The Killer Can of Diet Coke

Back in the day, Linda never missed watching an episode of The Dog Whisper. She got bored with it and stopped watching, but if it is still on TV, she has to start back.   If you search my blog, you'll find dozens of references to TDW.  Linda trained us both up with Cesar's techniques.  Chim and I recognize her as the Big Dog and obey almost all the time.  We do what we are told; obedience is not a problem for either of us.  She has never retested Chim to see if he can have the run of the house when she is away, but he will be allowed short times out of the bathroom to see how he does. (His destructive puppy behavior is probably over.)  We can both do amazing tricks like praying over our food and cookies and not eating until Linda says "Amen."

He looks like such a mini-Snickers dog

He still nurses on his Woobie during naps.  No woobie=major panic attack

The reason she needs to watch again is to deal with Chim's major physiological issues. You all read about the door slamming that rendered him almost unconscious from fear the other day.  A leaf blowing across the sidewalk, a plastic bag crinkling, a spoon dropping, the curtains blowing in the wind, bikes, his food dish, kids running, if Linda stands up too fast can all send him into a tail-spin.  (It varies from day to day what scares him.  One day the sight of a paperback book makes him quiver and cry, the next day it doesn't.) 

His favorite spot, hiding under the covers

Last night by accident-on purpose Linda caused one of the all time greatest melt downs.  She had just taken a can of diet soda out of the fridge to drink with her dinner of toast and grapes.  Chim jumped on the love seat to investigate what she was eating.  He sits perfectly still a few feet from her and just watches. Even if she set her plate down, he would not eat off it.  Without thinking, she put the soda can against his body right before she opened it to let him feel the cold.  He screamed at the top of his lungs and flipped out like she had jabbed a knife into him!  He wouldn't come back near her or the sofa.  Gosh Chim, get a grip.  You are going to give yourself an ulcer or something. 

If he went to the Ranch with Cesar, I know that he would come back a changed dog.  Linda is not so sure she could handle all of Cesar's methods to desensitize Chim though.  It would be for the best.   I know Cesar would love him sooo much that he would be one of the few dogs he has inside with his own pack.  I could see Chim traveling with Cesar and helping him with other cases.  Cesar, if you read my blog (hah, as if!) would you please bring Chim on your show?