So – this is aimed at anybody who is ‘struggling’ with pooch things (in any way, shape or form).
Sitting here drinking my cuppa – I’ve been pondering on the last week and events that have happened – our walk last night highlighted a few things.
Over the last 10 months I have seen huge positive step changes in Marcus’s confidence in all aspects of life – they are all on here for you to read if you haven’t already.
But this week :
he absolutely sailed through the KC Bronze – the only pooch in the class who technically passed first time – not bad seeing that he was the most disruptive pooch at the start of the 8 weeks – not bad seeing that the rest were all posh pedigrees.
huge increased confidence in the water – so much that he even went running through the dirty dykes one evening😡
visitors to the house are now more likely to get ignored much quicker – they still get barked at when they are outside but that’s the big huge dangerous guard dog inside him trying to get out😀.
and the piste de resistance happened last night on our walk – new roads and smells around the village – I find new routes to keep his snout in top condition – walking past the chip shop – loads of people outside waiting in the queue – loads of yummy smells, another pooch waiting. Zero reactivity – zero jumping up at people – yes he wants to go get chicken and sausages from inside but comes back to heel easily. He sits and waits whilst one of the people talks to me.
We continue our walk and I hear one of the people say to another – what a lovely well behaved pooch – I wish mine was like that!
In themselves maybe nothing big – but together such a huge achievement. Whether it’s just growing up or things ‘coming together’ it doesn’t matter. I don’t like the word ‘training’ – that stinks of a one sided bad deal getting a pooch to perform circus tricks. I much prefer the thought of both pooch and their hooman learning and working together whilst understanding about each other.
Whatever it is – the Marcus word of ‘TARTUPLE’ still stands strong.
(Now I just have to get the little bugger to wash and clean his bloody paws when he’s been digging – preferably before coming into the house!)
Never lose heart or confidence👍
Marcus and dad 