Cynikoi(I)

I am watching my dad’s dogs and Nellie has a very hard time with fireworks. In the past she has hidden behind the couch or in the basement, but in recent years as she’s become more thunder phobic, as well, my step-mom has been able to convince her that being under the covers is safe. I think this is generally a better way for her to cope (+traz) than going off alone.

She and Keeso are improving in their relationship lately but I don’t think he would tolerate her sharing the bed with us. I’m not in the mood to push things and moderate heavily this stay. He’s been crated the past couple of nights so I don’t have to be vigilant and the girls can come and go as they please. Tonight the they wanted to be in my dad’s room and I thought I’d try closing the door to my bedroom so Keeso could be out. We were settled in bed all cozy until a few minutes ago.

Then a bad round of fireworks started going off and I could hear Nellie pacing around outside the door. I told Keeso I was sorry, and just kind of asked him if he’d please go in the crate another night. I gestured at it and gave him a smooch. I swear to god he heaved a sigh and jumped off the bed to go in the crate.

He almost never goes in the crate when I simply ask because he associates it with my departures. Usually I don’t ask at all and just do a casual “sorry bud” and collar-walk him in there for a milk bone.

The normal advice for this is training games, sports, etc. Keeso likes trying new things and he is motivated to train, but he doesn't love it for its own sake (he is super food motivated). He doesn't enjoy repetitive/"loopy" training. I can do trick training here and there, but that doesn't fill his cup and it hardly gives him a fulfilling "job."

I'd try hunting with him but I'm not sure where I'd start with it. He isn't a specialized hunter. He'll track, but he's too sighthound to wait for me to dispatch the prey animal. It's not legal to course rabbits or large game with him in my state. I can contrive hunting games, and may try that. I could probably get him to indicate shed antlers, if not retrieve them. Dunno if I have the training chops for that.

Right now Keeso's greatest joys in his life are to eat and to control other dogs. Now that he's neutered, he doesn't seem to care as much about marking, and I'm hoping his domineering tendencies will subside some, too. He doesn't need anything from me, really, except for the part of him that desperately needs me to stay in his presence at all times.

(Maybe there's an argument here that we shouldn't be bringing such generalized/"primitive" dogs into most "modern" environments/routines, but I'm not smart or motivated enough to try and make it right now.)