Last night I went to the Rec after class got out. I got in about 4:30 and it was farkin’ insane. Parking was a nightmare and there were people everywhere. Everywhere! Lots of little girls in lots of makeup and updos and sorority shirts. Erghhhh…While I worked out, I watched Oprah and the show was about spoiled kids and their parents. I’m convinced that about 80% of all American parents are shitty and stupid. This one mom (divorced single mom) bought her 4 year old thousands of dollars worth of Barbies, American Girl dolls, got her a biweekly manicure and pedicure (she’s four!) and all this other shit. She said she didn’t think she was parenting out of guilt, yet she felt awful that she had to work full time and couldn’t be with her kid. I’m not pathologizing her or anything, but what motivates her to spoil the hell out of her kid if not guilt? Just admit it!
Today I’m not going to the gym (unless I decide to go to yoga) and instead I will take Brubeck for a nice walk. He’s been such a good boy lately since we switched our approach with him. We’re training him not to get on the furniture or to lick our plates after we finish (no joke). We have a spray bottle w/ water that we use when he misbehaves and so far it’s been very effective. He used to jump on Scott, bite him, hump his leg, etc. He hasn’t done that in almost a week now. I think if we combine lots of rewards with a small amount of punishment (water bottle), he’ll be a better dog. He’s got a sweet temperament, but those who have met him (
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)know that he has a huge naughty streak. We’re working on getting rid of that without getting rid of his overall good nature.
Is it 10:15 already? Score!!!!
i’ll do it!
1. Which Harry Potter book is your favorite? Why?
2. How has SAI affected your life?
3. What is your favorite weekend vacation spot in PA?
4. If you could play any other instrument besides what you already play, what would it be and why?
5. If you were a color, which one would you be? Explain.
I highly recommend “Cesar’s Way” (or whatever the title is), Cesear Milan’s first book. It’s not a training manual per se, but it gives imput into dog psychology, how to have a balanced dog, etc. It’s been a really interesting and fairly quick read.
Cesar would say that those things he was doing to Scott were Brubeck’s way of establishing dominance over your pack (family). he also says that dogs need exercise, discipline and affection (in that order) to be most balanced. Obviously take what he says w/a grain of salt but I can see a difference in our dogs when we apply his techniques (and when we slack off!)
Yeah there was definitely some dominance going, because Brubeck doesn’t hump on me or any other female. I’m a little stricter on him than Scott is, and I think it becomes obvious when you see how he interacts with each of us.
Ladybug’s right about the dominance thing. I’ve done a fair amount of reading on this stuff as well (and I may yet pick up that book–isn’t that guy the Dog Whisperer?). Your dog sees your family as his “pack.” Every pack has a pecking order, and it seems that you are at the top of it (probably since you are the strictest on Brubeck). He won’t necessarily want to be the “top dog,” but he probably wants to see if he can establish himself in the place above Scott on the totem pole. Scott should discipline him as well, and let him know that he’s above Brubeck in your pack’s hierarchy.
Good luck with the spray bottle in the face. mmaguire00’s brother suggested that for us to use with Bauer (he uses it on Cali, his little Yorkshire terrier), but we know it won’t work for us…because Bauer likes to stick his head into the shower while it’s in use, and he licks at the water coming at him. It’s kind of funny to watch. We tried spanking him with a rolled-up newspaper whenever he would bite or get into something, but eventually abandoned that in favor of the hand (just because it was quicker). He’s very good now about not biting or getting on furniture without permission. For the time being, at least, our biggest problem is making sure mmaguire00’s mother doesn’t give him scraps or “human” treats…
-D.
You’re right, he’s the Dog Whisperer. And it’s funny, as I’m reading the book I can totally hear him narrating it
Yay, I’m Top DAWG!!!