I hadn't intended to blog today. I wanted let my Cesar Milan post marinate for a while, but today I had something happen on my walk with the dingbat twins, and I wanted to share.
It has been raining the last two days, so we haven't been walking. For dogs that have gotten used to a 2.5 mile walk a day, no walk for two days is rough. Today, I took them out and they were both a little on edge. A bit anxious, pulling more than normal, but nothing terribly bad. However, I found myself being a bit more negative with them than I would like. And it wasn't working (duh) or helping (double duh).
I would love to tell you that I never use corrective words, but I can't say that and not be lying. I TRY so hard not to correct, but it is a habit. (I NEVER use physical punishment). I am better, but still not perfect. When I say correcting, I mean if they pulled, I caught myself saying things like "no sir" or "no ma'am." or I make my "duck" noise (that's what my husband calls it). I also found myself telling them to "leave it" a great deal. Now, they know that command, but I got to thinking--if I am teaching them to leave things on walks, isn't it more beneficial if I let them make that decision on their own? I want them to look at things and say "I am not supposed to get that, so I will leave it alone" not "I wonder if she is going to tell me that I am supposed to leave it?"
So, for the last 20 minutes of our walk, I said nothing. Not. One. Word. No commands, no corrective words. When they did something I liked, I gave them a treat. I walked them in silence and really paid attention to what they were doing. I caught Gracie staring at a bird and starting to pull towards it, but she corrected herself and looked up at me. Garmin got overstimulated by a car that went by, but he recovered and looked at me. All things I have taught them.
So, the moral of the story is, if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. You might just realize your dogs are more awesome than you thought.
It has been raining the last two days, so we haven't been walking. For dogs that have gotten used to a 2.5 mile walk a day, no walk for two days is rough. Today, I took them out and they were both a little on edge. A bit anxious, pulling more than normal, but nothing terribly bad. However, I found myself being a bit more negative with them than I would like. And it wasn't working (duh) or helping (double duh).
I would love to tell you that I never use corrective words, but I can't say that and not be lying. I TRY so hard not to correct, but it is a habit. (I NEVER use physical punishment). I am better, but still not perfect. When I say correcting, I mean if they pulled, I caught myself saying things like "no sir" or "no ma'am." or I make my "duck" noise (that's what my husband calls it). I also found myself telling them to "leave it" a great deal. Now, they know that command, but I got to thinking--if I am teaching them to leave things on walks, isn't it more beneficial if I let them make that decision on their own? I want them to look at things and say "I am not supposed to get that, so I will leave it alone" not "I wonder if she is going to tell me that I am supposed to leave it?"
So, for the last 20 minutes of our walk, I said nothing. Not. One. Word. No commands, no corrective words. When they did something I liked, I gave them a treat. I walked them in silence and really paid attention to what they were doing. I caught Gracie staring at a bird and starting to pull towards it, but she corrected herself and looked up at me. Garmin got overstimulated by a car that went by, but he recovered and looked at me. All things I have taught them.
So, the moral of the story is, if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. You might just realize your dogs are more awesome than you thought.