A friend was telling me about her 9 year-old daughter who had just started playing football. “She loves it,” the friend said, “Boys and girls all play together and they have great fun. I’m amazed how much she’s improving even in just three weeks. The coach is great.”
“But my partner is almost more enthusiastic than my daughter. He runs up and down the side lines shouting encouragement and telling her what she should be doing – even though he’s never played football!”
I laughed ruefully. This is probably very familiar to anyone who has a dog.
Have you ever been given advice by a fellow dog walker?
I can understand why – people naturally want to help other people, and if someone thinks you are struggling with something, they will offer their thoughts. It’s well-meant. But it’s not always helpful, and it’s important to think carefully before you do as they suggest.
If your boiler breaks down would you do what a visitor said to try and mend it or call in a plumber? Several years ago, another friend followed what she thought was good advice about how to deal with a small leak. It sort of worked at first – but she ended up with a major problem that cost her nearly £500 to get fixed.
Should my friend’s daughter listen to her dad? He might give her some helpful advice – but she will learn more, and quicker, from listening to her experienced coach.
There’s always someone lurking nearby whenever you’re struggling to get your dog to do something you’ve asked. “You should use a slip lead,” one of our clients was told recently. “Hit her on the nose to tell her off,” was the advice another was given.
Our dogs are wonderful creatures that cope brilliantly with the odd things us humans do. And they put up with a lot, tolerating fumbling training attempts and trying to work through the often confusing and contradictory things we ask of them.
But they are dogs, and they behave as dogs do, sometimes doing things we don’t like. If you’re not sure what to do about some problem with your dog, listen to any advice you’re given, but always question it. Does this sound sensible? Does it fit with how I want to treat my dog? Is it likely to help in the long term?
Listen and question.
And it might just be worth talking to a professional instead.
Ask us if you want help with your dog.
Keep training and stay safe,
Carol