So, a lot of posts on here are requests for advice or venting coupled with the occasional progress update so I thought I'd write something positive for a change. Perhaps something to help new puppy owners or to affirm the methods I read from the books and following the advise on this forum. After almost 10 months I've finally formed what I think is a bond with my puppy. 10 months people. He looks to me now for everything, whether it be permission, guidance or just to provide his basic needs. After following Snowbunny's advice to relax and someone else's advice to just have fun with your dog things have really come together; well that, and really yummy treats. Getting the wife on board for consistency has also really helped. It's the little things that I've noticed that have really changed his behaviour. Like following the advice of others and actually understanding what it is you are doing and why you are doing it. Things like not giving a treat when he didn't come in when called the first time. Not ruining cues, assigning new cues and my biggest help was sardines. He could be out chasing moles under the snow and when i recall ( still not proofed) he will come running as fast as he can to get his reward. He has been 100% on his recall lately but to sweeten the pot I've made coming inside as fun as going out by playing with him after he gets his reward. I've followed the advice to be more fun and be interesting to my puppy so he'll want to be around me. And he does, all the time. It's been an interesting month. He is almost 10 months and there's a lot more challenges ahead, but having him look to me for permissions before he acts is very rewarding. You reap what you sew and having put in many frustrating months of wanting the perfect dog has made me realize that I don't want a perfect dog... I want a perfect dog for me. I have lots of time to continue to streangthen our bond train him further. Now I have his attention the sky is the limit and there's no rush. Enjoy the time together and be friends first.
"Be friends first". I love that. I heard Ian Dunbar say that some years ago, too - blew my mind after being brainwashed to be the dominator by not only CM (his TV show was compelling) but also by the dog school we unfortunately went to at first.
couldn't agree more with all of that. 'Enjoy your dog' - I wish I had had all this advice when mine was a puppy.
Wow! This is a really uplifting post. It's a great start to the weekend. Enjoy your dog - great mantra.
