Heart Like a Dog

The Good, the Bad, and the Oh My God of living with dogs!

Follow Up Friday

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For those new to the blog, my follow-up Friday provides me with an opportunity to update or revise a post from the previous week.

You know sometimes you post about something and you need an update but it doesn’t warrant a whole blog.  Or sometimes someone made a comment that really resonated with you.  Yup, Follow-Up Friday baby! :-)

She’s At It Again – Author’s Note

So far I’ve picked up a LOT of poop.  Honestly, I’m embarrassed and disgusted that there is so much poop in my yard.  I blame it on Hubby who did not remove the leaves this year.  Yes, the leaves which were not removed by Hubby have been preserving poop, either that or someone is jumping over the fence and pooping in my yard.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

I’ve been trying to get out there and pick up the fresh poop every day.  It’s hard to go outside with them and pick it up immediately, you saw the yard, it’s big!

And those dogs are fast, so very fast.  They move much quicker than I do.  Heck she can get out there and snarf down a poop faster than I can get out the door.

I don’t have to tell you that it’s not always easy with everything else going on, but I’m trying.  I admonish her too when she steps outside, “No eating poop, you hear me?”

But we all know how well she listens to me. 🙂

The Dog I Need – Author’s Note

Well really I feel like I can’t even comment on this, based upon the posts that followed less than 48 hours later.

Coconut Oil – Author’s Note

I sautéed asparagus in coconut oil the other night, with just a little bit of garlic and it was yummo!

Coconut oil, it’s not just for dogs.

Oh and I also noticed something Koly pointed out, Sampson’s breath was really fresh.  It didn’t smell nasty at all, and it was in the morning (morning breath, is there anything worse?) 🙂

Defeated and Lost, Parts 1 and 2 – Author’s Note/Update

I just want to clear the air, Part 2 was written IMMEDIATELY after Part 1, it’s not like I thought about it for days.  Or I slept on it overnight, they were originally going to be one extremely long post, so I broke it into two parts. The posts were written when the incident was really fresh and raw.  I felt discouraged, it happens.

Truthfully it wouldn’t have been nearly as traumatic for me if she hadn’t gotten stuck.  It was (for me) a mortifying experience, along with the realization that she could have really gotten hurt.

My friend Mindy gave me a pep talk, Sara gave me a pep talk and some suggestions, all of you gave me encouragement and suggestions, I’m back on track.

What these two posts showed me was what a wonderful and strong support unit I have in my blogville family.  I want to thank you all again for hanging in there with me and reassure you, I have a handle on this and I am NOT, I repeat NOT giving up on Delilah.

Delilah and I will be working tomorrow and Sunday and I will let you know what we do and how it goes.

Our week was a little rocky, but we are back on track.  How was your week?

Book update: My book has 18,346 words.

Tomorrow IS Another Day

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You’ve all been so supportive and kind to me over the last couple of days, leaving comments and suggestions.  I wanted to answer each and every one of you personally and I hope I have.

There was lots of great advice and suggestions in every single comment and I want to dedicate an entire blog post to just exactly how I plan to get Delilah and myself back on track, it just won’t be today.

My little grandchildren needed me, so this will be a very short post.

I returned the remote control collar to my friend without trying it on Delilah.  When and if I decide to use an e-collar, I will have a trainer come out to make sure I use it correctly.  I do not wish to set her back or throw off her training by using it incorrectly.

I have ordered “Lassie Come Home” by the wonderful Dr. Patricia McConnell and until that arrives and I have watched it, Delilah is on leash on our walks.

Her lovely 30 foot leash was cut short and even though I have another 30 foot leash, I went out and bought a 15 footer.  She is now much closer to me and easier to control.  It is a pain in the butt when walking with others, and so we may have to change-up our walking habits and walk alone for a bit. I am okay with this.

Much closer and easier to control.

It seems kind of mean to say, but as luck would have it, my walking buddy won’t be available much in the next couple of weeks which will give me some good time to work with Delilah.

The truth is, I had a bad day and I succumbed to frustration and despair.

It happens.  That’s how I roll.  I give in to it and let myself live it and breathe it and then I slap myself and say, “That’s enough, this is getting you nowhere.”  I pick myself up, dust myself off and figure out a way around the obstacle.

Right now off-leash for Delilah is an obstacle, so until I figure out a way to overcome it, she will be on leash.  End of story.  And I’m completely okay with it.

I want to end with thanking you all again for the warmth and love you gave so unconditionally, it really was like a virtual hug every time I read one your comments.

XOXO

Defeated And Lost – Part Two

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When we left off, I had just gotten Delilah free from her concrete entrapment.  If you missed that story you can read about it here.

I head into the woods where I unclipped Sampson so I can at least have one hand free and I wrap what’s left of Delilah’s leash around my hand.

We meet Kingston’s mom about half-way up, get into the field and walk to the area where we part ways.  I walk out to the car, load the dogs and head home.

I am defeated and resigned.  I am lost, treading water in a vast ocean of disappointment.  I am an utter failure in trying to train this dog.

After almost five years, I give up.  I’m done.

Hubby comes home and says, “How are you?”

“I’m ok.”

“What’s up?  You seem like you’re in a pissy mood.”

“Yup.”

Then I go on to tell him the story.

We talk about it.  Seriously talk about it. I am conceding, I am giving in and getting an electronic collar for her. I don’t know what else to do.

I thank him for not being an ‘a’ hole about the whole thing and saying “I told you so.”

Meanwhile, the dog that sprang from Satan’s loins will not sit while I’m in the kitchen.  After trying to teach her for 1,746 days, I’m frustrated.  I yell at her to “SIT DOWN.”

It’s time to feed the dogs.  They need to sit on the edge of the kitchen when I am preparing their meals.  She will not.  She gets up, she changes spots for a better vantage point.  She tries to advance into the kitchen.  My frustration with her from her earlier adventure hasn’t gone away.  I have no patience for this.

Then yesterday morning she comes into the bathroom while I am trying to get ready for work.  My frustration with her from the previous day has not gone away.  She comes in and shoves her head between my legs and gets brown goo (from Dog knows what) on my work pants.  I banish her from the bathroom and once again I feel lost.

Hubby says she is stubborn.  It’s not that she isn’t smart, she is stubborn.

So am I. I am not a defeatist. You can knock me down and I will get back up. Do it 100 times, I will get back up.  I might cry and rage, but I will get back up and I will figure out a way to knock you down.

Not this time.  This time I’m defeated.  It’s a horrible feeling.  I’m not quite sure how to deal with it.

Crying, lots of crying.  Which is another thing I don’t do well.

I have no confidence, if I can’t help this dog after almost five full years, then maybe I’m just not the right person for the job.

I’ve failed.  I failed myself.  I failed you, my faithful readers.  I’ve failed all the positive reward based trainers out there but most of all I’ve failed my dog.

I wonder if the rescue will take her back.  I wonder if this is the reason she was surrendered in the first place.

I wonder how people do this, day after day and still manage to put a smile on their face and accept the uniqueness that is their crazy, wild, untrainable dog.

P.S. This was written yesterday and I am in a much better place today, I haven’t put the collar on her yet (even though I borrowed one from a friend.) I want to order the DVD by Dr. Patricia McConnell and give it one last shot.

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