After our episode on the 10th, I had been trying to be more assertive and it really did take it's toll on Lady's confidence in me. She wouldn't come near me for the entire weekend!

I did the bare minimum and kept my distance. I didn't attempt a session until this morning and I am very glad I made that decision.
This morning I was feeling pretty down and then I decided I was going to play today! I made up my tiny Game Plan and marched out to my pasture with some serious conviction.

Game Plan: Just see where she's at. Lots of approach & retreat, tricks and treats to keep her interested yet, keeping everything as slow and low energy as possible. Soft is the keyword here.

Results: So I got out there, grabbed my Halter attached to my 12 ft line, 22 ft line, CS&SS and a bag full of peppermint goodies and I walked into her corral, straight past her out to the barrels.
I had some games to set up! I placed peppermints on every barrel, dropped a few down the center of her traffic cone and then looked up.

Lady was rooted to the spot, staring at me like I had grown another head. Her ears were forward in this permanent curious expression. Basically; " What in John Wayne are you doing, woman? I tried so hard to stay away from you all weekend and now you come out here and ignore me an-- What is in that bag?! What're you putting on those barrels?!"
So many questions, but she just wasn't confident enough to come to me.
*BRAIN BLAST!*
I walked slowly over to her, keeping my energy down and watching her body language very carefully. In this session it was most important that everything was very soft. She was unconfident and if I was loud and boisterous, I never would have gotten close to her.
Anyway, she never once moved as I approached and she kept that questioning face on until I got about 15 feet away and suddenly she whipped her head around, away from me.
" I can't look at you."
I was in her space and it made her uncomfortable so, I retreated.
I took 5 steps backwards and then her head came back around and I continued slowly forward.
I noticed some hesitation every now and then and I'd immediately retreat backwards, wait and then continue forwards.
When I came to about eight feet out from her, she began to walk forwards. I saw her weight shift and I started walking backwards, drawing her into me.
She reached me, sniffed my hand and ate a treat.
We stayed like that for a minute, just relaxing in each other's company. We both needed it, that's for sure!
Then we had a slow exploration of the barrels and cone at Liberty before I latched her on the 12 ft and kept everything slow and soft.
The session was a BLAST after that.
She kicked barrels, rolled them with her nose, gave me kisses, curled her lip up, knocked over a cone set it back up, knocked over barrels, set them back up!
We just had FUN and there was a LOT of treats and scratches and she was licking her lips a lot and it was really big.
I *saw* her confidence in me coming back.
It was a step in the right direction! :)

I've been outside twice since that wonderful play session.

Mom and I went to see my brother around 10, so I jogged out to give her an apple as mom was starting the car. Just a quick visit.

When we got back, I let Bear out and took a seat on one of my barrels for about an hour and a half of UDT. Just relaxing with my two lovely darlings..

They're getting better and better with at coexisting. They even took a nap together while I was out there (Not side by side or anything but in the same pasture. This was a huge deal!)
I got some short narrated video clips of it and I'll post those eventually.
Lady laid down and everything, it was clear she was her old confident self around me again.

Today has really been excellent and we're steadily coming out of our 'little rut.'

I'd like to take this moment to thank everyone who has given me support and encouragement this past week while I was feeling very hopeless and alone.

Thanks, Savvy Clubbers. You guys really are marvelous. :)

Love,

Lady, Katie & Bear. :)