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It was bound to happen: I'd have to board Willow because of work duties. She'll be staying with our trainer tomorrow from about noon until probably the following morning. I have a late meeting in a town an hour away, and the roads might suck in time for the trip home.
Any tips for not being a nervous wreck?
Willow is very wary of strangers; we've worked with this trainer for 4-5 private sessions so far and she'll take food from her and work with her and all, but whenever the trainer has her leash--we've been working on practicing recall by the trainer holding Willow's leash and me walking away--Willow gets really nervous about the trainer being behind her.
The trainer has 2 other dogs, one a dog-unfriendly malinois who I assume will be kept away from Willow, and a male GSD who I hope she lets play with Willow some...Willow loves other dogs. I think her dogs spend a lot of time crated, which I'm fine with (would be the same or worse if I went with a boarding kennel, I figure).
The thing I keep thinking about is how when I took Willow from her previous owner, Willow had 0 problems with me. Zero. She had never seen me before. She did not seem scared of me at all, let me pet her wherever I wanted, came to me when I called. I really hope Willow, once I'm out of the picture, will be 100% okay with the trainer. Like it's a "I only mistrust strangers when Mom's around" thing. I have no idea. I sure hope I am not somehow to blame for "making" Willow afraid of strangers. Because yeah when my friend was watching her one night, Willow hid from her and wouldn't come out all evening. But that was in my (her) home.
I'm hoping this works out because this is my plan for a 5-day conference I have in a month, and then my weeklong trip to Iceland in March.
Anyway yeah I'm already feeling nervous about this and would love to hear...anything encouraging. Do you think this is a better plan than boarding her at a boarding kennel?
Any tips for not being a nervous wreck?
Willow is very wary of strangers; we've worked with this trainer for 4-5 private sessions so far and she'll take food from her and work with her and all, but whenever the trainer has her leash--we've been working on practicing recall by the trainer holding Willow's leash and me walking away--Willow gets really nervous about the trainer being behind her.
The trainer has 2 other dogs, one a dog-unfriendly malinois who I assume will be kept away from Willow, and a male GSD who I hope she lets play with Willow some...Willow loves other dogs. I think her dogs spend a lot of time crated, which I'm fine with (would be the same or worse if I went with a boarding kennel, I figure).
The thing I keep thinking about is how when I took Willow from her previous owner, Willow had 0 problems with me. Zero. She had never seen me before. She did not seem scared of me at all, let me pet her wherever I wanted, came to me when I called. I really hope Willow, once I'm out of the picture, will be 100% okay with the trainer. Like it's a "I only mistrust strangers when Mom's around" thing. I have no idea. I sure hope I am not somehow to blame for "making" Willow afraid of strangers. Because yeah when my friend was watching her one night, Willow hid from her and wouldn't come out all evening. But that was in my (her) home.
I'm hoping this works out because this is my plan for a 5-day conference I have in a month, and then my weeklong trip to Iceland in March.
Anyway yeah I'm already feeling nervous about this and would love to hear...anything encouraging. Do you think this is a better plan than boarding her at a boarding kennel?