It's been a while since I posted here but I thought I would give an update on my handful of a dog that is Ollie!
About a year ago we were unfortunately not far from trying to have him re-homed by police as a working dog for them, or, in worst case scenario PTS - his bites were full on and multiple and the wounds are still present. I was in tears on many occasions over him and his guarding behaviours which seemed changeable, unpredictable and severe.
Well in the last year (approaching 4 now) maybe he's mellowed, or maybe it's me that's mellowed but we have avoided major incidents and he has not bitten in maybe 10 months (big deal for us!) We have gone through a lot - my partner left me and he has kept me going. He has given me routine, focus and companionship. I used to think of him as life-limiting but now I know he is life-sustaining; he has insistently got me up in the mornings, taken me out for walks in the great outdoors, and has always been on hand for cuddles and affection. He is especially attuned to sadness and tears and will bury himself in as close in as possible, looking, pawing, wagging, licking, snuffling. I could hire him out as a therapy dog. He has already done the same job for a former flatmate who returned in an emergency situation - he welcomed her in, sorted her out with cuddles when she was not really prepared to be with me or anyone else, and then he sent her back out revived into the world again.
He's never going to be a 100% safe dog, he still guards, he still is OTT with other dogs, he still *uses his teeth*, doesn't always follow instructions to be a *gentle dog*, he is actually sometimes ..*a bad dog!* but he's my puppy, and he's taken very good care of me.
I hope this gives some hope to others that are working with difficult dogs - no situation is ever going to be the same and no-one else can ever really know or judge the situation that you are experiencing or the decisions you have to make. But sometimes the dog comes through, or you come through, or you both come through together.
