As you’ll have gathered from my previous post, we quickly fell in love with Doug the Dog.
The next few days, though, made us realize what a big job we have ahead of us in training him. (Yes, we knew this, but realities are always somehow bigger when they arrive.)
Doug has a lot of energy, and likes to chew, dig, and bite. Yesterday, for instance, I had to do surgery on his toy Chicken (who’s a rooster, but that’s not as clear a sound). His throat was chewed open.
It’s not pretty, but Doug doesn’t care. And today Chicken had follow-up surgery on his belly, which Doug had torn open. (This toy was supposed to be chew-proof.)
We had some harsh words with Doug last night when he was digging on the couch, then immediately felt awful as his tail went between his legs and he looked guiltily up at us. Then, though, he did it again and got snarly with us when we tried to correct him.
What we’re trying to remember, though, is that he’s not being “bad”, he’s just being natural. It’s up to us to work with his nature, and to give him chances to win and feel good. We hate the thought of making him afraid or dominating him — even though we don’t want him wrecking our stuff!
He is generally a very happy and good-natured dog, and loves people. And when the trainer came around for our first session yesterday, he loved her a little too much, basically raping her leg for much of the time. But she taught us some basic skills, and it’s amazing to see Doug now able to do these things just within one day.
So there’s hope!
In other news, I’ve started Chapter Eight of the current book for Strategic Coach. Nearly finished another one!
P.S. I spent the afternoon looking after the dog while trying to work on the chapter. That was… ineffective.
The second I looked away, Doug started trying to chew the couch, the footstool, the carpet, or anything. So I had to come up with distracting games to play, which lasted exactly as long as I played them, then he’d go back to getting negative attention by doing one of the ‘bad’ things and get snarly and snappy if I got near him.
I don’t get angry often, but I got angry with him, and it was hard work sticking to the “positive training” thing and not acting on my frustration.
I guess he’s just bored and frustrated and has a history of people not being nice to him, so I don’t blame him. But… this is hard.
Craig’s home now for a bit, but going out to a meeting. I’m going to miss Comics Club so I can continue to look after this crazy little animal.
I’ve sought out countless YouTube videos, but they’re all trying to sell dog food or are being vaguely philosophical about this positivity stuff. I need emergency answers I can act on now!
P.P.S. Doug is finally quiet: I took him for a walk, we got back home, and he vomited up the contents of his stomach. Eating chestnuts from the tree in the back yard? Or was it yesterday’s coprophilia? Whatever the cause, he’s asleep now.
P.P.P.S. Now the dog is curled up like a pretzel on the floor beside me, and I’m getting today’s work finished.
It’s like we’ve got two dogs: the crazy, barky, defiant one and the placid, loving, snuggly one.
P.P.P.P.S. Craig picked up two Kong toys tonight. I filled them with kibble and peanut butter. THEY ARE FECKING MAGICAL!!! The dog is mesmerized while puzzling out how to the food, then continues to play and play with it afterward.
In less fortunate news, he is totally immune to the bitter spray that’s meant to deter him from biting furniture, shoes, etc.