Your worried about your eyesight – it’s been blurry. What to do?
I’ve had it wrong all these years – I thought seeking advice from a doctor or opticians might be the best thing to do, but I was obviously wrong. Instead, I should go for a long drive…
Testing something that isn’t working well by exposure to the problem in a way that might cause an accident – hmm. Not very sensible, to say the least. (And even his body language in that press conference suggested he was obfuscating – possibly even lying…)
But testing is what many dog owners do. And worse, they often repeat it, day after day.
Your dog barks at other dogs?
Test it by keeping on taking your dog out and seeing if he still barks at other dogs every time. (Hint – he will – and it will get worse)
Your dog lunges, barks and pulls on lead to get to meet a person?
Test it by keeping on taking your dog out and seeing if he still goes mad trying to meet a person every time. (Hint – he will – and it will get worse)
Your dog barks at every person, dog, car, cyclist, van or leaf that passes the window?
Test it by allowing him access to the window to see if it eventually stops. (Hint – it won’t – it will get worse)
Your dog runs up and down your fence barking at next doors children?
Test it by letting him out in the garden when next doors family are out playing to see if it settles down. (Hint – it won’t – it will get worse)
Every similar experience your dog has cements the behaviour he does. Practice produces progress – allowing your dog to practice unwanted behaviours will never, ever change the behaviour. Your dog will just get better and better at that unwanted behaviour and embed it deeper and deeper into his ‘normal’.
Instead of testing your eyesight by doing something that requires excellent eyesight, or testing your reactive dog by putting him in situations where he reacts, get advice and help from an expert.
Which you can do for your reactive dog by joining our Reactive Rover Bootcamp, an intensive, practical training based course which will help your Reactive Rover or Frustrated Fido become a Laidback Ludo.
I can’t help people with blurry vision, but I can give you clarity of vision with your reactive dog. Find out more here: https://www.downdog.co.uk/reactive
Keep training and keep safe,
Carol