, just being her normal sweet, obedient self to me. Griff, however, needed several stern reminders that he was not going to try me out any further. I, of course, rewarded him for good behavior. He is on the NILIF program for now. I work with him and kennel him today but he won't have any freedom until I feel the good vibes.
I can hit myself on the head that I didn't see that fight coming. Looking back there were signs of course; he would eye Deja and bark at her. But I had stopped the barking in the house. Until this morning she always responded with "play", which I sometimes reluctantly allowed. But today she didn't accept it any longer. I learned a lot in a very short time this morning; no more allowing 'eyeing' and breaking up "play" sooner than before. No more play in the house.
So yes, this was quite the 9 month mile stone but I got his number :grin2:
I can hit myself on the head that I didn't see that fight coming. Looking back there were signs of course; he would eye Deja and bark at her. But I had stopped the barking in the house. Until this morning she always responded with "play", which I sometimes reluctantly allowed. But today she didn't accept it any longer. I learned a lot in a very short time this morning; no more allowing 'eyeing' and breaking up "play" sooner than before. No more play in the house.
So yes, this was quite the 9 month mile stone but I got his number :grin2: