By accident. Doogie has always been 'special'. A little bit OCD and autistic like. It took me a year to crate train him and in truth I didn't really train him at all. I just tethered him next to his crate for about a year and I think he eventually forgot he was terrified of it and has crated like a dream ever since. He's never been a particularly demonstrative dog, and doesn't like rolling on his back for tummy scratches or anything. Very friendly but not the love slut that I'm used to with Pit Bulls.
He's terrible about his toe nail trims and I've always had to sedate him for them so it's not such a power struggle. I've been chatting with his vet about alternatives for sedation (Ace makes me nervous and Valium doesn't work on him at all) so she suggested I try Xanax. Well, last night Doogie hurt his foot and I needed to check it out. He was also due for a TNT so I figured I'd try the Xanax and get both things done at the same time.
O.M.G.
He's like a different dog. I went to check on him and it looked like he couldn't use his front legs and I freaked out. Well, it turns out he was just being goofy and laying on his front legs with his butt in the air wagging away. THEN he rolled over onto his back for a good five straight minutes of tummy scritches. He's super outgoing still today and perky. Not head shy at all anymore and just generally more relaxed than I remember ever seeing him.
Weird.