This is one of those awful days when I have to give up on our training plans.
– Rosie, come on, we are going out! We are going to practice some heel work and play with a ball. You like games, don’t you?
– Ma’ I love you so much that I’ll lick your hand here where you are holding the leash. Will you hurry up if I jump on you?!
– Rosie, sit down for a moment and stay there.
– Ok, I’ll just sit here and wait until you take on your shoes – wagging her tails.
– Let’s go! It will be so much fun!
– You taught me to sit at the door until you say ‘come’, so I’ll just sit here again.
– You are a good girl – I’m praising her. We are in a good mood.
– Ma’, Ma’ you are so slow, why can’t we just run down the stairs outside?! I have to pee! I want to play! Wait, what’s that noise?
– Rosie, it’s OK, there is someone in the building. Let’s just ‘sit’ and wait until he leaves.
– Ma’, who is that? I want to go outside! I always have to sit!
– It’s okay, look what I have here – yummy treats.
– Maaaaaaa’ Go, go, go!
Gate door opening.
– Who are these people at the gate?!
– I don’t know, sweetheart. Please, sit behind me, so they can pass by.
– I don’t know who they are – Rosie is sniffing. One of them is familiar, sometimes I scent him outside of our door. I don’t want him to come inside our home. Ma’ I don’t like these people.
– I can see that. Your tail is under your belly. Look at me!
Treat, treat, treat.
– Ma’! They are dangerous! WE MUST ESCAPE THE BUILDING NOW.
– Rosie, stop. You are pulling the leash. Look what I have! I have something extra for you. You got so nervous.
– I don’t want treats – Rosie is spitting out the treats.
– Come on, let’s run, it’ll be fun! Let’s run to the dog park!
– I don’t want treats! I don’t want to run! There is someone at the corner don’t you see?! Let’s just stay here. There is an interesting smell here, just right here…
We are only a few steps away from our house, and Rosie is already in panic, calming herself by sniffing. She has already eaten almost all the treats, but quickly reached the point where she doesn’t accept treats any more.
… and that’s the moment when I gave up all my plans about training outside.
– Rosie, let’s just go to the dog park.
– Ma’, I don’t like it outside. These people are all coming towards me, they are staring at me! They are following me! I just want to go home. Take me home.
When we first met, you were a 6-month old, frightened, little creature rescued a month before. I was told later that I had been the first person you didn’t bark at, and now I can value how much that means. It was strange, so many things were swirling through my mind. I had never had an own dog before, I was a know-nothing at that time, but I didn’t have the chance to hesitate, it was time to take action.
You were already one year old when I finally found a community of experienced and helpful behaviourists and positive trainers who changed the way we live. After a dozen hours of rehabilitation we could finally go to regular dog school. Your rehabilitation continued by mantrailing and we have just started protection work for therapy. Teaching you obedience is an everyday routine for us. I accept that you might never chase butterflies, but I’m sure our hearts’ desire will guide us to damn good places.
