Echo: Ups and Downs

Session 11. Let’s start with the positives.

For the first time, Echo greeted me calmly when I entered the house. He was right at the door, waiting for me; when I entered, he gave me space by backing himself up the stairs. He was actually able to control his excitement for about 15 seconds before coming back down to greet me – and when he did, he did not jump. This is a colossal improvement in him.

When it was time to leash him up and get him outside, Echo made a real effort to control his movement as we went down the stairs to the door. This is a massive improvement from previous sessions; his tendency has been to rush headlong for the door, and then bolt as soon as the door is opened. I’ve been working on this with him for the past several sessions; seeing Echo working to control himself showed that his owner and the owner’s caregiver have also been putting in the work and reinforcing the lessons.

At the door, Echo made an immense effort to control himself by waiting for permission instead of bolting out the second the door is opened. We still have a lot of work to do with door manners, but he made a real effort, and that’s what matters. When he was invited outside, he was excited, but unlike previous sessions, he did not lunge out the door; instead, he showed restraint by stepping out and then waiting for me. This is a huge improvement.

Once outside, Echo was given time to sniff around the front yard for a couple of minutes before we began the walk. Because he’s so anxious and nervous outside, giving him time for sniffing around his own front yard is crucial to not only helping him build confidence, but also, to help him release pent-up energy and stress, and to start building trust with me.

The walk itself was more successful than I had hoped for. I was able to get him to the corners, and about 10 feet further, in both directions. His anxiety was high and very intense on the pavement, but on grass, he was a little calmer. He sniffed at everything, and he even marked a couple of times, which he hasn’t done before. There was a lot of sound happening from traffic, lawn mowers, and other outdoor sounds, but Echo was only mildly affected – and, he recovered very quickly by sniffing at everything around him. This was a massive improvement for him; in previous sessions, even the sight of a vehicle going by sent him into a state of panic.

The Challenges

Echo is still not engaging with me like he needs to. He is so nervous and fearful on pavement that he can’t focus on me for even a second. He barely even glances at me, and he doesn’t come to me when I call him. On grassy areas, he will follow me when I give him a bit of leash pressure and say, “Let’s go,” but he keeps his nose to the ground and moves purely on auto-pilot. He does not engage with me. When he goes into a state of panic, it’s immediate and intense – there’s no build-up – and he doesn’t hear me or even register my presence. This is a very clear indication that Echo is still not trusting me, and that has to change. He needs to realize that I’m his safe space when he’s feeling afraid; that I’ve got his back and I’ll protect him.

Generally Speaking…

Overall, Echo is making really good progress in some areas, and tremendous progress in other areas. At this point, the biggest and hardest mountain for him to climb is the walk. He’s doing much better in his own front yard, but when he’s taken two or three houses away, his fear and anxiety kick in full-bore, and it doesn’t ease until he’s back in the front yard. While I understand this, I have to be very careful not to coddle Echo… and, to not push him too hard. If I coddle him, I reinforce his fear; if I push him too hard, I reinforce the fear and make it even worse. It’s a fragile situation that requires very careful balancing. Knowing when and how much to push, when to step back, and when to hold steady is an incredibly delicate dance that demands great skill, patience, and compassion.

Echo will come through all of this… eventually. It’s not going to happen quickly, and he’s going to have a lot of ups and downs along the way. But he will get there. Just be patient…