Someone wrote to ask when I was going to post more pictures of the Schmooze and if she was still a handful.
The answers are “soon” and “yes”.
She can be sweet as pie one day and then a terror the next. It may have something to do with growth spurts. We are starting puppy classes and I can’t wait. Scholars in Collars is the name of the school and they were great when I needed help with Sponge years ago. I remember one puppy class where she was out of control and they put her in the bathroom for a time out.
They don’t believe in any physical intimidation unlike the Dog Whisperer who says you should dominate your dog by leaning on them in a submissive position.
It hasn’t worked on my bitey Bull Terrier. Neither has ignoring her or time outs or grabbing her jowls.
She takes all that as a challenge and a game, and things escalate. Thank goodness I have a crate so both of us can take a break.
My trainers think you can affect bad behaviour by diverting the animal’s attention and then rewarding them for their new positive focus. Like everything that sounds simple, it’s hard to do.
We have next week off, so we will be working very hard on the nipping and house training. There are still the occasional lapses.
Schmooze is perfectly named and wants to meet every strange person and strange dog. Her boyfriend is a 6 year old golden lab called “Cooper” (not after Mike). She ran him ragged. (Again, not Mike)
Next week, she will meet Michelle Butterly’s St Bernard puppy and we promise to post those pictures.
Have a good long Caribana weekend.
Mary Ellen Beninger
