Bella picks a fight part 0ne
Bella picks a fight part Two
Bella picks a fight part Three

the heavy panting by Bella and Reo in their enrollment video is from stress, not heat.

each video of Bella starting fights get shorter and shorter, that is a good thing

Bella learning to deal with thunderstorms Part One

Bella learning to deal with thunderstorms Part Two

when Bella and Reo fight, they become unaware of anything around them

I received this bite from Reo when breaking up a fight with Bella. Reo was not aware of biting me, she was too focused on Bella

Bella spent so much time having to deal with thunderstorms as well as

days and days of getting used to fireworks over the fourth of July - Most of the videos focus on Bella. Her stress is much deeper than Reo;s - you can see in the videos that Reo is able to rest comfortably throughout.

Bella is the primary focus with Reo in the background in this first part of their work. Reo will come to the front with the outside muzzle work

To the right is Bella's work with thunderstorms. If you listen closely, you can hear the rain and the thunder.
Below is Bella's work with firecrackers and such over days of the 4th of July celebrations. Again listen closely to hear the noise.

Habit reversal - bone for anxiety

You can see Reo in the crate
able to relax throughout.

Bella learning to deal with fireworks in three parts below

Bella with firecrackers Part One
Bella with firecrackers Part Two
Bella with firecrackers Part Three

both the 4th of July videos and the videos of the thunderstorms were taken a little over two weeks into her habit reversal work - she is doing very well!

Before the 4th of July Bella had to work on all her over-reactive behavior. To the right is part of her work learning to "mind her own business" as I walk past. She needed to not insist on my attention - glad to see me or not - she learns to "chill out" - all these lessons made it possible for her to deal with the 4th and the storms so well.
click here to view Bella learning to "mind her own business"

Bella and Reo's work with Muzzles

With Bella and Reo's aggression towards each other, the main concern and focus throughout is SAFETY FIRST - both for each other as well as transfer aggression towards humans
(refer to bite photo below).

 

 

 

Some lessons were much harder with Reo than Bella. Reo's extreme triggered hyperactivity stopped her from learning or remembering - the whole overall learning ability was blocked because of her impulse focus.

First lessons for Reo was activity level reduction. She has been working very hard to redirect habits from hyperactive action / reaction toward just about everything to listening and waiting patiently, - She has been learning how to calm down, behave, pay attention and not be triggered into hyperactive behavior by the mere sight of a human.
We could go no further until she learned to calm down and listen.
click here to view Reo's activity level improvement - inside, outside,
at doorways and everywhere she must behave.

NOTE; FOR LONG TERM SUCCESS - HER ACTIVITY LEVEL REDUCTION EXCERCISES MUST BE CONTINUED LONG TERM.

A slow and steady process to teach the girls to feel at ease with their muzzles is setting a "ritual". A ritual is simply taking the time to set a pattern of behavior so they know when they see the muzzle they will have the knowledge that once it is put on it will stay on without interference until removed.

click here to view Bella's muzzle exercises part one
click here to view Bella's muzzle exercises part two

click here to view Reo's muzzle exercises part one
click here to view Reo's muzzle exercises part two

Working with Bella and Reo one at a time with the muzzles until they are very comfortable is critical before combining the two girls - once they are together, they need to not be distracted by the fighting the muzzle and they both need to be paying very close attention to me - or whoever is "in charge" no matter what distractions present themselves.