A TIP for Tuesday: FIRM, FAIR, & CONSISTENT DISCIPLINE, part 1

During my childhood I yearned for a dog.  The first puppy I finally owned (as a self-supporting adult) was a black lab/maybe-Irish-Setter mix.  Aero was seven weeks old, or so my co-worker said when he dropped her off at my house on his way to work; I think she was younger.  His female dog had unplanned puppies (a good example of why it is important to spay and neuter our pets), and his wife demanded that he "get those puppies out of the house!"

Although I had no experience raising a puppy, I knew enough to take Aero to Dr. Hamilton (our local vet) for a puppy-checkup right away.  Dr. Hamilton examined Aero, administered her first puppy shots, and gave me some essential advice:  "Be firm, fair, and consistent with your discipline."

The "firm" part of discipline I recognized.  Eight years in a Catholic grade school gave me more than enough exposure to strictness--my mother often told me I should have been a Drill Sergeant!  Fairness was another matter.  Was it "fair" when, in 1963, Father Hutting reneged in letting me become an alter-boy even after I cut off my braids as he suggested?  Were the nuns "fair" when our entire class got punished for the misbehavior of one or two kids?  I wasn't sure how well I would accomplish "fair."  And then consistency...doesn't that just mean doing the same thing the same way all the time?

In spite of not fully understanding the practical application of Dr. Hamilton's advice, I somehow muddled successfully through puppy-hood with Aero.  I think it was simply luck, although I did spend a lot of time with her.  Seven years later, Aero did a great job training my second puppy for me.  Stoker, a yellow lab/beagle mix, came from another unplanned litter (from a different co-worker)!  After Areo and Stoker were gone, I rescued my third puppy, Gypsy (who is some kind of lab/whippet/terrier mix) at the "Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo" adoption event.

Gypsy's intelligence and propensity to challenge me might have caused me to "over do" the firmness part.  I'm sure that much of her resultant nervousness stems from my early lack of "fairness," a direct result of misreading and misunderstanding her behavior.  Because of her intelligence, she needed something "to do" to occupy her mind; when she was bored she got into trouble stealing things; when she wouldn't stop stealing, it wasn't so much in defiance as much as frustration.  She wasn't getting enough exercise, and she definitely wasn't getting enough mental stimulation.  And whose responsibility was that?

I made the common mistake of so many other dog-owners--I reacted to my young dog as if she were a rebellious teenager and not the canine that she was.  First I neglected to meet her needs; then I misunderstood her behavior.  Worse yet, I failed to consider that my actions (or lack of actions) were sure to be misinterpreted by the dog!

Subsequently, I have gained deeper insight into canine behavior and not merely as a consequence of my personal experience.  I read about dog behavior extensively (look for a suggested book list in the near future), and was exposed to thousands of dogs on the job with Invisible Fence.  I was formally taught Obedience Training through the same job, and worked with clients one-on-one with their dogs in their homes.  Eventually I assisted in the development and presentation of the company's "train-the-trainer" obedience course.  Part of the reason I became a puppy raiser for the Leader Dogs for the Blind was to put into practice much of what I had learned.  Now, I'm still learning...from Leader Dogs!

This dog-knowledge has not only enabled me to help Gypsy gain confidence, I have gained confidence in my dog-handling skills as well.  I'm finally getting a better grip on just what Dr. Hamilton meant when he advised me of his criteria for discipline:  FIRMNESS, FAIRNESS, and CONSISTENCY.

Check back next week for more on FIRM, FAIR, and CONSISTENT DISCIPLINE.

That's me, wishing for a puppy (again) on my birthday.
Notice I still have my braids.

Photos: FLD Mike on vacation

We are less than 200 miles from home, relaxing in our hotel room after a long drive from North Carolina visiting Andy's son, Josh; we'll get home midday tomorrow.  FLD Mike did very well during this long trip.  Two days in the car to get there, two days to get back, and lots of fun and experience inbetween.

Here are some pictures of FLD Mike's adventure.  He's a happy pup!

This is Josh showing Andy and FLD Mike one of the big machines he operates and repairs in his job at the North Carolina National Guard maintenance facility in Butner.

I'm not sure FLD Mike is impressed.

When FLD Mike checked out a HUMV, Andy said, "Is that what it means to be a service dog?"

FLD Mike looked at us as if to say, "Does this mean I have to join the National Guard?"

FLD Mike attended Raleigh, NC's Artsplosure on Sunday.  As usual, he drew alot of attention!  FLD Mike enjoyed the ice cube one artist shared with him from his cooler.  Strolling through the crowds (and many dogs) for over three hours sure tired him out.

Here he is, nodding out in the van afterwards!

Poetry: "evidence"

We're away visiting Andy's son in the HOT south until next Tuesday, so my posts may suffer...here is a poem inspired by the walk I had with Mike as described in yesterday's post.

evidence

sometimes the aftermath

is like the grounded helicopter

blades that clog the gutter,

a spongy mass of organic material

compressed into geometric patterns

where water once engulfed them

          it takes a shovel

          to clear them away

othertimes, the result is subtle,

like grass clippings that etch the edges

of yesterday's puddles,

Nagasaki-silhouettes bio-chalked in green

yet barely seen

          a stiff wind is enough

          to blow them away

A Letter to FLD Mike's Future Handler

FLD Mike has not even returned to the Leader Dog School for his formal training, much less graduated and placed with a person.  This letter is in hope that he will become a Leader Dog one day.  If so, I would like his person to know about our walk this day.


To FLD Mike's future handler:

I don't know who you are, yet, but I'm sure that the trainers at the Leader Dogs for the Blind have selected Mike to be your new partner because they are certain that you and Mike will make a perfect team.

I thought about you yesterday while FLD Mike and I took what started out to be a three mile walk, but ended up at least a half mile longer.  On Tuesday, over one inch of rain fell.  I wasn't willing to take our daily walk in the storm, so instead, Andy and I took FLD Mike to Bass Pro Shop at Great Lakes Crossing after dinner (this is a fishing and camping supply store).  Heeling Mike around Bass Pro Shop proved to be excellent training.  The ducks in the little stream flowing through the store were a tremendous distraction for him; it took more than several minutes to get his attention back on me so we could walk by!

At any rate, the next morning FLD Mike was full of spit and vinegar.  Since the rain had stopped, I took him on a long walk.  Why did the three miles stretch into more than three and a half, you wonder?  Mike had so much pent up energy I did as much backwards walking the first mile as I did "heeling" him!  Per Leader Dogs instructions, whenever I feel tension on the leash, I walk backwards.  If FLD Mike wants to get anywhere, he learns to heel nicely at my side instead of pulling.  Eventually he figured out that I was serious and we had a nice walk.

As we walked, I noticed many sticks and small branches littering the sidewalk.  I know that Leader Dog trainers teach the dogs to guide their handlers around obstacles, but I wondered if that holds true for storm debris.  How treacherous a walk can be without clear vision!  I became aware of other things; often the cracks in the sidewalk were uneven.  Will Mike know to alert you about something like this?  Is there a safe method of stepping that prevents you from tripping over irregularities?  It is amazing what these Leader Dogs can do!

When FLD Mike and I paused at a corner, a mass of maple seeds jammed against the curb caught my eye.  So much rain had fallen that a rushing stream forced all the "helicopters" into a dam over the sewer grate.  When the water drained, the packed seeds created a stunning pattern.  My being able to see this got me thinking of you again.  I closed my eyes to feel the cool east wind against my slightly sweaty face.

Mike, heel.  We continued.

Everywhere ahead was evidence that rainwater had collected and run off; rings of maple "helicopter" seeds marked the sidewalk shores of dried-up puddles much like deposits of seaweed from waves on a sandy beach.  Some edges were easily discerned; others, more subtle, bore a closer look.

I wish you could have seen it.

May you enjoy countless walks of your own with my FLD Mike.

-patti