- Happy (4th) Birthday, Tango! -

Today (January 24th) is Tango’s 4th birthday. Over the past year, she’s been able to overcome many of her issues – both fear and anxiety based. She’s a much more confident dog; not as skittish and nervous. She used to be terrified of children and with lots of work, she now adores them. As soon as she spots a child, her tail starts wagging and she gets so excited and so hopeful that she might get to meet them. I never thought that day would come.

Not only that, but I can take her out for a walk stress free knowing now that she’s not going to go completely insane at the sight of another dog; in fact, most of the time she walks right past them now without so much as a sniff. She ignores most of them completely (with the exception of a few breeds, and overly dominant dogs). That may not seem so great to a lot of people, but this is a dog that would freak out and go insane at the sight of any dog while on leash. So, she may not be perfect around all dogs now, but she’s far better than what she was. Hopefully with more time, I’ll be able to get her more trusting and comfortable with most any dog. This year, I’m hoping that because she’s better around other dogs now, that I’ll be able to get started with her in Agility as I know she’ll love it. We tried once, but she couldn’t cope with all of the other dogs in class. I think she’ll be a whole lot better now.

Besides her very few issues, Tango has been the absolute best dog I could ever ask for. I find it hard to believe she’s only been in my life for four years; I honestly don’t know what I did without her. She is my life. Pretty much everything I do revolves around her. I can’t even enjoy a “holiday” without her. Last year when we went to visit relatives for a week or so and couldn’t bring any of the dogs, I couldn’t stop think about her and how much she would have enjoyed going to the lake, camping, etc. Everything I did, I would’ve enjoyed so much more had she been with me. I know I’ll never, ever have another dog like her. She’s been such an easy dog in many ways, but she’s also been a ton of work. I don’t think it would be at all possible to bond as closely with another dog as I have with her. I hope that I’ll be able to have many, many more years with her. I can’t imagine life without her. Happy birthday, Tango!

She went from being this adorable pup....
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...s_100_8254.jpg
^ 4 weeks

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...20pup/1001.jpg
^ 3 months

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...0a%20pup/4.jpg
^ 4.5 months (all ears and legs!)

...Into the beautiful adult she is now. Here are a bunch of pictures I took yesterday on one of our walks (excuse her extra fuzzy ears, they haven't been trimmed for a while):

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...3_100_9006.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...3_100_9014.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...3_100_9017.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...3_100_9031.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...3_100_9034.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...3_100_9037.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...3_100_9038.jpg

*More coming*

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...3_100_9041.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...3_100_9046.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...3_100_9047.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...3_100_9048.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...3_100_9056.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...3_100_9065.jpg

And some from last night, with her new toy that she got a day early:
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...0_100_8947.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...0_100_8954.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...0_100_8938.jpg

Bored and tired, ready for bed and wondering why I was looking through a book instead of joining her.
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...0_100_8908.jpg

That's all of them, I hope you enjoyed!

Happy Birthday darlin!!!

You sure were a cute pup, and have grown into such a beautiful furkid!!!
I am so glad to read that you are getting better around other pups now, and hope that keeps going from strength to strength!!!

Hope you have a great day! :D

Happy Birthday Gorgeus Tango!

You are such a stunning girl. I hope you get spoiled like crazy today! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TANGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love those ears..it just makes her little face. When she was a pup growing up she almost looked like bambi in the sense of all legs. Keep on enjoying her..
CHI HUGS

Happy Birthday Miss Tango! You're on of my favorite PT dogs, here's to many many more years to come!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TANGO!!!! :) :D :)

Have a great birthday gorgeous girl!! Mom has taken some awesome pictures of her awesome girl!! ENJOY!!!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TANGO!

I always love seeing your beautiful face!
Hope your day is filled with extra treats!

Happy Birthday, pretty girl!

Tango is a beautiful girl and she certainly has come a long way! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TANGO!!!! :D

~HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY TANGO~

She was such an adorable pup. I love the first picture. She grew up to be a beautiful girl.

Happy birthday, Tango!! :) You are such a gorgeous girl and sound like such a special girl! :D I hope you enjoy your very special day! :D

Happy birthday Tango! It's so great that she's overcome those things :)

Happy Birthday, my Beautiful Tango! I am sure that it is your very special bond that has helped her to become the beautiful girl that she is today. And the best part of it is I am sure that the two of you will continue to grow together in the coming year. Just don't forget to document all of it in pictures for us. ;) She looks very happy with her boodaKat. :)

Would you care to share how you got her to be at ease around children? Ginger is terrified of children, and I always feel bad when we go to the park and the kids want to pet her, and I have to say no.

Happy Birthday Tango!!!!!
I know you will have a great one and get extra spoiled today. :D
I couldn't help but see the book you are looking at is about Tollers.I am surpised Tango didn't like it more.

I can't believe I almost missed this! Happy Birthday to one of my most FAVORITE PT doggies! She is so beautiful and OMG those puppy pics. Wasn't she a doll!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRL!!! We all here wish you and your wonderful mom MANY MANY more to come! Hope your day was awesome !!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TANGO!
Have a wonderful day, pretty girl!

I'm so glad I have the chance to say~

Happy Birthday Tango!!!!

You're such a Beautiful Pet Talk Doggie~

Happy birthday Tango...we love you! You have grown into such a beautiful girl :) Enjoy your day sweetie :D

Happy birthday Tango!! You were, are, and always will be one beautiful and unique girl! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :D

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

*everything* you described is exactly how I feel about my Brock. anytime Im away from him all I can think about is him, especially on trips/outings. he is my soul dog, I dont think I could ever love another dog the same way. its such an amazing feeling. you are luck to have each other!

and wow good job with her behavior mod stuff! brock has a lot of anxiety related issues too, including leash reactivity/aggression so I feel your pain! sounds like youve both come a loooong way- NICE WORK!

Tango, Happy late birthday! What a beautiful girl you've become. I hope you got extra spoiled on your special day. I just love this pic.
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...3_100_9034.jpg

On a side note, what kind of camera do you have? The colors are so bright and the pics are so sharp.

Thanks everyone!! :)

Joyce, I tried to take her somewhere that I knew I would find kids about twice a week (usually around a school, or a park or something) and then I'd play with her away from them so that she knew she could still have fun without the kids getting close. Gradually, I'd take her closer to them without having them touch her, just to get her even more comfortable playing closely around the kids where she could realize that they weren't going to hurt her. Eventually, once she was comfortable being near them, I got the kids to throw the ball for her (that wasn't a problem, as I'd get swarms of kids asking to throw the ball). Not long after that, she realized that kids weren't so bad after all and it was ok to play with them. At that point she still didn't want to be touched by them, but a few weeks after they started throwing her ball, she gradually became more trusting and comfortable around them and allowed them to touch her. All in all, I'd say all of that probably took about 3 and a half months or so (maybe a bit more) and now she get's extremely excited to see kids. It was all just a matter of desensitizing her. Tennis balls are like her security blanket and she'll do almost anything for them. I hope that made sense. It's hard to explain exactly how I did everything over the internet.

Val, I just have Kodak cx7430. It's about 2 years old now, and discontinued. It's a good camera for still shots, but not much else.

:eek: ACK! Only a tummy virus could have kept me from seeing this yesterday!

Honestly, when I see Tango, her beautiful, expressive face, with those wonderful fuzzy ears, it brings me to tears. She is absolutely one of my most favorite PT dogs too. All her wonderful progress is due to your patience and insight and love. From what you've said, it has been worth every second. She's awesome in every way. PLEASE smother her with kisses and hugs from me, won't you?

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY WISHES, SWEETHEART!!!

Actually that makes perfect sense, thanks Devan. I do the same thing with Ginger, sort of. If we are in an area where I can let her off lead I tell the child that she won't let them pet her, but she would love it if they would throw the ball for her. That usually makes them happy. But maybe this just doesn't happen often or consistently enough to have her change her attitude toward children. I guess we will just have to spend more time at the park this spring, that will make her very sad ;) .

Happy Birthday Tango! You sure are gorgeous, I'm sure you had a special day! :)

Agh, I'm late! Happy belated Birthday Tango!! Those puppy pictures are TOO cute :eek:

Sorry I am late but happy birthday Tango!

Hope you had a great birthday!!!