If this doesn’t work for you, get a copy of my ebook “The Truth About Housebreaking.” Maybe if your dog sees you reading the book, he will be more than willing to take this vow.
I tried and tried to get the dogs to stay awake to help celebrate the coming of the New Year 2010. As their heads bobbed and soft snoring could be heard around the room, I decided to join them. This year, I would celebrate like dogs do.
They go to bed every night and wake up every morning without a care. They sleep when it’s night (and day) and don’t complain when they wake up - whether it’s in the middle of the night or at the dawn of a day. They don’t get anxious or worry that they didn’t do enough last year or what they will do in the coming year.
While it is not exactly how I see my life going this year, it’s a great way to start every day. Every day is a new day and every new day makes a new year. I looked at the dogs and said, “Thanks for that awareness.” They replied, “What the heck are you talking about…where’s our breakfast?” Enough said. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
You may not have thought of a dog as having patience. Well, they do - or at least that’s what I’m calling it.
If one of my dogs has a toy, regardless of the five other toys available, someone will want that exact toy at that exact moment. That’s no surprise. Of course, they want what the other one has. Among these boys, It’s a constant dance of who dominates who.
After a couple of human-to-dog interventions, they know not to mess with one another, or everyone loses (as in I take the toy). See, it’s my toy, and I am kind enough to let them have it. I have also established the rules that go along with toy-play.
This morning, Mac is chewing on a toy as Moby stands patiently by looking for either a safe “in” to get the stuffed creature, or for Mac to get bored and walk away. He will wait longingly for quite awhile before he loses interest. He doesn’t make a sound…waiting patiently for the right moment. I think he actually thinks he “won” if Mac relinquishes the object without care.
I like the thought of that - particularly as we enter the Holiday season. It’s like saying, “I really want what you have, but I’ll just wait patiently while you enjoy it, and when you don’t want it any more, I’ll take it.”
Thoughts of peace and patience to you this season!
Perhaps you saw the segment on Animal Planet where a teacher taught his Labrador to read. The dog would read words printed on a flash card, and amazingly enough, would follow through with the instruction on the card! This is impressive.
I have seen a lot of amazing demonstrations of a dog’s intelligence, but the following tops them
all. . .my dog, Mac, can read books! In fact, he reads until he falls asleep. I think
I heard him say, “if only I had thumbs, turning pages would be so much easier.” Now I know what he was talking about.
Suki has been staying with me for socialization. She was featured in a previous post with Mac-nanny, the labradoodle. Here she is as a Friday Funny…afraid of a Nylabone?
In the 80’s there were some major changes in the thought on how to best raise children. In order to not hurt their spirit and to give them a little personal power, kids were given choices. A lot of choices. Oatmeal or dry cereal or maybe just some fruit? Tennis shoes, sandals, and which color would you like?
Giving kids choices is a good idea when they are of age to comprehend choice and consequence. Until then, the parent may do well to provide guidance and keep the peace by not giving a child so many choices they never get out the door on time.
I am mentioning this because I am finding a lot of this type of four-legged parenting. I hear things like, “my dog doesn’t like being on a leash.” “They are depressed when in their crate.” My dog doesn’t want to poop outside.” As a trainer who wants the best for you and your canine relationship, I have to say something. . . they don’t get a choice!
You are their provider and you are showing them moment by moment what life is like when they live with you. Not the other way around. When someone tells me they haven’t trained their dog, I remind them they have. The question is what have they trained them? Puppy training begins the second they come through your door. A dog can quickly adopt the idea that you have joined their family and they set the rules.
You can do more damage to their psyche by not being a consistent leader (or parent if that fits you better.) They don’t need a lot of choices in order to love and respect us.
If you are visiting shelters in search of a new dog and are confused about which breed is best, I encourage you to do some research, but don’t eliminate a dog based on the stereotype alone. Different breeds definitely have their own unique qualities but these qualities are not exclusive.
As you consider which dog is best for your family, make an informed decision and one definitely based on the dog itself rather than the stereotype of their breed. Here’s an article on this subject:
If you have any questions or concerns about a dog you want to adopt, please contact me!
Puppies need constant supervision. When left unattended inside, they may chew on anything and everything. If left outside, they may dig or decide to play in the leaves. . .
Most things about puppies are adorable. They are always enthusiastic because everything is new and exciting! They also lack the ability to focus and have a very short attention span. AND, it doesn’t bother them a bit.
You may have heard of a “senior moment.” Those moments when you are doing one thing and then forget what you are doing so you start doing something else. Having been around several puppies lately, I realized that rather than a “senior moment,” have a “puppy moment.” It sounds so much better. It almost sounds fun!
Puppies can be walking toward their toy, and mid-step see a moth and head towards it. They can squat to pee and in a nanosecond get distracted and follow a leaf. If they could use words, I’m sure they’d be saying, “hey, look at that, no that, no that!” They look at us confused as we attempt to keep them focused.
The next time you lose a word mid-sentence, forget why you entered a room, or what it is you were going to do next, call it a “puppy moment.” You can also keep an I-don’t-care-if-I-forget-what- I’m-doing attitude and just enjoy the moment. . .whatever that moment is!
