Little Bear
I’m thinking of writing a stiff letter to Life. I think I’ve been incredibly tolerant up until now but something really has to be said about the way it relentlessly interrupts my training plans. And please, don’t even get me started on its effect on my blogging schedule…
I’m joking of course, but it’s a nice thought isn’t it? ‘Excuse me Life, but can you just butt out for a while? I have dogs to train. We’re on a schedule you know.’
Curve ball
My mother was taken suddenly and critically ill recently and in the space of one phone call everything changed. Life jumped on us from a great height and we had no choice but to let it. Thankfully she made a remarkable recovery and when I returned home nearly two weeks later, (to a thorough telling off by Little Bear and what I can only describe as a giggle dance from Annie) the dogs and I picked up where we left off.
Surrender
I’ve used Churchill’s famous quote about ‘never ever giving up’ many a time and it’s still something that inspires me and spurs me on when I’m tired and down-hearted. I’ll never stop striving for the best for my dogs, but I am willing to give up on something – the idea that I have to do it all perfectly and that if I don’t, then I’m somehow letting them down.
If you have a reactive dog, let alone two, you know what hard work they can be. The dream is something most other dog owners take for granted; a quiet stroll in the park, a coffee at a pavement cafe without it causing a scene. It’s not a big dream but getting there takes a lot of work.
Little Bear and Annie have come such a long way. The work is working and we will persist, but I’m going to tear up that draft letter and tell Life that it’s okay. I understand. It has to do its thing and that’s fine. Whatever it throws at us, well, we’re just going to work around it.
The Little Bear Dog Blog 
I have 2 ‘reactive’ dogs as you call them. But just today, as I was making them sit at the door before going into the vet’s office, someone said what well behaved dogs they were. She did not know us. She did not know in 5 seconds they would be pulling and fussing lunatics. Take what you can. Keep the draft. You just never know.
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Even those short moments are so worth it aren’t they?
Yep, think I’ll tuck it in the drafts folder 😉
Thanks for the comment
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I agree with everything you say! I have a reactive dog and I am back at work, things keep coming up, and training time is much more limited. There is so much I want to do with my reactive dog, always an endless list of things to work on. But yes, we do have to give ourselves credit and say that it’s okay if we don’t get to everything.
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Indeed. We Humans need positive reinforcement and some kindness too! but we’re often too hard on ourselves – we wouldn’t treat our dogs that way! 🙂
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