My First Dog, JessJess was not trained. We passed an obedience class, but never stuck with it once the class was done. I thought that once she had been taught sit, down, stay, and come that it would always stay in her mind. I was wrong. Dogs need constant reinforcement and consistency in training. Just learning it once doesn't mean they will retain it forever. I always dreamed of having a dog that would always come, that I could play with off-leash, that wouldn't pull on the leash, and that could do cool tricks. I tried with Jess some, but I didn't put enough effort into it and then I gave up. I feel bad about it, looking back, because Jess was a house ornament. She was loved so much, but she didn't get the exercise and attention and discipline that she needed. She only listened to Dad, because he was the one who walked her and disciplined her. She was full of energy, she pulled on the leash, she couldn't be trusted off-leash, and she had nightly rampages through the house. But I loved her. She was my best friend that stuck with me through everything, who let me cry into her coat, and who'd curl up with me in bed after a hard day. If I could go back in time and train her with the knowledge I've gained while working with Robbie, I would do so in a heartbeat. I know the truth now about how it should be. Training RobbieRobbie changed everything for me. For both me & my boyfriend. The amount of work spent training him, logging what was done, talking to our trainer, problem solving issues, making sure we were consistent in every tiny little thing, and seeing how he progressed over time revealed to us what thorough dog training could do and how a well-trained dog should act. When we see people out with their dogs, we just smile. Their dogs are out in front, pulling on the leash, barking at other dogs, being praised for displaying dominant behavior, and paying absolutely no attention to their owners. We used to be like that. Not every pet owner is like that. Some have amazingly well-trained dogs, and totally get dog behavior and cues. Others are just clueless. And that's ok. I love having a precision-trained dog. I love having a dog that I can depend on and have fun with, and know that he trusts & respects me. I have put a ton of work into Robbie, and for all the dogs following him, I will put in just as much work. I don't ever want to be a clueless owner again. I love being able to train Robbie and challenge both of us, and see the lightbulb moment when he learns something. People constantly say "Whoa! He is so well-trained, my dog could never do that!" The thing is, though, if everyone put as much time and effort into their pets as we do with our service dogs, all dogs would be this well-trained. It is hard work, but ultimately, I believe that both dog and owner are happier. Dogs like having something to do. Lying on the couch, looking cute, and getting a few pats at the end of the day or a walk 2-3x a week sounds like the life, but it can get super boring! It's why a lot of dogs are just bat shit crazy. They have so much energy and nowhere to put it. So they neurotically chase squirrels or bark at their shadows. They rampage through the house every single night. They might even be destructive to your house - tearing things up, peeing everywhere, nipping at their owners, growling (no it's not cute), pulling on the leash, and a bunch of other behavioral problems. Simple Ways to Give Them a Job
Maybe this seems like a lot of work, but dogs aren't house ornaments. They are living creatures that need stimulation and challenges, just like people do. Small dogs, large dogs, fluffy dogs, hairless dogs - they all need time, devotion, challenges, and a walk every day.
Check Out These Links for More on Having Fun Training Your Dog
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My Name is Sally...I have a condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. This blog is about my journey training Robbie, a dog who helped me regain independence, confidence, and achieve the impossible in the face of my disability. It continues on with the training of Austin, Robbie's successor. Check Out... - "More than a Dog" was published on a site called The Mighty Categories
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