The Perfect Dog
Many dog owners have unrealistic expectations for their dog. They have a picture of the ‘perfect’ dog who listens and obeys every command then expect this from their own pooch. This can cause frustration and can create a wedge in their relationship.
The next time your dog does something which you deem inappropriate, think, have I reinforced this in any way? Common unwanted behaviours (such as jumping up) occur when an owner has unintentionally reinforced a behaviour. Dogs should not be expected to be the ‘perfect’ dog when we are not ‘perfect’ people.
The best owners are the ones who try to understand the root of a behaviour without blaming their dog. They put time and effort into training, their dog isn’t magically ‘perfect’.
Having a dog is certainly not a walk in the park. It is more like a run in a muddy, windy, rainy park. Every dog owner goes through some form of bump in the road. When this happens, be resilient and take the time to understand in order to get over that bump. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There will be another dog owner who is going through the same thing as you. It will make your dog and your own life a lot better if you deal with the bump right away before it becomes a mountain.
Know that training a dog is not easy so don’t be afraid to seek help and guidance no matter how small or big the bump may be.