Sometimes I feel like giving up. I don't know if that makes me a bad dog owner or if it makes me human. Sometimes people think because I train dogs, it should all come easily to me. I should breeze through stuff. I should take it all in stride. I should wake up each day and look at it as a challenge and that I am lucky I have the opportunity to learn. And sometimes, I can.
But sometimes I can't.
I am having one of those weeks with Garmin. Yes, he is still making progress in some areas (we got by some barking dogs yesterday without incident. He got his nails clipped at the vet today without a muzzle and did great) but he is regressing majorly in other areas. His touch sensitivity first and foremost. And his reaction to fast movement. He is back to snarling if I try to dry him off (last week he was leaning into me falling asleep when I used towel on him--today, he tried to take my face and hand off. That's tough for a dog that loves the water and has to get dried off a lot.) We have to move slowly when it comes to brushing (can't do it with a regular brush. Bought a Kong Zoom Groom and have to feed him treats the whole time--but I can get it done).
Point is this: I am tired. And frustrated. And disheartened. Why? Because I do everything right. I reward, I don't punish. We work on positive associations. But still--regression. We train daily. Exercise daily. But--regression.
And I have been working with him steadily for nearly a year and a half.
My vet asked me today if it was because of fireworks--but there haven't been any around here yet, so I know that isn't it. His anal glands were full (apologies if that is TMI, but it is true), his fecal was negative. She said the glands could have been causing some jumpiness/sensitivity. Let's hope so. If not, we try again.
And the worst part is that my husband (who I love dearly) is now back to being overly cautious around him because last weekend Garmin snapped and snarled because hubby got a little too close to him when he was chewing on a cow ear. Should Garmin have done that? Nope. Not at all...we have been working on that, too, but when I saw we, I mean Garmin and I. I can touch him when he is chewing on high value things. But that took time. We were just talking last week (hubby and I; not Garmin, just so we are clear) about how well Garmin had been doing and how much the relationship between the two of them had improved, and now, BOOM, back to square one. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Luckily, he knows how important the dogs are to me, so he will take it in the best way he can. But he is still cautious.
And it sucks.
I would love a normal dog. I would love to be able to walk in public without holding my breath around blind curves. I would love to do agility with Garmin (he would do so awesome), but right now. I can't. Hell, I can't even drive a mile without him freaking the hell out in the car. And yes, we have worked on that, too.
I am tired. I am frustrated. And some days I want to give up.
But I won't. I can't.
When we are dog owners, fosters or even trainers we don't always deal with perfect dogs (if there are such things). Sometimes (more often than not), we have dogs that need work and rehab and time. Gracie FINALLY has started playing with other dogs on leash--and she is 4. Garmin is not even two yet. I know he can get through this, but days like today I wish I had a magic wand to fix it. Some trainers will tell you that a shock collar is that magic wand, but I know better. There is NO quick fix. No magic pill. You either commit to the dogs--or you fail them.
And I don't know how to fail.
But sometimes I can't.
I am having one of those weeks with Garmin. Yes, he is still making progress in some areas (we got by some barking dogs yesterday without incident. He got his nails clipped at the vet today without a muzzle and did great) but he is regressing majorly in other areas. His touch sensitivity first and foremost. And his reaction to fast movement. He is back to snarling if I try to dry him off (last week he was leaning into me falling asleep when I used towel on him--today, he tried to take my face and hand off. That's tough for a dog that loves the water and has to get dried off a lot.) We have to move slowly when it comes to brushing (can't do it with a regular brush. Bought a Kong Zoom Groom and have to feed him treats the whole time--but I can get it done).
Point is this: I am tired. And frustrated. And disheartened. Why? Because I do everything right. I reward, I don't punish. We work on positive associations. But still--regression. We train daily. Exercise daily. But--regression.
And I have been working with him steadily for nearly a year and a half.
My vet asked me today if it was because of fireworks--but there haven't been any around here yet, so I know that isn't it. His anal glands were full (apologies if that is TMI, but it is true), his fecal was negative. She said the glands could have been causing some jumpiness/sensitivity. Let's hope so. If not, we try again.
And the worst part is that my husband (who I love dearly) is now back to being overly cautious around him because last weekend Garmin snapped and snarled because hubby got a little too close to him when he was chewing on a cow ear. Should Garmin have done that? Nope. Not at all...we have been working on that, too, but when I saw we, I mean Garmin and I. I can touch him when he is chewing on high value things. But that took time. We were just talking last week (hubby and I; not Garmin, just so we are clear) about how well Garmin had been doing and how much the relationship between the two of them had improved, and now, BOOM, back to square one. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Luckily, he knows how important the dogs are to me, so he will take it in the best way he can. But he is still cautious.
And it sucks.
I would love a normal dog. I would love to be able to walk in public without holding my breath around blind curves. I would love to do agility with Garmin (he would do so awesome), but right now. I can't. Hell, I can't even drive a mile without him freaking the hell out in the car. And yes, we have worked on that, too.
I am tired. I am frustrated. And some days I want to give up.
But I won't. I can't.
When we are dog owners, fosters or even trainers we don't always deal with perfect dogs (if there are such things). Sometimes (more often than not), we have dogs that need work and rehab and time. Gracie FINALLY has started playing with other dogs on leash--and she is 4. Garmin is not even two yet. I know he can get through this, but days like today I wish I had a magic wand to fix it. Some trainers will tell you that a shock collar is that magic wand, but I know better. There is NO quick fix. No magic pill. You either commit to the dogs--or you fail them.
And I don't know how to fail.