If you want the perfect dog...

...keep trying. I know. Such a misleading title. I'm sure you were heavy with anticipation, "LOOK! HOW TO HAVE THE PERFECT DOG!" Well, sorry. Perfect is sometimes farther away than you think...and I'm guessing along the way, you begin to change what you think perfection is.

My dog, B, as many of you know, is dog-reactive. She and I have been attacking (no pun intended) this problem head-on since December. As many trainers will agree, there are good days and there are bad days. Today was yet another bad day.

We successfully passed three dogs without so much as a bark in their direction when I decided to head to the tennis courts for some safe, off-leash fun. B got to play a fun game of chase with the stick. J and I did tag-team recall drills - sounds less fun than it really is. B loves it! She gets to run back and forth between us as fast as her little legs will carry her to the piece of chicken each of us is holding. That's when I saw our next challenge: the neighborhood pug. I know this pug - she's not really a threat at all. She kind of bumbles, if that's really a verb. So it was little surprise that I was able to redirect B's attention after a couple huffs towards the pug. Success!

That's when I noticed how successful we really were up until that moment. Just on the other side of the tennis courts, there are kids playing tackle with their parents (B doesn't like kids running around...probably because they resemble little dogs), there are three other kids flying a HUGE orange kite (B loves to chase birds, especially pterodactyls!!) and everyone is screaming during all this afternoon play. To put myself in B's...uh...shoes, I often close my eyes and take in all the sounds. Then I try to imagine that multiplied by a factor that I honestly just made up because I can't begin to imagine how well dogs must hear. It's amazing how many senses they employ at once and almost all of them are beyond our capacity. So this helps me empathize and understand her small successes. I realize she's truly taking in much more than I give her credit for. Good job B.

Enter: the proud Scottish terrier.-complete with a fresh haircut and snazzy red coat. This Scotty was all B needed to end her successful streak. The chicken no longer means anything to her. The Scott needs to be put in his place and Big B has volunteered for the job. I can't get her attention, I can't redirect her, she's practically choking herself in her wild and ambiguous display behaviors...I'm spilling chicken everywhere, the leash is getting tangled around my legs, my nose is dripping from the freezing weather...it's too much at one time and I lose it. Thankfully, not on B. Nope, I manage to escort her across the tennis courts to let her (and me!) deflate. I can feel the rage building inside me, making my veins hot and my eyes sting. WHY CAN'T I HAVE A NORMAL FLIPPING DOG!?! WHY DID I GET STUCK WITH THIS ONE!!!??? IT'S NOT FAIR! EVERYONE ELSE GETS TO ENJOY PEACEFUL WALKS WITH THEIR DOGS AND I HAVE TO ENDURE THE EMBARRASSMENT AND CONFUSION FOR THE BOTH OF US!! I leave the courts and fall to the grass and cry...B still tethered around my wrist. Boy. What a leader I am. I'm sobbing uncontrollably (quite a site, I'm sure) when B's gorgeous brown eyes look at me and she shoves her face in to my chest. It comforts me to think she does that to console me. I'm snotting all over myself as I beg the question aloud "WHY??? We try so hard...when will there be something to show for this??" That's when J reminds me the importance of B's position in this family.

If B was the perfect dog, I would never have called the trainer/behaviorist I now study under, L, at Smart Dog University. I might not have discovered my passion and potential for dog training. It's B's high needs that drove me to "fix" her. I wanted to understand her but more importantly, I wanted her problem behavior to go away. The main thing I'm learning on this journey is: it might not ever go away. This might be who my B really is. Talk about unconditional love. Isn't that why many people are dog lovers in the first place? Because they feel dogs offer unconditional love? So how ironic is it that instead of finding it flowing freely from my dog, I'm learning that it's me who loves my dog unconditionally. B might never be "fixed"...some days, this is too much for me to bear. On good days, though, it keeps me creative. I have to think of ways for us to enjoy each other's company that doesn't involve frustrating situations. She's taught me patience and compassion - although I'm far from being the Dali Lama. She's helped me realize my dream and every day encourages me to be that much better. All she asks for in return is food and somewhere soft to sleep at night. Okay, and the occasional free petting.

So, before giving up on yourself and your troubled pet, evaluate how deep your love and respect goes for that animal. If you want the perfect dog, you're going to have to work [hard] for it.

"To err is human:To forgive, canine." -- Anonymous


**this blog is in no way a substitute for a professional trainer or behaviorist. If your dog has signs of aggression, it is suggested that you seek the advice of a professional**

QUOTE and TIP of the DAY

A dog is not "almost human" and I know of no greater insult to the canine race than to describe it as such. ~John Holmes

I decided to combine the two today: quote and Tip of the Day. Many times, we think treating our dogs like "babies" is doing them a great justice. We see ourselves as rescuing them from the miseries of the world and in to our safe and loving homes. While that may very well be the case, many people then take it to the next step and coddle these animals until they conform to our human standards of living. It's difficult as a trainer to suggest that people not do this. They all assume I am some Cruella character trying to rob their beloved puppies of a love-filled life. I find it unfortunate that our emotional needs as humans overshadow the deep-rooted instinctive needs of our animals. When they crossed the threshold in to our homes, they did not leave behind their amazing doggy instincts. We don't need acres of land to put those to good use! Dressing dogs up in sweaters and taking them shopping with us everyday, while cute, is not using those instincts. It's taking away a dog's identity, plain and simple. Just as it is majestic to watch geese fly in formation, it is an equally amazing thing to see a dog be a dog. Roll in the mud, play a game of chase, investigate new smells, teach new tricks - these are all things you can do right in your own home. Coming up with more challenging things for my dogs ironically changed me to match their lives. One of our favorite games: GO HIDE! The girls wait with drool puddles below them (and excellent discipline, I might add) as I scatter treats throughout the house where they can't see them. Then, on my mark, they bolt through the house sniffing every nook and cranny searching for their food. Since they've mastered this, I have to up the ante. Now I'm teaching B to bark when she's found those treats in the hard to reach spots. Get creative, use their talents in a positive way and I PROMISE! you will reap the rewards.

FANNY PACK ATTACK!!

How do I hold on to all the things necessary for something as simple as a one hour walk? Easy ! I bought a fashion faux pas we all know and loathe: the Fanny Pack! GASP!

I know, I know - I love fashion as much as the next girl but I also looooove me some dog training. I own stilletos AND hiking boots! When I'm not wearing my muddy cargo pants, I'm wearing my fashionista designer label jeans.

So what would possess me to actually own a horrendous Fanny Pack?? My dog Bizzle doesn't go on simple walks. She is dog reactive and right now, I am in the uphill battle of reconditioning her dog response. In order to do that, I need to carry a clicker, eleventy billion little bite size pieces of the highest value treat I can find, kleenex because it's only twenty degrees out, gloves for me, whistle for distractions, poop bags for, well, duh...the list goes on and on.

How is all this supposed to be accessible while at the same time holding on to a loose cannon at the end of a six foot leash?

Enter: the purse that rests on the tummy. The "function is more important than form but I wish I had a sign that said I'm wearing this as a dare" buckle pack. Hey, look at it this way: they've actually upgraded the fanny pack to look a lot more "outdoorsy" than "touristy". You can pull off that "we just got back from a rigorous hike" look! I'm promise you: if you hang your pride up on the leash hook when you go for walks, you'll thank yourself (and hopefully me for my awesome advice).

When training your dog, patience is invaluable but it also pays to have a really good sense of humor. :)

QUOTES

"If you don't have a dog in your life, I'm not saying there's something wrong with you...but there may be something wrong with your life." -- Unknown

-- I read this in a random dog book one day and can't remember who the author was. If you know, please tell me so I can cite correctly! Thanks! -E