Since Sampson goes on Cheryle’s regular walks every day, he’s a little less excited about morning walks lately. We talk to Pete, get a milk bone. Pete is busy with adorable children at the moment so he gives Sampson the milk bone and says to him “Don’t eat that frooty tooty stuff he’s tryin ta give ya Sampson.”
Dustmop’s owner comes over to us this morning. She says she wants to try to get Dustmop ( she tells me Dustmop’s name, but that dog will forever be Dustmop in my mind) to “behave around big dogs” but Sampson regards her suspiciously and he is right to do so. Dustmop get’s behind Sampson and then lunges, barks and tries to bite his tail. Her owner quickly pulls her away giggling “Oh, that’s her little thing now, biting tails.” I smile and pretend to think it’s cute. What I’m really thinking is that there are a lot of “big dogs” who would not think that behavior is cute at all.
I’ve learned not to give people actual, useful advice about how to cure dog behavior problems. Like “That’s a very dangerous behavior, one that’s likely to get your dog injured. When you laugh, you’re encouraging that behavior, what you should do is use a pull or pinch collar and when she behaves inappropriately, use a quick pull on the collar, not hard, but quick, and instantly combine that with a negative sound like AHH.”
Instead, I smile and say “Well, just keep working on it.” That’s as close as I get to giving advice. I’m no dog trainer, but Cheryle is a Master of dog psychology and training and I've seen her correct bad behavior literally in a matter of minutes. It occurs to me that she may be cheating by using that Dog Whisperer thing she has. But she is an excellent trainer nonetheless.
Off to the salt mines, be safe all.
