Demon? Or just toddler?
On the advice of Susan Garrett (championship agility dog trainer), the language that I use in referring to my dog can have an impact on how we related to one another. I've consciously decided to no longer refer to her as a "demon puppy", even when she's not doing what I'd like her to do.
This is a smart puppy. She learns even when one does not intend to teach her. Sometimes I need to turn myself on my head to determine what it was I did that led her to a conclusion. But there is puppy logic behind whatever that conclusion may be.
Monday morning when she was all over me with her mouth, including teeth, she wasn't being "demon puppy". I eventually concluded that she was "hungry puppy" who hadn't been eating her regular food. She was "bored puppy" who is no longer intrigued by her food puzzles and unwilling to put the effort into eating from them.
I have pitched the first snuffle mat, because she had torn it up. She doesn't eat out of her regular bowl. She picks it up and scatters the kibble all over the floor but doesn't eat it.
I had given her so many of the "higher value" treats over the course of the prior 4-walk day that she was not satisfied with the kibble. Kind of like feeding a kid chips all day and then expecting them to be happy with oatmeal the next morning.
Add "what has she learned from the various things I've done in training her"? She knows that when mom turns her back to "ignore" and Ember escalates by jumping up and nipping at mom, mom will scatter treats all over the place. Recently, I took to ceasing that behavior (on my part) and scattering her regular kibble instead. She jumps and mouths me some more.
She's also "frustrated puppy" when mom won't let her dig in other people's yards, etc. (You might call that willful puppy, or "being a brat.") She could be thirsty puppy if she got too distracted by the cat or a bug, or something and failed to drink when she had water right there. Or tired puppy who just doesn't know she needs a nap!
Bottom line, as when a human baby cries, or when a human toddler throws a fit, a puppy acting up may just be her way of trying to get her needs (or wants) met. It's up to the hu-mom to figure out which is which, and what's safe for her.
Monday report
Monday it was just too blasted HOT outside, so some of our normal activities were curtailed. We did a nice long "parallel nap" in the heat of the afternoon. Siestas were invented for a reason, people!
She plays for a little, then we go back inside to collapse on the cool kitchen/dining room tile. Cooling breaks, short outdoor play periods.
We did go for a "poo walk" at 1:18 p.m. in the heat of the day and I almost cheered when she dropped her plop in our own yard. By 2 p.m. we had hit the triple digits. It eventually topped out officially at 102℉ out there!
One last outing and Ember is tucked in Monday evening. The pool, that we got out to relieve the heat has been drained and returned to the garage. The garbage can she used as a teething tool has been put "out of sight" for overnight, too. We survived!
Life is good. Spark on!
Wow! What a compelling thoughts about how we talk to our dogs. I guess it applies to fur babies, too . . . if you wouldn’t talk to yourself that way, then don’t talk to your fur baby that way. For sure, we hu-Moms do have to really do detective work to figure out what the doggie logic is for what they’ve done! The dog whisperer, Caesar Milan, always says that he doesn’t train the dogs, he trains the humans! TRUTH.
ReplyDeleteWell hope it cools down and you both have a good day in Emberville.
Hugs
Barb
1cd
That's very true... it's the humans who need to be trained. Caesar Milan trains using dominance/pack theory, or at least he used to. Susan Garrett trains using reinforcement theory. I'm finding out more and more how many different little issues are debated in the dog training universe. There are those who say you should not play "tug" with your dog, and those who say it's a great game to teach bite inhibition. There are those who believe in punishment and those who don't. Eventually, you have to come to peace with how you and your beloved canine are going to relate to one another.
DeleteMe? I'm a "love conquers all" believer.
Yes, I tend to agree with you regarding 'demon puppy.' Perhaps that naming unconsciously influences your physical bearing in the moment, which becomes the energy surrounding your interactions.
ReplyDeleteWhen I taught (middle school and high school), it helped me with particularly tough students to look in their cumulative file at their kindergarten and first grade school pictures. Seeing their sweet little faces helped me see them differently when facing their sneering adolescent faces.
We have been high 90's triple digit lately, but that is not unusual here on the high desert. We have not cooled down quite as much as generally at night, which makes is feel hotter.
Indeed, a person's innate nature, or a dog's does not change with mistakes they make, even bad ones. The inner child (puppy) is still there. The angels that we see them as when asleep, are really there always.
DeleteHeat doesn't help, does it?
ALICIA363
ReplyDeleteYou made it! Sounds like a fine job with Monday, even with challenges. Hope you’ve got Tuesday well in hand, too. ❤️
Survived Tuesday, too, but sheesh, not sure I'll get a blog written. She's tucked in, but I'm tuckered out!
DeleteDH and I went to a 'show' at one of the casinos in Atlantic City, probably in the early 2000's to see Caesar Milan's talk show about couples relationships! I'll be darned if I can remember much of what he said but he was entertaining. I take a bit from all these experts and use what works best for me. Just like using different trainers in the gym, not all teach exercises that work best for me, I pick and choose the ones that fit MY training.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that! Pick what works, and leave the rest.
DeleteI think you are doing great and so is Ember for a little toddler. I remember a human toddler who would bite when frustrated when mom didn't get what was wrong. I also think you are very smart to change what you call her as the way you probably say it comes out in your emotions and they can sense you are not happy and feel bad too. That was really wise of you to twig to that some people never do.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement. She came out of the crate this morning as "teething puppy", and also wanting to go after the cat, who had been inside all night and I had just let out. Wednesday is puppy class day. Wish me luck!
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