Some dogs have behaviors that their owners find offensive. It’s not a fault of either, but more like a clash of cultures in the animal kingdom.
Take for example, one of my dogs, who happens to be a herding breed, and pictured on the home page of my website. She has several behavioral fetishes which clash with my liking. Among them, she chews holes in my sheets and pillow cases, as well as buries favorite dog toys, such as the Gus ball and Cuz ball, and neither a cheap buy. My dog also eats poop and drinks rain water from the back yard wherever she finds a puddle. Even though we have clean water in buckets available 24/7.
I adopted this girl from a shelter in New Orleans without a formal introduction to her. Just from a picture on Facebook and a plea by the shelter. It was me and my efforts or the gas chamber for her. No pressure, right?
Well, an organization called Pilots N Paws helped me get her from there to here. They are a formidable bunch of pilots who donate their time, talent, and gas money to fly shelter dogs to rescues who want them.
When my BC arrived, the moment I saw her walk, I knew she had hip and elbow displaysia, which has been confirmed by a veterinarian. But she’s a sweet, smart, soft BC whose quirks make me a better dog trainer.
So how do I deal with the behaviors of my dog? Through management, dog training, and behavior modification in my own back yard of Broward county. Dog owners have to keep one step ahead of their dogs when we face behaviors from them that we dislike. It’s up to us to keep the balance in tact and the dog training positive to keep our bond strong. It’s all doable! Dogs do what works for them, and do what they have to do because of their nature. They’re not trying to dominate us or take over the house and yard. They’re just answering the call to being the dog they were made to be.
If you have a dog whose behaviors are troubling, contact me. I’ll work with you to develop options to the challenges you’re facing with your dog, and solutions through my dog training expertise that will give you perspective and tools through humane-based dog training methods to make changes.
By Helen Verte
Certified Pet Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed, Certified Trick Dog Instructor
Dog Behavior Expertise, Broward County, Fort Lauderdale
