This blog is a tribute to Belle, and all the dogs who have come before and after. They are my friends, my companions, my teachers and my students. They bring me both joy and heartache, laughter and tears. There is nothing as sweet as the smell of puppy breathe, and nothing as sad as the final goodbye.
Ziggy was a terror when I first met him last year. Biting
guests as they entered his home, or once in, if they dared to get up from a
chair or make any sudden movement. He also felt it was his responsibility to
bark at anything that walked past his house. A typical fear biter who for many
years practiced his craft on a daily basis.
Fortunately Ziggy had committed owners who worked diligently
at his training and Ziggy learned a better, more appropriate way to handle his
fear. As often happens, because
Ziggy was behaving in a calm respectful manner, his owners over time became
lazy with his training and so predictably, his bad behaviors started
reappearing. Dogs, like people will, over time, revert back to old comfortable behaviors
unless the new behaviors are reinforced on a daily basis.
The owners have a toddler running around the house and a new
baby on the way. They were worried that Ziggy would bite their child. I was
called back to help them get Ziggy back on track. Ziggy was a willing student
who remembered his lessons well but needed the gentle guidance of his owners to
remind him of what was acceptable and what was not. I came at first weekly,
then every other week, and finally once a month for a few months mostly as an
incentive for the owners to keep up with the training. We had our last lesson
last night. The new baby is due in September. Ziggy was unperturbed by the
constant motion of the adorable toddler and happily went to his raised platform
when told to go to place to get out of her way. I think this family has learned
how important it is to keep up with the training and I believe they will
continue.
Good luck little man.
It
was a pleasure working with you!
The owners have a toddler running around the house and a new
baby on the way. They were worried that Ziggy would bite their child. I was
called back to help them get Ziggy back on track. Ziggy was a willing student
who remembered his lessons well but needed the gentle guidance of his owners to
remind him of what was acceptable and what was not. I came at first weekly,
then every other week, and finally once a month for a few months mostly as an
incentive for the owners to keep up with the training. We had our last lesson
last night. The new baby is due in September. Ziggy was unperturbed by the
constant motion of the adorable toddler and happily went to his raised platform
when told to go to place to get out of her way. I think this family has learned
how important it is to keep up with the training and I believe they will
continue. 
