I have spent the last hour composing a post and it disappeared when I tried to preview it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please excuse typos in this one because I am not spending as much time on it.
In a nut shell. I have been reading the posts since Eric has been nagging me for over a week to do so. My 2 cents:
Don't have clue how, when, or who started it but it DOESN'T matter. There are posts on both sides that seem filled with animosity and it sucks!!! When this happens defenses go up and listening to anything the other person has to say flies right out of the window. I am not good at the computer thing so I can not pull quoates like others do, please forgive my paraphrasing. Here is an example of what I am talking about - One post in response to chewing was very short and harsh, something like "wood can kill!" while another was presneted in a positive mannor talking about being aware of possible chemicals in treated wood. We presently do not have chemically treated wood in the workshop; however, that is IMPORTANT to keep in mind if ever we do get some. I see lots dogs chewing sticks all of the time so I would not think of wood as being awful. We do take it away when we catch him but don't stress over it. Positively formated posts can offer equally important points of view in a constructive format. These posts I ACTUALLY read to the end.
Thanks to Deborah and others we have been to the behavioralist and to training classes. Although some of what we do is not supported by everyone, we do talk with the behavioralist, trainers, and watch how Bruno reacts. We have made enormous progress. Just the other day Bruno came and laid down on my feet for half an hour. I needed to get up so I called his name, wiggled my toes, and told him "pad." He got up looked at me, I leand forward, and he KISSED me before he went to his pad. Not three months ago if he was across the room from me and I moved he would have been up growling and possibly snarling at me. I almost started to cry!!!!!!
I feel myself and others need to ask for forgivness, patients, and understanding for our lack of communication skills and quickness in becoming defensive. I pray that this will improve on all sides.
I must say we have made some DIFFICULT decissions as a family recently, but Bruno is a part of our FAMILY and we are not giving up on him or us. We know our lives will be one of constant vigilance and training for him and ourselves, but we are willing to do it.
I hope visitors to this site are not chased away because of the obvious animosity shown between a few people. The people here are good people and mean well.
Now that I have rambled for a second time I REALLY need to go to bed. Tomorrow is my first day working with students as an official "Preschool Special Education Teacher" and the butterflies are conducting thier own circus in my stomach!!
Sweet Dreams and Good Night to All
Susan
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DZ
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell
