April 9, 2010

White Dog really pushes the boundaries when she growls threateningly to thwart Quinn's reentry through the dog door. She starts the vocal challenge when she sees his face ready to come in on the other side of the door and it freezes the boy mid step. Often he will just go away from the door and sit outside; other times he crashes into the door and runs past her and hides in his "cave" (aka the office closet). This is particularly aggravating in the middle of the night.

We do not want to be punitive and understand that there must be a hierarchy but we also want Quinn to feel that he is welcome inside as well. We have tried holding White Dog in our arms and gently talking to her as Quinn enters; rolling her on her back on the bed and firmly holding her there until he passes. On the advice of her trainer we even put her out of the bedroom wing and shut the door as a consequence for her action (she scratched and howled until Quinn went to the other side of the door whining for her to be let in)!

Nothing has stopped the growling...and I hate forcing her to sleep apart from us because punishment doesn't seem like a solution. Poor Quinn does nothing to provoke the action, he is merely going about nature's call. He doesn't ever try to get on the bed. Last night was particularly bad...no one slept.

Quinn has gotten the tummy glicks that White Dog had earlier in the week and was constantly trotting outside...and returning to a volley of meanness from his sister. White Dog has been an "only" child for 5 years, that is true, but we don't understand why her biggest "sticking point" is her unwillingness let Quinn can come and go freely (she has no problem if he goes out the front door for a walk or out the back door into the yard; it is just the dog door).

I throw my frustrated arms out to you, blog friends, and beg for suggestions/ideas.