Posted in Bookshelf

  “That dog is going to sit on the sofa as long as he **** well pleases.  He already knows you are not going to follow through on your screaming.  Because dogs often perceive loud vocalizing by humans in an excited emotional state as a sign of instability, he’ll be either unaffected by your tantrums or confused and frightened by it.  He certainly won’t relate it to your rules about the couch!”

Cesar’s Way by Cesar Millan

Well just by the title of this book you can tell what I have been dealing with -- THE PUPPY (lol)!  I have to honestly say that this book didn't tell me anything that I didn't already know but it did reinforce the idea that good dogs require training.  Our puppy - Rylee - is a mess.  She really needs more work than anybody has time for but we so want a good dog, so I guess we have to put in the work. 

There are three basic rules that stable dog owner leaders should have:

1)  Calm - consistent - assertive - energy = relaxed, confident and in control 100% of the time

HA!  It is quite apparent to me that consistency is the problem in all areas of my life.  I wish that I could find a happy medium or at least be comfortable with being a free spirit.  Definitely an area I need to work on.

2)  Dogs are NOT humans.         

Well at least I can follow this.  I am soooo not the type of person who dresses their dogs or buys fancy toys.  Dogs are just that dogs and they need to be treated as such.  I think I can do this one.

3) When you interact with your dog, you think of it first as an animal, then a dog, then its breed and finally as your pet.

I sometimes forget but for the most part this just goes with the earlier rule.  Dogs are dogs.

“Discipline means rules boundaries and limitations.  Discipline is a word that helps (me) to stay on target, to reach goals and dreams.  If you’re not a disciplined person you become negative energy or a negative source.  It is my job to tell them when to wake up, when to eat, and how to interact with one another.  All that is a part of discipline.”

Whoa!  I guess that applies not only to puppies and dogs but little boys.  Yes, I discipline them but my own personal discipline is so lacking that maybe that is the negative energy the boys are feeling and  fighting about.  I just need to have CONSISTANT rules, boundaries and limitations – something I need to work on.

“Animals react to the present.  Dogs need corrected the instant the unwanted behavior occurs.  You can’t even wait 5 minutes before correcting a dog because chances are she’s already moved on to another state of mind --- and (the correction must be) repeated every time the rule is broken.  Your purpose is to redirect the dog’s attention back on you as the pack leader.”

OH this is sooooo tiring and soooo Charlotte Mason!  All day long with puppies and boys correcting and training.  I sometimes wonder if I was meant to really train either one. 

“Affection is shared AFTER they exercise and eat.  DO NOT give affection when a dog is breaking rules.  Exercise preferably 2x per day for 30 minutes, then discipline and then affection.  Walking the dog provides leadership - someone to follow.”

“Aggression develops when a dog’s issues aren’t dealt with, when frustrated and energy has no release.  Unfortunately such aggression always escalates if left unchecked.  Do not nurture aggression with affection or sympathy.”

“Dogs with low self-esteem are desperately looking for a pack leader.  They want to be told what to do – that is sometimes the only time they’ll relax.  Such dogs respond well to rules, boundaries and limitations.”  =UGH Rules, boundaries and limitations RB&L

“Dogs sense when we are happy and especially when we are happy with them.  Emotional, excited energy… needs to be tempered because it only creates more excitement and excitement in a high-energy dog creates excess energy that needs to be released.”

Well this pack leader doesn't respond well to RB&L but I realize that in order to lead my “pack (kids & dogs)” that I need more RB&L and less excited emotional energy.  UGH and somebody to enforce all of this.  LOL!

 “Anything that you can’t control and where there are no limits then you’re in a fixated mode… your not in control anymore.  The only way to gain control is by draining energy."

                Whose ENERGY?  LOL

In reality this book was good not just for training dogs but for also seeing and correcting problems in myself.  It is a long road but I am so thankful for God's grace, even in training puppies.

you should NOT allow your dog to

jump on you –

or anyone else

NO whining

when separated from you

No possessiveness over toys

No snapping or biting

no jumping on the bed to

WAKE YOU UP

No aggressiveness toward

people or other dogs

or household animals

NO INCESSANT BARKING