Learning Curve

Well, I'll admit, yesterday was hard. That sweet little dog was a hyperactive maniac, biting, snapping, jumping up, trying to own me, sitting on me. It wasn't for lack of exercise: we had four long walks when I let her off the lead, and one great charge around the new lawn which was fun for both of us (the lawn was unscathed!!!). Later, as she still wouldn't relax, I gave her one of her bones to chew, and she gnawed on it obsessively for over an hour on the sofa beside me and on me (ugh) until I thought her mouth would bleed. Nothing would calm her, and so I went to bed feeling very worried. But in the night I made my plan, and blow me if it hasn't worked.

I needed to establish myself as topdog! Now, I'm no feeble weed, as anyone who knows me will attest to. But I was giving her all the wrong signals, and she thought she was in charge. I had to change that, and quickly. Just before I woke up this morning I dreamed I was on a very high pier with sea way below either side. I had got off a boat which had then sailed away, and I was walking back to land. Suddenly there were two huge vehicles in front of me, parked so that there was only a minute space to get past and continue to the town. Other people with me were trying to sidle past, with inches between them and a big drop into the sea. What did I do? I cowered on the ground, weeping and wailing, howling and sobbing. Then I woke up. Was that how I was feeling? There was so much at stake.

A bright-eyed angel, relaxed at last

Undaunted, I went downstairs. I ignored Sasha and put the kettle on. Then I gradually opened her crate door - no charging out - and bent down to greet her. No raptures from me, and I didn't pick her up. I stroked her, and then opened the back door to let her out to pee. When she came back in I told her she was a good girl, and got her to sit on the towel. Then I filled her bowl with food, and pretended to eat it while she watched. Hah! That got her attention. Quietly I filled it again and put it down for her. She was already significantly calmer. I drank my tea unmolested, and then got her to sit while I put her halter and lead on. It took several goes, but the repeated "sit" command, followed by "wait" worked, and she was ready. I hadn't even been chewed!

Next I made her wait while I went out the door first. Apparently alpha males always do that. And suddenly there she was trotting by my side, looking up at me! I hadn't asked or expected her to. When we got home I made her wait while I took my shoes off and went inside, and then she followed. She sat on the towel again, and so I tried a bit of training. Sit command, wait, biscuit in front of her nose, wait, biscuit closer, wait, and so on (all off the internet thanks to Kitty), and then the biscuit, followed by massive, massive praise when she obeyed. She's so bright, so quick to learn. And she was so happy to have had a job to do, and to have got it right. It's enough to make you weep.

She's asleep in her bed now. I can't believe I just said that. It's unheard of! She's completely calm. She came over a few times as I was writing, got a pat and a stroke, then trotted back again to her bed. The relief is huge, immense, for both of us. I'm sure that's not the end of it, but I understand the psychology now and will carry on. She's happier because she's feeling more secure. She knows I'm in charge and she can let go. It really has been as simple as that.

And so we say Amen.