So I have been pondering on life with my dogs and also what I can/could do more to help US be better.  We are a unit, I truely believe that I am their favourite person and they are definately my favourite dogs.  We walk together every day, I feed them every day and we rest and play together every day.

When out for a walk most of the time they choose to stay with me or certainly with me in their sight, sometimes I wish they would run around more instead of being by my side.

What got me thinking about this was a couple of things that have happened in the last 24 hours.

Firstly I was watching a Dog Trainer on TV last night and although his methods of training arnt always the way I would like to train my dogs, for the first time he actually said something that reasonated with me.  He went to see a young Jackapoo who lived alongside his lady owner and her teenage son.  Everytime the Son stood up the dog went mental, barking and chasing the Son whereever he went.  This had been going on for some time.  But and here is the thing the Dog Trainer who came round said to the lady owner “Your Dog is trying to tell you something, you are not listening to the dog.”

I am currently doing another course in Dog Behaviour and the first unit is about watching a group of dogs and writing down what you see.  Perhaps sometimes we dont actually do this with our own dogs?

So back to the second thought of mine in the last 24 hours – we went out for a quick walk this morning, somewhere more public than we usually do as Pippa, is not only Reactive but also now in her elderly years has lost most of her hearing and some of her sight.  She is not the sort of dog to run up to another dog and bite them, however she does not like dogs running up to her.  I walk her with Spud and once I check it is safe she is let of the lead.  Today we were behind a gentleman with 2 young Cockerpoos that had obviously just come out for them to do their business and then go back to his truck.  So, I was aware that they were there and was following from a distance, as is normal for us, however he turned around to come back.  Pippa wasnt far away but did not hear me so I went and grabbed her, she wears a harness with a grab handle on and we turned around.  No problem, we walked the other way and turned the corner.  However one of the gentlemans dogs decided to run towards us around the corner.  I politely asked him to get his dog as Pippa was not friendly but the dog kept coming.  The guy was calling to no avail, so Spud went and saw it off.  Not in an agressive way but he chased it til it turned towards its owner.  He then returned to me.  Now he has learnt this behaviour as he doesnt want any upset.  I hadnt really thought about it before. He has not shown any Reactive behaviour to anything in his life but he knew that it would make stress if this dog came up to Pippa and I.

Last year when Harry was in full health, I took him monthly to a session which really emphasised this.  I want my dogs to be part of a team, my family and for us to work together for a better more harmonious life, not to constantly be telling them what to do. I feel we do have this.  Some days better than others but perhaps when you are having trouble with your dog take some time to sit back and see what your dog is trying to tell you.

Happy New Year

Elly