I need a rest.
The picture describes how I felt after my Mum recently took me to a dog training class.
Now, I reckon that I’m pretty well trained – I know how to eat, sleep, walk, run, shed hair, lick, leave bones everywhere, and look out for cats*. So why do I need any training? (Believe me, you do – Dad). Mum and Dad say that I’m not obedient enough (moi?), and that I can get a bit upset around other dogs that I’m not sure I like. They would like me to be a bit more responsive to their wishes, and to turn the other cheek when another dog disses me – which is quite often.
Anyroadup, my Mum took me to this hall in a nearby village, where a regular dog-training class is held. We had to do some of the usual stuff like Stay and Come, and then doing an intertwining walk around the circle of other dogs with their Mums and Dads.
Although I say it myself, I think I did pretty well. I did more-or-less what I was asked to do, and did it more-or-less when I was asked to do it. The treats as rewards helped, of course. (I’m currently trying to come up with a ruse to get more treats per reward, but don’t tell my Dad about that).
The trouble is that the man who does the training frightens me a bit. I’ve seen him several times before, I’m sure he’s a very nice man, and I don’t feel any urge to bite him. But he does put the wind up me somewhat, and I tend to end up a quivering wreck whenever I meet him. Hence the picture at the top of this post – I really did feel the need for a lie down. It’s hard that the feeling is so intense.
Why do I feel the way I do? Maybe I don’t like being told what to do. Maybe I’m stubborn. Perhaps I just want to do those things that I want to do, rather than what others want me to do. I’m sure I’m not the only dog like that.
And it’s not just dogs. My observation is that humans can also be pretty reluctant to do what others want them to do. Kids seem to have a particular problem with it, but so do adults.
So the next time your dog doesn’t do what you want him or her to do, ask yourself the question: “Am I more or less stubborn than my dog?”
*Other things I’m well-trained in: snuggling up to my Mum, putting my chews on my Dad’s feet, jumping on the bed, sneaking under the duvet, head-butting unwary humans who get too close, complaining if I’m left alone, and flatulence. I’m sure there are others.
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