Wanna know frustration? Trying to find an emergency plumber the weekend before a major holiday:0 Hubby turned the wrong thing and the pipe broke off in the wall. Aieeee, you don't fully appreciate running water until you don't have it. So I found a plumber... Problem two- it's too cold to put Callie in the yard or basement and he's never allowed any male visitors in the house without standing there making them nervous. Fortunately this gentleman was very brave and quite patient. he had even heard the Cujo snarl when he came in. Some guys would already be running out the door. But this man was going to have to be in the house a few hours so we had to do something with Callie. The guy had made a joke "Oh he's not like a pit bull or anything right?" Um....well...We leashed Callie and brought him up to say hello. Worst case I would have to have had to lug him back down to the basement bathroom. But no, this gentleman had been talking about his cat family. Callie came up wagging and stood up against the guys leg, almost nose to nose with him...and gave a lick. Waggy waggy licky licky happy as can be. Whew, he got the beginning of the work done, the water is back on and Callie is okay with him. Now I can start catching up for the holiday Woooooof
I feel your pain! A few years ago the inlet pipe to my lavatory exploded - on Pesah Seder night? Spewed water everywhere, non-stop! Had to turn all the water off and then wait to make a panic telephone call the following evening to one of the sisters-in-law of my neighbour [who is theoretically my landlady] because Tami is the only one who speaks English and who would possibly know with which brother my neighbour was. She got hold of my neighbour, who got the local "installator" [plumber] probably the second he got home from Synagogue as he was all "suited and booted" and he came round and replaced the burst inlet pipe. I mean no chance of getting anything done before as nobody on this Moshav answers telephones on Holy Days let alone works. Or drives - actually no vehicles allowed on the Moshav, emergency once excepted. This year my electricity blew. On the first evening of Rosh Hashana... ...Do Not Ask! Luckily I do not have a Callie - I have a "go away" barker who frightens more than a few people because she has a Very Big Dog's bark, but who hides behind me when someone she does not know comes in!
Isn't it just the greatest feeling, when you realise that you are making progress in solving a behavioural issue! It was almost worth having the burst for. (Well, perhaps that's going a bit too far).
Okay next challenge...tomorrow the plumber brings a helper. And hubby will be home...don't know if that will help or hinder things. I think me being home is a plus, "Okay Mommy is alright with this". I really feel some of it is the individual human. I know there are some people who see Callie initially and their fear sensors go up and they can't hide it. I think the first guy was just sitting up there on the tub..."Hey big guy, I know I'm in your house but I really don't mean any harm". It's a hard one to pull when faced with a domineering dog. But it worked, Callie saw he wasn't going to challenge him in any way so okay cool, do what you need to do. It was like the male vet we went to. He greeted Callie sitting down and completely unthreatening n' they did fine together. The guys who have a problem are usually standing above him and probably show disgust or fear...oy that it's complicated.
Success!!!! The first time there has been not one but TWO strange male humans in the house and Callie was fine. Whew, much relieved. I mean obviously if we weren't home and a strange male human came in say through the window then all bets would be off. But happy to know he's grown comfortable enough to let the workers do what they have to do. When we first adopted him walks were a nightmare. Any human male, female or otherwise he would do those deep throat growls. We don't know anything about his background except they found him walking the parkway. Whatever his past experience with humans it couldn't have been very good. For us though he's the happiest guy you could ever want.
I'm really thrilled for you. I know how I felt the first time Eddie actually played with another dog - ecstatic!!!
