Have you ever seen a dog this bad?
I get asked that almost every week. Sometimes the questioners are dead serious, sometimes they’re kinda, sorta hoping that they’re joking.
It’s a good question to ask, and we love difficult questions.
Rehabilitating “Problem” Dogs
Here’s the usual answer: You’re certainly not the only one struggling with issues like this. Your dog is probably more difficult than average. (Perhaps a lot more.)
There’s nothing wrong with this. It just means the standard approaches won’t work for you. You may need to adjust. The advice given by neighbors, which worked perfectly for their easier dog, may not work for yours.
This is frustrating. But you’re not alone. Others have succeeded and you can too.
You may have a little bad luck with the dog’s genetics. The dog might have had a tough upbringing. Or perhaps you fell hard for the dog’s looks before fully understanding the challenges of the breed.
Often it’s all of the above. (If only we were granted bonus points for striking it big in the difficult dog lottery.)
How to Handle a Challenging Dog
The world is not always fair. Challenges hit at inconvenient times. If we were weaker, we’d give in and few would blame us. Luckily we’re stronger than they think.
You may have wondered, on more than one occasion, “What have I gotten into?” In the end, we’re not molded by our fortunes, but by the challenges we overcome.
Accepting the disappointment is a good first step. There’s nothing wrong with saying, “This is not what I expected.” This tentative honesty can be a gateway to the solutions we need. We can still love our dog just as much. Love does not require dishonesty.
Fixing a “Broken” Dog
But we need to acknowledge that they’re not going to just figure things out on their own. If you have the type of dog that simply outgrows problems, you probably stopped reading three paragraphs ago. (If you’re reading just for the prose — bless you, you made my day.)
If we want the dog to change, we need to up our behavioral expertise. We need to teach what they can’t learn on their own. They will change us, hopefully for the better.
My goal is to keep you a step or two or three ahead of your dog. To take the pressure off you both. To guide you along the pathway to success.
We cannot change the past, but we can change from how we’ve done things in the past. We start with a step. And soon we’re on one heck of a journey.
Need dog training help in the Fresno/Clovis area? Let us know what you’re struggling with and we’ll get you the relief you’re looking for.