Cheryl Perkins and Kramer

 

I have always had a dog, often more than one at a time. They were of various breeds, all raised from puppies to life expectancy or beyond. I felt that I had a lot of experience with dogs. Then came Kramer.

 

He came from a hoarding case that I learned of from the local news. I fell in love with his sad little face on Petfinder. I never rushed in to adding new furry family members, but I knew I could give this little guy a better life. I filled out an application and inquired with his foster mom and arrangements were made to meet Kramer. This was 11 years ago. He was fearful and reactive. I visited him many times. He barked at me less and less. He started to come up closer to me each subsequent visit. Finally I was able to touch him and he was okay with it. Eventually he even jumped up on my lap.  It was time for him to meet my Jack Russell terrier and my westie. They got along well together. He bonded with me and I adopted him and he was able to come home with me.

 

He adapted well to our routine along with help from his new furry siblings. He enjoyed exploring his new yard and going on walks.  However, the reactivity and barking continued. He would bark at sounds around the house or in yard and at people nearby. He would bark at the mailman approaching, opening and closing the box, and passing by front of house, and then when I would go to get the mail. Garbage day was another trigger and cause for barking. If I had friends or family over, or workers doing something in  or around the house, he was fearful and would bark non-stop. I would end up putting him in another room where he still didn't always settle down. He barked at vet appointments and was fearful. He would bark on walks if I talked to anyone along the way. Within the first year I did enroll in a class for reactive dogs. It made me more of aware of signs to watch for in his behavior and a method to try to get Kramer's attention, but it did not fix the problems. I was told that his behavior might not improve. I started accepting that and just separated him from situations. I didn't know what to do. I did not want to resort to medication.

 

My Jack Russell passed after 4 years of adopting Kramer and my westie passed almost 2 years ago. Kramer was more fearful on walks after that and would pull and stop and sniff and mark more after he no longer had his sister with him. In time he started being less fearful but the other behaviors continued. In 2023 I started going to Sweet Paws Grooming and Boarding after my previous vet, that had boarding and grooming, closed. My westie looked great when groomed there and she and Kramer did well when I boarded them there. After my westie passed, I had to board Kramer by himself, Caleb and the other staff were great with him. After the last time he was boarded, I noticed a pamphlet for Canine Culture and took it home. After reviewing it I knew I had to give it a try for a chance at a better life for me and Kramer.

 

I called Sweet Paws and talked to Caleb since he knew Kramer, and he got me in touch With Lisa. With the tools Lisa has given me, I am amazed how things have changed in a short amount of time. I am the leader now on walks and Kramer is much more relaxed. When I stopped to talk to a neighbor on the way home from a walk recently,  I could actually talk for a few minutes, and Kramer was less stressed and didn't bark much, and even laid down on the grass. Mail delivery and garbage day are no longer cause for constant barking.  We will continue to use the tools in more situations. We have more work to do but I am so encouraged. 

 

Thank you Lisa.