Me Dominant Dog?

At the end of the agility classes we often go for a walk in the park. Well - I do some walking, whilst the older dogs go for a run, or a splash, and sometimes even a swim. Tallulah is the one who really enjoys a good swim.

Today was no exception, but this time the water was nice and warm, so dear old Nalle invited me to join him, which I did.

See.....

This is Nalle and me










and me and Nalle!







Today, in the warm sunshine, we practised some down stays.










"down - stay" she said, as she moved away from me "down - stay"... hehe







"down - stay Tallulah and Lotte" a whole minute we did "down - stay". Tallulah and Lotte tell me that this is nothing. Sometimes we have to be "down - stay" a lot longer and then she disappears out of sight. Something to do with the Kennel Club's Good Citizen Dog Scheme I believe. Evidently mum thinks I am ready to pass my bronze award. I will soon have officially passed my puppy foundation, but Glynis has to award me with my rosette and certificate first of all.




"down - stay" hahaha



DOMINANT DOG
They say butter wouldn't melt in my mouth, I am such a good boy, learning my lessons and finding it all so much fun, but mum was none to pleased with me a few nights ago.

You see, I am growing very rapidly, and I have learned how to leap up onto the sofa. It is very cosy there. It was very late at night. She came along and said "come on Barkley, time for bed". Well, I glared at her and said "it's nice here and I am sleeping here tonight". She didn't look too impressed so I repeated "I AM going to be sleeping right HERE tonight".

Mum looked at me in a very knowing way. She then went to pick me up, so I stiffened and said "grrrrrrr - back off" and showed her all of my puppy teeth.

Now this is where I expected mum to run away screaming "oh my goodness, he is a dominant aggressive dog". You see I have already read the books on the shelf, and that is what they say we are when we do these things. So therefore, she should have backed away and gone away to think about how to put me on a dominance reduction programme. Therefore I was shocked by her response:
"yeah - you and whose army?" she bellowed.

"this army" I said and showed her all my teeth again.
With that, she carefully picked me up, holding my head away from her face, and then carried me off to my cage, " that's where you will be sleeping tonight young man - in your bed"... oh - but - but that really is not the way it should have been. Why hasn't she behaved in the way the books suggest?

The following day I overheard her telling somebody that Nalle and Tallulah tried this on when they were pups, but we have to be taught that aggression does not pay.

This has nothing to do with me asserting my dominance over her, it was my way of saying "leave me alone, I really want to stay where I am". Mum says that one day, when my toilet training is 100%, then she probably will allow me to stay where I am happy. I also have to learn to earn my privileges, they don't just happen. I also have to learn not to make demands, but to understand what is required of me. This is where she is being a good teacher.

The following evening, I got back on the sofa, but when bedtime came, I said "please mum, please may I stay here". She said "no, not tonight Barkley, I then allowed her to pick me up and put me in my cage. Last night, she just looked at me and said "bedtime Barkley" and I ran into my cage, because I now know this is what is required. I got a lovely beef jerky for being such a good boy. I do try to please, and I am learning that nice things happen without confrontation - if I choose it to be this way. I do love my mum.