Would it be a step backwards?

[Irish_Lass]

Ok, so as some of you probably know....Mist, Lynn and Rock are temporary fixtures in my life. This thread is about Mist though so I'll not deviate.

Mist belongs to one of my brothers. At the beginning of the year he was finding it tough to get work so he had to start working on sites about 3+ hours away. Because he works on building sites he and his co-workers were living in digs. He couldn't bring Mist with him and when he left her behind she was lonely and not getting out and about much. I offered to take her until he could find work at home. I thought it would be sooner than its been to be honest, but getting work seems to be hard for anybody right now.

He phoned me last weekend to say that he hated his particular job there. He hadn't been paid in a month and the foreman kept fobbing him off with "how can I pay you if I'm not getting paid myself?" He finally got his money on Thursday night and told his boss that he wouldn't be back to work for him again.

He plans to stay at home for a few weeks and do some mini jobs while he looks for a decent site job. Whatever job he gets will probably involve him having to go and live in digs again. Its just the nature of building work at the minute unfortunately. He mentioned last night that he'd like to keep Mist with him while he's living back home again. That's fine by me, its his dog and they belong together.

My issue is that when Mist arrived she was dog aggressive. Not massively so but enough that when Lynn and then Rock came along, life was unpleasant for a wee while. I worked hard to put her at the bottom of "the pack" and I did what I could to minimise "drama". If my brother goes off to work again, she'll be back with me and this will probably continue until he finally finds something permanent back here.

So after all that waffle (sorry!) I'm wondering if I should prepare myself for more of the same when she comes back to me again? When she comes back will she revert back to the old Mist? Is going back and forth such a good idea for her?

I'm just thinking out loud folks, sorry! :)

[pipsie71]

Well I'm certainly no expert Lis but I can't imagine that going back and forth could be good for any dog right? But as for her behaviour reverting back I dunno.
Similar to my worries with Tilly and the SA, there's no real way of knowing if she'll revert til it happens, that's the same with Mist.
What do you feel about it instinctively and knowing her like you do? Pip

[Irish_Lass]

I'm in 2 minds Pip. If she's going to revert back then of course I'd rather hold onto her. I have the other 3 to think about and to be honest, I don't want to be bothered with all that hassle again. On the other hand she's so happy when she's with him. I was just saying to Emily a few weeks ago how when they're in the room together you can tell that she's exclusively his dog, they have a strong bond. She idolises him and I don't want to be the spoilt sport that denies either of them that.

[pipsie71]

Oh blimey it is a dilema then. I'm not much help sorry mate! Of course she may NOT revert back, or if she does it may be so slight that a quick correction from you is all she needs, as she has already learnt a new way from you, don't you think?

[Irish_Lass]

Like I said, I'm thinking out loud and just hearing other people's opinions on it is a good thing Pip. :)

[That_girl]

That really is a tough call. I think it's right that she go back to him while she can.

She may surprise you though. I would think she'd come back and remember your rules and her place in the pack. As long as you've been consistent with her and plan to do so as soon as she comes back, I think she'd fall back in just fine.

[Macawpower58]

Many dogs do well in more than one environment. They like children learn to enjoy these vacations. As for the behavior, unless she's put into a situation that incites her dog aggression, I doubt she'll just revert back to it.

I'm also siding on Pip with the thought that even if her behavior does backslide slightly, once she's back with you, she'll fall right back into your rules and wants, with little or need of retraining by you.

Dogs learn quickly who will (and won't) put up with nonsense.

[squashynose]

She'll still be seeing your lot when you go home for the weekends anyway wont she? The first few times she might get a strop on, being on her own for 4 days with her daddy, but just make sure Dec knows what he has to do to tell her off. I'm sure it'll be fine :) You know what you're doing. If you can both keep it up for now, there wont be a problem when he finds a job and she's back with you.

[Irish_Lass]

Well come tomorrow night I'll have room for one more Emily....care to share? :)

[squashynose]

Pandy? :biggrin: