Posting days: Sunday and Wednesday and, sometimes, maybe, extra ‘news flashes’
Wednesday November 29th 2017
It’s a very long time since we checked in on Hairy One’s mealtime re-training. This is not because Human has forgotten the matter. Indeed no. It’s because Isis has been a little b. Despite my standing by, gardening glove at the ready, and snatching away her dish at the very first yap, she has still not eaten more than two consecutive meals politely.
Once her meal has been returned, she eats it beautifully. Sometimes she behaves well during the following meal, but most often it’s been a yap and a confiscation each time she’s fed. It’s enough to try the patience of a saint.
Last week I upped the stakes. Once her meal was removed, she didn’t get it back until I’d eaten or she’d waited without protest for thirty minutes. Each time this happened, she finished her food quietly, but then did her barking, snarling, tail nipping act.
I recall that she went through this stage for several months when I first began meal time training. Hmmm.
After a few days, she changed tactics. Although she growled under her breath, she didn’t bark until she’d almost finished eating; then, when only a mouthful remained in her dish, she gave a loud, sharp bark and tried to gulp down the last mouthful before I got to it.
Defiance, or what? I guess her reasoning is, “I will bark and she won’t take my dinner.”
O.K. We’ll see about that.
On Tuesday evening she yaps loudly before trying to grab the last mouthful.
But I am too quick for her. Her dish with its three remaining little biscuits is snatched away.
This time she doesn’t get it back.
This morning the performance is repeated. This time there is a a nice forkful of meat left.
“YIP!”
Swipe.
Isis is obviously very surprised. She doesn’t comment, but hangs around the kitchen looking hopeful.
I do not respond.
At dog’s tea time, I give her the ‘eat it’ touch, and she eats. She finishes her meal without a sound and walks away from her dining area.
“What a good girl!”, I tell her and reward her with a little piece of cheese.
Goodness, she’s a challenging little dog.
We’ll see what tomorrow brings.
Isis came from the Aeza cat and dog rescue and adoption centre in Aljezur, Portugal. For information about adopting an animal from the centre, contact kerry@aeza.org or www.dogwatchuk.co.uk
Isis, my blind/deaf dog 
This is actually hilarious, though I know it’s trying for YOU! What a little character she is! Did you ever see The Miracle Worker? Isis reminds me of Helen Keller as a child, wild and stubborn until Teacher made her breakthrough; it was a real battle of wills between those two!
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Sorry the comment is so late. It’s been rather a hectic medical week, lots of appointments and I forgot I’d not replied. It is trying, but it is very funny too – mostly a little while later, after a coffee! Yes, I did see that film, and I’ll tell you, Helen Kelle’s teacher had it easy. Not really, I think I’d have been sorely tempted to throw the child through the window. It was a fascinating film.
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Hi Pat. It’s Lola’s human companion, Jo, here. I’m back from Brighton and wondered if you’d like me to come and pick you and Isis up some time and drive you over to Wyhtall park to the enclosed area for a run/spin? Or anything else you both might need doing at the mo x
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Hi Jo. It’s lovely to hear from you. Thank you for your generous offer.That would be lovely. I replied to your comment on my phone but I’ve just realised that it hasn’t come up on the blog.Sorry. Stupid me. I am delighted to hear from you and have asked L to pass on my mobile no. to you.
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