Arlo's Dad
01-19-2006, 10:55 PM
I've always had older dogs with hard luck stories and well ingrained habits. Training was just a dream by the time I came along. I just had to learn to adapt to whatever behaviors were presented to me.
Then along came Arlo. I didn't really want a puppy, it had only been a little while since I had to have Gidget put down and she was a hard act to follow. Anyway I was talked into it with all the accompanying promises but that is a whole nuther story.
Along comes this little one month old pup and I was bound and determined not to have the same bad habits I had inherited with pets of yesteryear. Of course I didn't know squat about raising a puppy.
Sometimes it's the little things that bother me. Every dog I've had has had a problem with wrapping themselves around trees, signs and whatever else they could find to annoy me while walking on a leash. I know they were doing it on purpose just watch me dance around the tree, evil little buzzards.
Arlo was not going to do this to me so I started young. Two months old and we're walking on the leash just getting used to being attached to each other. Of course the first tree he sees he heads right to it, it must be instinct. I could see the look in his eye waiting for the dance to begin.
I put on my best stern look and tell him around, drawing a map in the air with my finger. What a futile game I'm thinking, he should still be on mama's teat and I'm trying to teach him what no dog has learned before. Just as I turn to follow him on the wrong side of the tree he swings around and goes around the tree. No, no, no, I don't get all excited thinking I have the worlds smartest dog. I just give him a hearty atta boy and move on.
These early walks were short, just like him. Soon we ventured further from home and came across many trees and most of the time he wrapped himself up like he was breed to do. But in time it seemed like it was sinking into that thick hound scull of his. He would actually unwrap himself on command. Oh are we a proud couple walking down the street with our heads held high.
I was feeling really smug with my wonder dog until one day he just seemed to forget everything. He dashed around the tree and just gave me a blank look when I said "around". I pulled on the leash and drew that map in the air over and over and he just tugged harder. I stopped and heaved a huge sigh and looked at him. All of the sudden I could see the light go off above his head. It was just one of them little Christmas tree lights, after all, he's just a little guy. But anyway I could see the light go on and he trotted right around and looked at me for approval. After the appropriate praise we walked on. At the next tree he went on the wrong side, stopped and looked at me, waiting. I rolled my eyes and said the magic word "around" and around he went. He did this at every tree on the block. He was so proud that he remembered and wanted to practice so he would never forget again.
He's a pretty good dog.
Now it's your turn. Tell me about your wonder dog... or cat... or trained fish.
Then along came Arlo. I didn't really want a puppy, it had only been a little while since I had to have Gidget put down and she was a hard act to follow. Anyway I was talked into it with all the accompanying promises but that is a whole nuther story.
Along comes this little one month old pup and I was bound and determined not to have the same bad habits I had inherited with pets of yesteryear. Of course I didn't know squat about raising a puppy.
Sometimes it's the little things that bother me. Every dog I've had has had a problem with wrapping themselves around trees, signs and whatever else they could find to annoy me while walking on a leash. I know they were doing it on purpose just watch me dance around the tree, evil little buzzards.
Arlo was not going to do this to me so I started young. Two months old and we're walking on the leash just getting used to being attached to each other. Of course the first tree he sees he heads right to it, it must be instinct. I could see the look in his eye waiting for the dance to begin.
I put on my best stern look and tell him around, drawing a map in the air with my finger. What a futile game I'm thinking, he should still be on mama's teat and I'm trying to teach him what no dog has learned before. Just as I turn to follow him on the wrong side of the tree he swings around and goes around the tree. No, no, no, I don't get all excited thinking I have the worlds smartest dog. I just give him a hearty atta boy and move on.
These early walks were short, just like him. Soon we ventured further from home and came across many trees and most of the time he wrapped himself up like he was breed to do. But in time it seemed like it was sinking into that thick hound scull of his. He would actually unwrap himself on command. Oh are we a proud couple walking down the street with our heads held high.
I was feeling really smug with my wonder dog until one day he just seemed to forget everything. He dashed around the tree and just gave me a blank look when I said "around". I pulled on the leash and drew that map in the air over and over and he just tugged harder. I stopped and heaved a huge sigh and looked at him. All of the sudden I could see the light go off above his head. It was just one of them little Christmas tree lights, after all, he's just a little guy. But anyway I could see the light go on and he trotted right around and looked at me for approval. After the appropriate praise we walked on. At the next tree he went on the wrong side, stopped and looked at me, waiting. I rolled my eyes and said the magic word "around" and around he went. He did this at every tree on the block. He was so proud that he remembered and wanted to practice so he would never forget again.
He's a pretty good dog.
Now it's your turn. Tell me about your wonder dog... or cat... or trained fish.