It’s been a long road, but we are finally repairing a damaged relationship between dogs at our house. Bailie and I have been working slow and steady towards being reunited. My personality change caused a lot of problems, not only between us dogs, but for me in general. Slowly I’ve been returning to my old self, and now we feel I am ready to get back to life as it was.
It’s been a long road with my hormones, but thankfully I’m doing much better. Bailie and I have been separated since the beginning of July. I was not nice to her, and we had a couple pretty nasty fights. Since that time we have not been hanging out together. When we were first separated, we didn’t even get to see each other because I would turn into an evil hound at the sight of Bailie. As my phantom pregnancy ended, my hormones started getting back to normal.
Mom hired a trainer to help us get back together safely. The first step was to have short meet and greets with a fence or kennel between us. We got lots of treats for looking at each other and being nice. Eventually, we could see each other behind gates and behave ourselves too. Sometimes Olivia and I go hang out by Bailie’s room when it is her turn to be behind the gate.
About a week after I was spayed, Mom was gone for an hour with Olivia. When she came home, Bailie and I greeted her together at the door. Mom almost passed out, since she had left Bailie gated. Bailie pulled the gate into the room and busted herself out. Still, it was too soon to be together, and our trainer also said we need to proceed slowly. Even though we were together for an amount of time less than an hour, it was good to know nothing happened and we seemed happy.
Our trainer was back last week, and we were allowed to be together in the yard. We are both wear harnesses and leashes just in case something goes wrong, but it is a start. That day we spent about half an hour together. I’m ready to return to the good old times, but Bailie has some fear of me. She is very sensitive and is not sure she can trust me. Thankfully, I read dogs really well, and while I do go up to her and sniff, or lick her ears, I can tell when she is a bit scared and I back off. This photo was taken that day with Mom petting us both for being so nice to each other.
For now, Olivia is left out of the equation. It is all about Bailie and I repairing the damage that was done while I claimed temporary insanity. Yesterday we spent fifteen minutes outside together with only Mom. Our leashes and harnesses were on just in case. I ran up and greeted Bailie, but then backed off. We did our perimeter walk together, and then sat down.
Mom lets us handle it all, she is just there to pass out treats for good behavior, and to help if we should not get along. We’ll be doing these short meetings for a while to make sure everything is alright. Hopefully one of these days Bailie will want to play chase with me, but for now, she is not ready. This is a marathon, not a sprint, but it is going really well. Repairing a damaged relationship between dogs requires loads of patience and time.
All on our own, we ended up close to Mom, and both of us decided to lie down. My mom is so happy, but she is still quite nervous. She knows how close we were before this all happened, and she feels we will get back there. We really hope so too, but I have to prove myself to Bailie first.
We are happy, so we’re joining Comedy Plus for Happy Tuesday!
I’m so sorry that y’all are having trouble but it’s awesome your mom is working with you to make yourself one big happy family.
My hormones turned me into a monster. I even barked and growled at people I usually love. Thank goodness I’m back to my fun and friendly self. Bailie will learn to trust me again in time.
I’m so glad your getting back to normal. I know all to well about separating dogs to prevent fights as I have to keep Slammer and Gambler separated. It’s so much easier and nicer when everyone gets along.
It is a real hassle, but safety is always first. I was a mean beast for four months, but now I’m pretty much my old self and am happy to be spayed. We will take it slow, and be friends again like before, I’m sure of it.
Mom and your trainer are doing this the right way. You’ll get things all repaired and doing it slowly is the ticket.
Thank you for joining the Happy Tuesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Happy Tuesday. Scritches and extra treats for all the pups and my best to your mom. ♥
We are pretty sure life will get back to where it was, but we can’t rush into it.
oh my word what an interesting post. We didn’t realize what had happened. Good job working on the repair. Our paws are crossed for you two. Your mom is wise! Slow and steady! have a good day. your friend Lilly
We went from being besties to fights, then back to besties for about a month, then really nasty fights. Mom was heart broken, but I was no longer the Madison I was. My heat and then the phantom pregnancy really changed me into a very mean dog with other dogs and humans too. Thankfully, that is all behind me and Bailie is working on learning to trust me again like she did until May. It’s hard work, but we will do it.
It is horrible when fur babies do not get along. My mom tells me stories about Hollee (Boston) and Maggie (PBGV) that did not get along. Hollee was like you, Madison. All hormones and poor Maggie got beat up. They were always kept apart for many years. HOORAY for you two!!! XOXO, Sparkle
Everyone that sees me regularly has seen my whole progression from Madison to viscous Madison and now back to my fun loving self. Bailie will need time to completely trust me again, but so far the hanging out in the yard is going really well.
This is so fascinating. I had no idea I wonder if Emma death had something to do with it. A lot of things changed in Balie’s life in a short period of time. Thanks for Sharing
No, as neither of us was close to Emma. She ran the place, but didn’t like to interact with other dogs much. This all started from one day to the next and got worse as my heat and phantom pregnancy happened. Now that I am back to myself, we are enjoying getting reacquainted. I growled and lunged at Bailie until the end of August, so she needs time to see that I am no longer that evil hound.
My paws are crossed that you girls will mend any damage and become the bestest of friends once again.
Mom is really sure it will all work out as we were so close until the hormonal storm hit. We enjoy each other a lot, so it will just take some time to build trust.
I’m sure glad you two are working on patching things up, we’re here cheering you on.
Thank you. It is a slow process because we don’t want anything to go wrong, but so far so good.
Thank you for sharing – we hope you will put all of that rough spot behind you soon.
We are working hard to do that. Bailie and I were so close, Mom knows we will be close again. Bailie just needs to learn to trust me again.
I’m so glad y’all are getting alone better these days. It’s interesting to read that pups’ horomones get out of whack, too. Hopefully, your relationship will be mended soon. 🙂
The repair is going well, so we have pretty high hopes things will be normal soon.
Wacky Hormones are awful!!! We boys had the same issue after we were neutered, and sometimes my little brother is still BIG TROUBLE. Dad doesn’t trust us together. Mom does except where meals are involved. We had a behavior guy come over too. He was a big help, but Elbe is still just not reliable, and I am tired of being attacked when I eat; so we eat on separate rooms with a gate between us. Hope you girls work it out totally!!! Mom used to have two girls, and it ended tragically.
Chablis
Even before I had my surgery things were much better. We think it will all work out for us, but we are taking it slowly. Sorry you boys still have troubles.
Mom was very smart to get a trainer to help you and Ballie become friends again. I hope you two are on your way to your old relationship and have fun playing.
We are hanging out in the yard together getting reacquainted, and hopefully Bailie will want to race around with me again soon.
gee whiz- what a traumatic time- glad things are improving- you have a very smart Mom!
Hormones can really do terrible things in pets and people!
Praying it all goes well and you are soon one big, happy family.
So far things are going really well, and we think it will continue.
Having Boys I never thought about the hormone rage, but I imagine it can be a very real thing huh? I am intrigued with the whole “reintroduce” training, so please keep us posted.
We have friends with boys who had the same thing happen. Once the younger one was neutered, things got back to normal. Hormones are nasty for pets and people sometimes.
Thank goodness you two are working it out! It must have been really hard on both of you and of course, your mom!
It has been a tough summer, but we have no choice but to deal with it. Thankfully my surgery was finally done and I’m pretty much my old self again.
Whew – I didn’t know that you’d been going through this. It sounds fairly familiar. I am so glad that you’re on the road toward repair. I wonder if the dogs who are closest have the biggest fights? R and Hachi were inseparable before it all went wrong. Keep up the good work…. It is a marathon but you’re on your way.
Mom never in a million years thought Bailie and I would fight after 2 1/2 years of being besties, but the hormones turned me into a terrible beat and it went on for months. We think Bailie was disappointed and sad, but I was terrible to her. Fights may be worse with those we love the most, never really thought about it. We are just working slow and steady to get back to the way we used to be.
Well done with the progress you’ve made. We’re confident you’ll be back to being BFF’s soon enough.
Today I did some play bows, and Bailie did a couple sprints on her own. We are working up to a good old romp like we used to have.
so glad you girls are working things out, i never knew dogs had such bad hormones, never knew you had false pregnancy. wonder why you and Olivia got along great and not you a Bailie during this time. so glad you are doing so much better.
Puppies have a type of immunity to adult dogs in most cases. I’m much more cuddly and nice to Olivia now, but I always was alright with her. My type of hormonal explosion is not the norm, but can happen, and false pregnancies also happen more often than one would think. I’m just glad all that is now behind me!
We are so glad progress is being made, and hope you two girls will be back to being “besties” soon. ♥
We are working on it every day and making progress.
Lexie had several false pregnancies, but she never had any hormone problems that made her unhappy with Mica. Lexie really wanted puppies, we tried 2 times but neither took. Mica never had any problems or false pregnancies. That is the first time I have heard about that. I hope Olivia doesn’t have any problems.
It is something that happens to some dogs, but it is not the norm. My first 2 heats were no big deal at all, but this last one really was a nightmare for all of us. I was like an entirely different dog.
I’m so glad things are going better! It’s tough when you go through changes and it’s easy to get grumpy. We feel your mom’s pain so much! It was not easy to introduce our new puppy into the house with two older grumpy girls who are set in their ways. It took us about 3 months to get Zoe used to the puppy and she still has crabby moments. Phoenix liked the puppy immediately though, which was a total shock. Overall, things are getting better at our house, too! (((hugs)))
I was way past grumpy. When I had the phantom pregnancy, I was a dangerous dog to other dogs and humans. I was nothing like the Madison I used to be. Thankfully I’m back and we are doing well getting back together in the yard for starters. Hope your trio continues to do well too.
Love this! Thanks for sharing 🙏🏼