DOG TRAINING IS HUMAN TRAINING

Dog training starts with the dog.

Then it’s you. But first the dog.

Everyone learns new ways to communicate.

No one says, “Stay.”

About that dog:

My longest lasting dog was sixteen year old Daisy, a miniature Dachshund.

She was a dog for all seasons: a lap dog for Grandpa, a companion for Grandy, fun for the kids and their friends, and a question mark for my wife and I.

Okay, a question mark for me.

There question was, “Why does the dog peein the house all the time.”

Four years after Daisy died, we got a new dog. But first a new carpet.

I told my wife I was in mourning for four year.

Every time the topic of dogs came up, like a new dog, I wasn’t ready.

What I was doing was dodging another dog.

Dogs are a responsibility, and they grow on you.

I ended up with tender feelings about Daisy I didn’t want to lose.

But a new dog was inevitable. My wife has always had a dog.

When I met her she had golden retriever-lab mix.

A single lady with a big dog? What’s that all about?

I don’t know, but I liked it.

Since we’ve been married we’ve had four dogs: Lucky, Roxy, Daisy, and now Ruby.

 

All About That Dog, ‘Bout That Dog

If you’re not a ‘dog person’ you will be once you get a dog.

You will be a dog person if you get the right dog.

Big dog, little dog, old dog, young dog, you’ll know the right one when you see it.

We knew the kind of dog we wanted, the kind I wanted.

A miniature dachshund is half a dog high and a dog and a half long.

Since I’m not getting any younger I wanted a tall dog, taller than our treasured ankle-biter.

Wife said medium dog so we looked for a medium dog.

When that didn’t work out we waited a year, another dog-less year.

The medium dog plan ended in a phantom pregnancy.

A year later it was a go. Same momma dog, but now a standard poodle daddy dog.

That’s a long way to say we got a big dog.

Since we waited a year we got first pick. One look and we knew.

None of other puppies looked like Ruby, or acted like her.

We picked up each dog to get a sense of them.

Some wanted nothing to do with us and scooted away when we put them down.

Ruby cuddled just enough and didn’t run off when we put her down.

My wife says that was the same criteria she used with me. Woof.

 

Dog Training For A Happy Hound

For three years this dog has let us know when she wants out.

We missed once early when we weren’t sure why she was barking and making a fuss.

Ooooh, that’s why. Five paper towels later . . .

Since then it’s been clear sailing.

One night I was up ten times to take her outside with the runs.

We made it out of the house to avoid the horror story of, “My dog crapped ten times in the house one night.”

Not this dog. Ten times sounds like a roll of paper towels.

 

After three years of being around each other we’ve grown to know Ruby’s habits.

When to go out, when to play.

A habit I wanted to include was coming when I called her.

Another is not taking us out with her run-byes.

She loves running up and down the stairways. More like leaping up and down the stairways.

She’s big, strong, and fast, a tall dog who would clip us down at the knees.

Our kids have expressed their concerns, and you know what happens when kids start worrying about parents?

Yeah, me neither, but I didn’t like the idea of a sliding dog-tackle from the side.

I don’t think I’d need to fake an injury like a soccer player. Not on the stairs.

Se we decided to find more dog training to help Ruby understand what were wanted her to do.

Come when called.

Heel when called.

Sit when called.

Lay down when called.

Stay in one place when called.

Don’t bark like crazy at every car, person, dog, or squirrel that passes.

Noting fancy like roll over, or sit up.

Ruby is already fancy enough.

Who’s a good girl?