Destiny is a sweet Pit mix whose owners are thrilled with her training progress.
“When someone comes to the door, she woofs twice and that’s IT“ said her owner. “Remember how she used to bark non-stop
? It’s amazing!”
“The walks are a breeze now. The leash is always loose, and she automatically sits at every intersection.”
“At dinnertime, she doesn’t beg at the table anymore. We can actually enjoy our meals and she’s content to gnaw on her Kong in her spot while we eat.”
“Except for one thing…”
How did I know this was coming? Inevitably, there is a “BUT…”
“Destiny always seems to be just a tiny bit…what’s the word I’m looking for? sassy? defiant? I don’t know how to describe it. It’s like she’
s being bold in a really subtle way. Like, she never lays right ON her spot; she’ll lie next to it. She’ll walk great but is slightly in front of me all the time. She comes to me when I call, but she strolls over.”
So, is this a bad thing if your dog isn’t at a precision-perfect Heel? If she chooses the cold hard floor next to instead of on her cushy dogbed? Is Destiny saying the equivalent of “Talk to the Paw?” And what, if anything, should Destiny’s owner do about it?
The ultimate answer is indeed with Destiny’s owner.
If he was hoping to do competition obedience or rally with Destiny then yes, the inch or two of dog attitude is meaningful.
But if Destiny continues to show improvement every day, is a happy member of a loving family who are able to enjoy her even more now that her behavior is so much better, than maybe what she has accomplished is close enough.
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