This is Petey's mommy. I wanted to give all of you an update on our problem with Petey attacking our new horses.

We had our trainer, Germaine, out to see Petey. I'm telling you all, she is a miracle worker. A positive only trainer, she showed us how to keep Petey's focus on us while near the horses. We relieved Petey's stress about the horses by keeping him on a leash outside while the horses are in their paddocks. While Germaine was with us, Petey did go to nip one of the horses but Germaine felt that it was simply a confusion issue. She also told me that she could tell I was visibly tense because he had attacked the horses before and Petey was picking up on that. She explained that if our Petey were really aggressive, he would not be able to take his focus off the horses even on a leash. She noted that he never bared his teeth or growled threateningly.

She compared it to how I would feel if someone set up a tent and started living in my backyard. I'd be a bit freaked out, too!!!!!! o_0

It really made a lot of sense. We watched her work with Petey for about 10 minutes around the horses. He was utterly EXHAUSTED afterward, poor puppy! She kept his focus on her and demonstrated how we are to work with him.

We've also brought him in during the day and at night, however - when the horses are safe in their stalls - he still gets his "free run time" in the evenings. He doesn't even bother them now.

Yesterday, after a run with Daddy, Petey came into the barn on a leash. He turned his back on the horse I was grooming several times. I was astonished. He even lay down and rested after his run.

WOW!

Petey is doing much better and seems almost relieved that we've taken the control back. Now he doesn't have to figure out on his own how to deal with the horses.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all of you for your encouragement, support and advice. I sincerely appreciate you helping us humans over this bump in the road!

Petey appreciates it too!