My 14 month old Portuguese Water Dog is in great shape. He's lean, he's trim, and he's STRONG!! Weighing in at just under 60 lbs, he's got the strength to pull down children, joggers, little old ladies, and of course, me!!!
He sure loves to pull..especially when the leash is in his mouth!! He knows that once he's got that sucker firmly placed between his spectacularly white teeth, there is no way that anyone can make him budge. (NOTE: husband and 15 year old son possess a power over my PWD that I haven't figured out yet...doggy walks exceptionally well with them)
Many moons ago, when doggy was but a 3 month old pup, we had taken him to a doggy training course. Even then, when pup was at such an early age, the trainer could see that he would be giving me problems in the long run. She would take me aside and give me secret tips she wasn't giving the other puppy owners in the class. Actually, one day, she tied the pup's leash around my waist. She said that if the pup could feel my movements, he would be better inclined to keep up with me and walk with me. I felt like a moron. There were all the other puppy owners walking like true masters, and I was the only chump with a dog tied around my waist. That did not last long!! I untied myself from the dog and tried to walk like everyone else.......
Fast forward one year later. I still can't walk my dog. He bites, pulls, jumps up, and always has the leash in his mouth (once again, let's be clear..only with me..no-one else) Walking him for 12 months has been the worse experience of my life. There has been no bonding. The only things he has given me is a twisted finger and tendinitis. Oh, I also have shin splints from the awkward positions he puts me in while pulling.
One afternoon, while contemplating the next 14 years with my tormentor, I decided to watch an episode of the Dog Whisperer. Cesar just made everything look so easy. Then, I really took notice. He was talking to a lady that had a demon dog. He suggested that she tie the leash around her waist. He did it with his own waist and the dog was walking perfectly next to him within a matter of moments. She then tied the dog to her own waist. Within a half hour, her doggy was the best walker ever!!!
So I thought, hey, my 1st trainer had suggested I do it, and then Cesar did it...what do I have to lose??
Yeah..TV, man nothing ever works out the way it does on TV. Real life is so DIFFERENT..
I tied my doggy around my waist and started walking. He kept pulling me on to lawns, up against trees, and out on the street. He tried to pull me in front of a moving bus!! He still pulled and bit the leash, but because he was so close to me now, he could nip at my hand or butt as well.
And so it goes, every-time I'm out walking, instead of holding the leash I have it tied around me. I just keep hoping doggy won't go after squirrels, that hurts the most as he dashes out at a moment's notice and the leash jabs itself between my ribs. Most of the time, though, I just look like I'm square dancing..do-si-do-ing around my dog down the street. He's got me round the waist and he's just spinning me...spinning me..spinning me....
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
Sunday, 17 June 2012
Sunday, 10 June 2012
Dog Walk-Moon Walk
So here's the deal. When I got my Portuguese Water Dog just over a year ago, he weighed all of 11 lbs. Although he was not trained at all, he was pretty easy to control. As Summer turned into Fall, and the weather got cooler, I started wearing gloves on our walks.
Then of course, with the cold Winter months, my gloves got heavier. Doggy got heavier also, but I had no problem holding onto the leash and trying to get our walks under control. He'd pull like crazy, but the leash always stayed firmly in my hand.
Then a strange thing happened...the snow started melting away and the weather started getting warmer. By now, (March), doggie was close to 55 lbs. As I started shedding layers of clothing to go out on our walks, the gloves got lighter. Doggie never learnt to walk properly with me. In the year that I had him, our walks had gone from bad to worse. He still pulled and pulled...he bit the leash, he jumped on me and other poor unsuspecting passers-by. He was getting to be a big dog who was completely out of control.
Back to the gloves. One day, mid-March, the weather was wonderful. All I needed to wear was a heavy sweater..no gloves! I took doggie out and the nightmare began. The leash whipped across the palm of my hand. I had horrible rope-burn on the fleshy part between my thumb and my forefinger. IT HURT!!.
The next day, I took him out again, no gloves again, and with all his jumping and pulling, I twisted the pinky of my left hand!! And so on, and so on..every time I would go out without any gloves, my hands would come back looking like raw meat.
Then it hit me, I started carrying 1 glove in my pocket. Ever time I'd take little pooch out, I'd make sure I had my cell phone, 3 poop bags, and my right glove. It didn't look too awkward in March and April. In May I started getting weird looks. By June, it was downright ridiculous!! I'd be in shorts and a tank top, wearing my right glove, and I'd be flying down the street trailing after my pulling dog!!!
Look, I know I have the Michael Jackson thing going on..you don't have to point, you don't have to laugh, you don't have to tell me. I'm well aware of how crazy I look...but hey, the flesh has healed on my hands, my palms are no longer whipped, and I'm practicing my moonwalk too!!!
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
Then of course, with the cold Winter months, my gloves got heavier. Doggy got heavier also, but I had no problem holding onto the leash and trying to get our walks under control. He'd pull like crazy, but the leash always stayed firmly in my hand.
Then a strange thing happened...the snow started melting away and the weather started getting warmer. By now, (March), doggie was close to 55 lbs. As I started shedding layers of clothing to go out on our walks, the gloves got lighter. Doggie never learnt to walk properly with me. In the year that I had him, our walks had gone from bad to worse. He still pulled and pulled...he bit the leash, he jumped on me and other poor unsuspecting passers-by. He was getting to be a big dog who was completely out of control.
Back to the gloves. One day, mid-March, the weather was wonderful. All I needed to wear was a heavy sweater..no gloves! I took doggie out and the nightmare began. The leash whipped across the palm of my hand. I had horrible rope-burn on the fleshy part between my thumb and my forefinger. IT HURT!!.
The next day, I took him out again, no gloves again, and with all his jumping and pulling, I twisted the pinky of my left hand!! And so on, and so on..every time I would go out without any gloves, my hands would come back looking like raw meat.
Then it hit me, I started carrying 1 glove in my pocket. Ever time I'd take little pooch out, I'd make sure I had my cell phone, 3 poop bags, and my right glove. It didn't look too awkward in March and April. In May I started getting weird looks. By June, it was downright ridiculous!! I'd be in shorts and a tank top, wearing my right glove, and I'd be flying down the street trailing after my pulling dog!!!
Look, I know I have the Michael Jackson thing going on..you don't have to point, you don't have to laugh, you don't have to tell me. I'm well aware of how crazy I look...but hey, the flesh has healed on my hands, my palms are no longer whipped, and I'm practicing my moonwalk too!!!
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
Sunday, 3 June 2012
Bye-bye, Martha Stewart
When my husband and I first got married 17 years ago, we had nothing..in fact we had less than nothing!! Mind you, it could be argued that we had 2 things: 1-We had each other, and 2-we had a massive amount of debt!
But, we got ourselves a tiny 2 bedroom apartment, and slowly began to eradicate the debt. Slowly, over the years, we were finally able to save up enough pennies to put a down-payment on a house. We did finally buy a tiny little townhouse. It was perfect for the 2 of us, and our little 3 year old son. The house was small, but it suited us just fine. We had a tiny garden/yard, and an even smaller deck. The deck was only big enough for the BBQ and a very small round white plastic table with 3 chairs. (The 4th chair had to be kept underneath the deck and would only come out if we had A guest!!)
For 8 years, we lived like that, but as our son got older, we started running out of room. A 12 year old boy takes up a lot of space!! We finally sold that house and moved to the one we live in now. It's still not the mansion of my dreams, but it will do. We moved at the end of the summer of 2009. We finally had a deck that could actually fit a real table and chairs, but, because it was at the end of the season, the only outdoor furniture we could find was either way over priced, or really really bad quality.
So, onto 2010. In April/May, we started looking for garden furniture. The only thing we could find within our price range was a Martha Stewart collection at Home Depot. Unfortunately, we were really early in the season so all the pieces weren't in yet. We bought the table and chairs, but we had to wait 2 months for the parasol. I guess it wasn't such a bad thing, though, as 2010 produced a very rainy summer, so we hardly ever sat outside.
In 2011, we finally found the matching chaise longue and side table. We found it in October. It had taken 2 years, but our set was finally complete!! Late in the season, but complete nonetheless.
Finally, 2012 rolls around. We've had an amazing year so far. It's been warm, it's been sunny, and I've finally started enjoying my garden furniture that I had started piecing together 3 years ago.
Then, last week, I tied my little 14 month old Portuguese Water Dog outside for 15 minutes one morning. I was running late and needed a little extra non-distracted time to fix my hair and make-up before I left for work. The dog was out there between 645am-7am. When I was ready, I went outside to bring him back in. It was at that moment that I saw the carnage. It took me a few seconds to process what my eyes were seeing. There, lying on it's back, was one of my Martha Stewart lawn chairs...one of a set of 6 around the glass top table. The back of the chair was on the ground, and the seat was pointing up. My doggie was on the chair, eating up every bit of it. In fact, you could not even tell that it was a chair at all. Bits of cloth, plastic and stuffing were strewn all over the yard. There was no cushion left, no backing, no "nothing". I could barley make out the iron frame.
Bye-bye, Martha Stewart...I hardly knew ya!!
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
But, we got ourselves a tiny 2 bedroom apartment, and slowly began to eradicate the debt. Slowly, over the years, we were finally able to save up enough pennies to put a down-payment on a house. We did finally buy a tiny little townhouse. It was perfect for the 2 of us, and our little 3 year old son. The house was small, but it suited us just fine. We had a tiny garden/yard, and an even smaller deck. The deck was only big enough for the BBQ and a very small round white plastic table with 3 chairs. (The 4th chair had to be kept underneath the deck and would only come out if we had A guest!!)
For 8 years, we lived like that, but as our son got older, we started running out of room. A 12 year old boy takes up a lot of space!! We finally sold that house and moved to the one we live in now. It's still not the mansion of my dreams, but it will do. We moved at the end of the summer of 2009. We finally had a deck that could actually fit a real table and chairs, but, because it was at the end of the season, the only outdoor furniture we could find was either way over priced, or really really bad quality.
So, onto 2010. In April/May, we started looking for garden furniture. The only thing we could find within our price range was a Martha Stewart collection at Home Depot. Unfortunately, we were really early in the season so all the pieces weren't in yet. We bought the table and chairs, but we had to wait 2 months for the parasol. I guess it wasn't such a bad thing, though, as 2010 produced a very rainy summer, so we hardly ever sat outside.
In 2011, we finally found the matching chaise longue and side table. We found it in October. It had taken 2 years, but our set was finally complete!! Late in the season, but complete nonetheless.
Finally, 2012 rolls around. We've had an amazing year so far. It's been warm, it's been sunny, and I've finally started enjoying my garden furniture that I had started piecing together 3 years ago.
Then, last week, I tied my little 14 month old Portuguese Water Dog outside for 15 minutes one morning. I was running late and needed a little extra non-distracted time to fix my hair and make-up before I left for work. The dog was out there between 645am-7am. When I was ready, I went outside to bring him back in. It was at that moment that I saw the carnage. It took me a few seconds to process what my eyes were seeing. There, lying on it's back, was one of my Martha Stewart lawn chairs...one of a set of 6 around the glass top table. The back of the chair was on the ground, and the seat was pointing up. My doggie was on the chair, eating up every bit of it. In fact, you could not even tell that it was a chair at all. Bits of cloth, plastic and stuffing were strewn all over the yard. There was no cushion left, no backing, no "nothing". I could barley make out the iron frame.
Bye-bye, Martha Stewart...I hardly knew ya!!
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
Sunday, 27 May 2012
The Chiropractor
In my line of work, I get to meet many people from many walks of life. Some people are quite fascinating. I learn a lot from them.
The other day, I met a doctor of Chiropractic Medicine, I.E., "Chiropractor". He was quite interesting. He told me all about his work..how he manipulates one's spine to work out kinks, cure sore necks, and adjust one's posture. He showed me diagrams of the spine and neck and showed me how he uses his hands to align one's back. Fascinating!
That night, after dinner, I took my lovely 13 month old doggy out for a walk. The weather was mild and lots of people were out with their kids, walking their dogs, or even just sitting on their front porches. My doggy loves an audience, and with so many people out, he just HAD to show them his chiropractic skills!!
In a split second, he went from walking calmly beside me, to whipping around behind me. He tried to pull my arm out of its socket!! He then whipped around in front of me...spinning me 180 degrees. Once I got my bearings, I realized that he had the leash wrapped around his snout..so when I bent down to help him, he jumped back resulting in propelling me forward with my arm outstretched...At this point, I was sure that he had indeed dislocated my shoulder. Fortunately, though, it wasn't my shoulder that was dislocated, but he had managed to sprain my finger. Dozens of people looked on, but because I had a forced smile on my face, they couldn't see that I was in distress!!
In the evening, after a long hard day, I sat staring at this ball of fluff at my feet. I pondered about his career as a chiropractor and thanked my lucky stars that he didn't want to be a yoga instructor!!!!
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
The other day, I met a doctor of Chiropractic Medicine, I.E., "Chiropractor". He was quite interesting. He told me all about his work..how he manipulates one's spine to work out kinks, cure sore necks, and adjust one's posture. He showed me diagrams of the spine and neck and showed me how he uses his hands to align one's back. Fascinating!
That night, after dinner, I took my lovely 13 month old doggy out for a walk. The weather was mild and lots of people were out with their kids, walking their dogs, or even just sitting on their front porches. My doggy loves an audience, and with so many people out, he just HAD to show them his chiropractic skills!!
In a split second, he went from walking calmly beside me, to whipping around behind me. He tried to pull my arm out of its socket!! He then whipped around in front of me...spinning me 180 degrees. Once I got my bearings, I realized that he had the leash wrapped around his snout..so when I bent down to help him, he jumped back resulting in propelling me forward with my arm outstretched...At this point, I was sure that he had indeed dislocated my shoulder. Fortunately, though, it wasn't my shoulder that was dislocated, but he had managed to sprain my finger. Dozens of people looked on, but because I had a forced smile on my face, they couldn't see that I was in distress!!
In the evening, after a long hard day, I sat staring at this ball of fluff at my feet. I pondered about his career as a chiropractor and thanked my lucky stars that he didn't want to be a yoga instructor!!!!
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
Sunday, 20 May 2012
Menthol, Please
In exactly 8 days, I will have had my PWD for 1 full year. It's been a crazy year, one of ups and downs, happiness and pain (mostly mine!), and much, much learning.
In this year, I've learned a lot about myself:
A) I'm a real softy
B) I can be a doormat to those big brown eyes
C) I'm way, way, WAY too interested in my dog's poop!!!
So now, I'm also wondering what this second year will bring. The 1st year (AKA the puppy year), I learnt that my dog has the will power of a superhero. This dog will never back down from something once he's put his mind to it. I also learnt that just because something is under 1 years old, it doesn't mean that he's not strong. In this year, I've been pulled, dragged, bitten, and thrown to the ground. I've also had my thumbs and fingers twisted and sprained...fun times.
I've been told that the 1st dog year is equivalent to 7 human years, therefore, by all logic, my dog will be a teenager before this next year is up. GREAT!! I already have a teenager in the house. He's a great kid, but my son is prone to mood swings, rolling his eyes, and listening to really loud music. I have a feeling, doggy's teenage years will be just as tumultuous. My teenage doggy is already picking up some pretty bad habits...between you and me...I think my doggy secretly SMOKES!!
Let me explain. When hubby or teenage son walk our adolescent dog, he never strays from them, always dutiful by their side. However, when I walk him, it becomes a game of "hold on to the leash", as he tries to get on every lawn, pee on every tree, and go into every public garbage can in the city. Now doggy doesn't like all garbage, he's very particular. But, doggy will pick up every single cigarette butt or discarded cigarette package he finds. I don't know where this habit came from! No one in my family smokes, yet, when out for a walk, in the evening, after his dinner, he likes to kick back and enjoy a smoke. If this keeps this up, I'm afraid I'm going to have to lock up the brandy.
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
In this year, I've learned a lot about myself:
A) I'm a real softy
B) I can be a doormat to those big brown eyes
C) I'm way, way, WAY too interested in my dog's poop!!!
So now, I'm also wondering what this second year will bring. The 1st year (AKA the puppy year), I learnt that my dog has the will power of a superhero. This dog will never back down from something once he's put his mind to it. I also learnt that just because something is under 1 years old, it doesn't mean that he's not strong. In this year, I've been pulled, dragged, bitten, and thrown to the ground. I've also had my thumbs and fingers twisted and sprained...fun times.
I've been told that the 1st dog year is equivalent to 7 human years, therefore, by all logic, my dog will be a teenager before this next year is up. GREAT!! I already have a teenager in the house. He's a great kid, but my son is prone to mood swings, rolling his eyes, and listening to really loud music. I have a feeling, doggy's teenage years will be just as tumultuous. My teenage doggy is already picking up some pretty bad habits...between you and me...I think my doggy secretly SMOKES!!
Let me explain. When hubby or teenage son walk our adolescent dog, he never strays from them, always dutiful by their side. However, when I walk him, it becomes a game of "hold on to the leash", as he tries to get on every lawn, pee on every tree, and go into every public garbage can in the city. Now doggy doesn't like all garbage, he's very particular. But, doggy will pick up every single cigarette butt or discarded cigarette package he finds. I don't know where this habit came from! No one in my family smokes, yet, when out for a walk, in the evening, after his dinner, he likes to kick back and enjoy a smoke. If this keeps this up, I'm afraid I'm going to have to lock up the brandy.
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
Sunday, 13 May 2012
Would You Like Fries With That?
My doggy's favourite day of the week is Tuesday. Tuesday is not only garbage day, but as an added bonus it's recycling day as well.
Because recycling is only once a week, the bins tend to overflow with stuff. Well meaning homeowners, eager to help the environment, fill the bins to the brim with paper, plastic cups, wrappers, and bottles. Now, this is a good thing when the weather is nice, but not such a good thing when it's the slightest bit windy. When it's windy, the pretty streets are lined with garbage. And, that's when doggy is happiest!! Walking him down the street is a nightmare, because he picks up EVERYTHING!!!
Just this week alone, he picked up an empty paper coffee cup from Tim Hortons, a bunch of napkins from McDonalds, and a pack of empty Export A's. His favourite thing, though, was a McDonalds hamburger wrapper. He would not let go of that at all. He put it in his mouth at the beginning of our walk, and did not drop it till we were back home 40 minutes later. I keep having visions of the vet doing blood tests on my 1 year old and finding out that he has high cholesterol and the bone density of a 90 year old!
A few days ago, we got a letter in the mail telling us that garbage pick up would be down to one day a week as well....oohhh what fun my doggy will have. I can hardly wait to see what other 3 course meal, followed by a cigarette my doggy will have next Tuesday!!
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
Because recycling is only once a week, the bins tend to overflow with stuff. Well meaning homeowners, eager to help the environment, fill the bins to the brim with paper, plastic cups, wrappers, and bottles. Now, this is a good thing when the weather is nice, but not such a good thing when it's the slightest bit windy. When it's windy, the pretty streets are lined with garbage. And, that's when doggy is happiest!! Walking him down the street is a nightmare, because he picks up EVERYTHING!!!
Just this week alone, he picked up an empty paper coffee cup from Tim Hortons, a bunch of napkins from McDonalds, and a pack of empty Export A's. His favourite thing, though, was a McDonalds hamburger wrapper. He would not let go of that at all. He put it in his mouth at the beginning of our walk, and did not drop it till we were back home 40 minutes later. I keep having visions of the vet doing blood tests on my 1 year old and finding out that he has high cholesterol and the bone density of a 90 year old!
A few days ago, we got a letter in the mail telling us that garbage pick up would be down to one day a week as well....oohhh what fun my doggy will have. I can hardly wait to see what other 3 course meal, followed by a cigarette my doggy will have next Tuesday!!
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
Sunday, 6 May 2012
One, Two, Cha Cha Cha
I love to dance. Ever since I was a little girl, I'd listen to my sister's Beatles' albums and move my little feet.
As I got older, still too young to understand that Disco sucked, but old enough to get together with my friends on Saturday nights, we'd practice our boogie moves in their basements till 8pm!! (Oh yes, I was a wild one back then).
The 80's and 90's was where it was at for me. I would start dancing on Friday night and not stop till Sunday night. For me, it was always about music and movement. I still love music, I still love dancing, but now I can appreciate other types of dance. I marvel at the Meringue, I love the Paso Doble, the jive makes me smile.
Now, as an adult, I've come to understand where dance originated. Dance is an extension of life, and depending on the people and culture of that particular dance, it can describe the life, loves and ills of a culture.
Such was my discovery when I finally came to the realization that my relationship with my dog is very much like dancing the Cha Cha. With my doggy, every time I make any headway, I just slide back to the place I was before. With my doggy, it's like taking 2 steps forward-3 steps back (1-2-cha-cha-cha). No matter what I do with him, any training, any progress-it barely lasts 2 days. By the 3rd day, I'm right back where I started.
This became painfully clear to me, after I had my 7th straight PERFECT walk with him. One week prior to our perfect walks, I had begun to step on the leash when he bit it. I did this for a few days, and it looked like he finally started making the connection between biting the leash and lying flat on his stomach barely able to move. I took him out on a Sunday night, and poof, the magic had happened. We walked perfectly together. Then, the next afternoon it was the same...and the day after that as well. From Sunday night to the next Friday, my walks were wonderful!!! I was finally starting to feel good about having a dog! For the 1st time in almost a year, I wasn't questioning why I had gotten one in the first place. I was happy!!!
Then, Friday happened. Friday was the day he was going to get groomed. I walked him to the groomer-but since it wasn't the regular time I walk him, he was acting up a little bit. He didn't bite the leash, but he was pulling so hard, I got leash-burn on my palm!! I dropped him off at the groomer, and a black cloud immediately lifted off my shoulders-I felt free!!! I remember having the very same feeling the 1st time I went out on my own without my newborn son-I remember feeling weightless.
I had a great Friday. I had lunch with my co-workers that day-something that I hadn't done in a year. I was never so relaxed. It was the perfect Friday. That afternoon, I got the call from the groomer to tell me that my doggy was ready. I still felt good because I knew that things had been looking up between my doggy and me. I knew I was finally able to handle him.
I got the the groomer, and my gorgeous doggy came out running. He was so excited to see me!!! He was jumping all over the place, he was nipping, licking, you name it. Now, in retrospect, what I should have done is ignore my pooch. I should have waited till he calmed down before we left. However, I was too eager to show him off. The groomer had done an excellent job with the PWD pet retriever cut. He just looked too cute.
So, while he was jumping and nipping, I put the leash on him and left. The walk was a nightmare. There was so much leash-biting, pulling, and jumping, that it actually took us 45 minutes to walk 20 feet!! This dog was in the zone!! Absolutely nothing was going to snap him out of it!!! It took us about an hour to get home-the same walk usually takes about 12 minutes!
When I finally got home, muddy, bitten and in tears-I put him in his crate. The second he went in, he fell into a deep, deep, sleep.
Two steps forward, three steps back...One, two cha, cha, cha!!!
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
As I got older, still too young to understand that Disco sucked, but old enough to get together with my friends on Saturday nights, we'd practice our boogie moves in their basements till 8pm!! (Oh yes, I was a wild one back then).
The 80's and 90's was where it was at for me. I would start dancing on Friday night and not stop till Sunday night. For me, it was always about music and movement. I still love music, I still love dancing, but now I can appreciate other types of dance. I marvel at the Meringue, I love the Paso Doble, the jive makes me smile.
Now, as an adult, I've come to understand where dance originated. Dance is an extension of life, and depending on the people and culture of that particular dance, it can describe the life, loves and ills of a culture.
Such was my discovery when I finally came to the realization that my relationship with my dog is very much like dancing the Cha Cha. With my doggy, every time I make any headway, I just slide back to the place I was before. With my doggy, it's like taking 2 steps forward-3 steps back (1-2-cha-cha-cha). No matter what I do with him, any training, any progress-it barely lasts 2 days. By the 3rd day, I'm right back where I started.
This became painfully clear to me, after I had my 7th straight PERFECT walk with him. One week prior to our perfect walks, I had begun to step on the leash when he bit it. I did this for a few days, and it looked like he finally started making the connection between biting the leash and lying flat on his stomach barely able to move. I took him out on a Sunday night, and poof, the magic had happened. We walked perfectly together. Then, the next afternoon it was the same...and the day after that as well. From Sunday night to the next Friday, my walks were wonderful!!! I was finally starting to feel good about having a dog! For the 1st time in almost a year, I wasn't questioning why I had gotten one in the first place. I was happy!!!
Then, Friday happened. Friday was the day he was going to get groomed. I walked him to the groomer-but since it wasn't the regular time I walk him, he was acting up a little bit. He didn't bite the leash, but he was pulling so hard, I got leash-burn on my palm!! I dropped him off at the groomer, and a black cloud immediately lifted off my shoulders-I felt free!!! I remember having the very same feeling the 1st time I went out on my own without my newborn son-I remember feeling weightless.
I had a great Friday. I had lunch with my co-workers that day-something that I hadn't done in a year. I was never so relaxed. It was the perfect Friday. That afternoon, I got the call from the groomer to tell me that my doggy was ready. I still felt good because I knew that things had been looking up between my doggy and me. I knew I was finally able to handle him.
I got the the groomer, and my gorgeous doggy came out running. He was so excited to see me!!! He was jumping all over the place, he was nipping, licking, you name it. Now, in retrospect, what I should have done is ignore my pooch. I should have waited till he calmed down before we left. However, I was too eager to show him off. The groomer had done an excellent job with the PWD pet retriever cut. He just looked too cute.
So, while he was jumping and nipping, I put the leash on him and left. The walk was a nightmare. There was so much leash-biting, pulling, and jumping, that it actually took us 45 minutes to walk 20 feet!! This dog was in the zone!! Absolutely nothing was going to snap him out of it!!! It took us about an hour to get home-the same walk usually takes about 12 minutes!
When I finally got home, muddy, bitten and in tears-I put him in his crate. The second he went in, he fell into a deep, deep, sleep.
Two steps forward, three steps back...One, two cha, cha, cha!!!
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