Helen’s pet, Benny, was super well-behaved, a great ambassador for his species, and, as every successful student will agree, “a pleasure to have in the class.” Benny was the best kind of dog that would rest his head on one child with a developmental disability whenever he was in classrooms. He was able to keep his mouth and paws away from a celebration with food and drinks placed on the floor or tables He never barks or snorted, and even slept throughout storms. In short, he was extremely unique.
As the instructor in his intermediate class of training and of his games and tricks class, I was able to see that he was as simple for me to teach as any dog I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and could have been a great pet, completely free of bad habits, and without any form of training. Benny was among the rare breeds of dogs that can help any instructor look great. Helen was unaware of the fact that Benny was somewhat of an anomaly until after his death and she decided to adopt her second pet, Miro.
Miro was in no way difficult for dogs as they are however, he was normal and distinct from Benny. Miro was a bit challenging in his attempt to toilet train but not too challenging. He barked, chewed, and jumped up on people. He was mouthy, had a snort, was in search of snacks in purses, and pulled off a leash long enough so that walking was uncomfortable. Although Helen would have liked to examine herself and say: “OK, so, what do I have to be doing wrong?” the reality was, in this instance, absolutely nothing. They will definitely respond to training, However, every dog is unique.
Dogs Are Who They Are
I would like everyone to understand the uniqueness of dogs, and what that means in terms of their behavior. Helen has learned this lesson, yet most dog owners don’t realize they must. A lifetime of love and care will not transform a dog suffering from difficulties controlling its impulses, high-arousal problems, or anxiety into a pet that can serve as an effective assistance dog.
A lot of people are told that if they simply train their dog more effectively or encourage their dog more, they can transform their dog into any kind of dog they want however, I’m not convinced of that. This type of argument does much harm to the people who live it; it can make them feel like they are failing which is unfair. Dog owners may have taught their dogs a great job however each dog responds in a different way to the same quantity and training method.
Many trainers are aware of the significance of each dog’s own individuality. For every dog is able to be trusted by professional trainers on a leash in any environment there’s one that can only be trusted in a limited setting. Certain breeds are not suitable to be demonstration dogs in training classes. However, when trainers are discussing the dogs who have helped them most in their training, they tend to present their most difficult dog, not necessarily the straight-A student.
Patience — and Understanding — Are Key
In the past, my dog was slow to learn. It took me often several weeks or even months for him to learn something I taught the dogs of my clients in just a few sessions. I realized that the rapid development of new abilities was not an indication of my teaching capabilities; I could easily teach some dogs with lesser effort. It was merely a fact that my dog wasn’t an instant learner however anyone who didn’t realize that would have likely to have criticized me had they observed our slow improvement.
Your dog is special because they’re your child. Be aware that their character and how they react to training are exactly the same as their personalities. There are dogs that are not adept at managing large crowds or off-leash walks in the woods or even children trying to hold them even after years of training. Some struggle with their mouths, and maintain their barking under control or keep their four paws on the ground when greeting anyone. It’s true, of course training will improve the above behaviors, however, certain dogs are able to handle the training as naturally as they do, while others aren’t.
Accept Your Pup For Who They Are
It’s certainly a worthwhile aim to increase the kinds of situations they are able to deal with through training and modification of behavior however, you don’t want to alter who they are at the core of who they are -that’s why it doesn’t make sense to do so. The variance among dogs (whether the primary reason is genetic, due to previous events in their lives, or the typical combination of these two) isn’t a thing that can be fixed with training. Force your dog to live in a space that is uncomfortable for them, or in which they’re not comfortable isn’t going to bring you or them any good.
Whatever your situation, whether you have an animal like Benny or Miro or a dog who has severe behavioral issues, it’s essential to accept them as they are, as we would like any other person to treat us. This is the advice you should follow to recognize that your dog has an important part to be a result of who they were at the time they entered your life. The person who is, they are perfect in every aspect -prior to and following training.
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