The Good Dog Vent

[RottyMom]

Ok ok I know this is a little whiney but here I go anyway...I had Chica out to 2 of my daughter's lacrosse games over the weekend where she was on her best behaviour. I try and take her to as many as I can...I usually have to sneak her in the back door of the arenas but no one has asked me to leave so far. So as everyone commented and ohhed and ahhed over her and her behaviour...one woman told me she'd never seen such a well behaved dog in her life Other people proceeded to tell me how their dogs were so hyper that they couldn't possibly bring them out and there's no way they were gonna just sit there through all the cheering and loud buzzers, whistles etc. I must be soooo lucky to have a dog like THAT and she's so calm and it must be so easy to train a dog like that...blah blah blah. Of course I did try to tell people how much time I spend with her each and every day. I work so hard with her and now it's all paying off, I can literally take her anywhere. I guess I just wanted to vent to people who know how much work goes into having a dog like that...people who know well behaved dogs don't just happen out of the blue.

Thanks for listening.....

[flyballmom]

Yep...you tell 'em, "Good dogs are RAISED not born!"

[TrishB]

I know what you mean! They ooo and ahhh - and in the same breath they ask me if I'm going to breed Parker so that they can have a puppy "just like him".

I go on to tell them about how we're now on our 4th set of classes, he's from a great breeder that took me 3 years to find and I go on and on about how much work I put into him.

I love every minute of it - don't get me wrong. It's hard not to gush about my boy.

But I make sure that I talk about how much time I have to devote to him and the commitment and hard work that I put into him.

If they ask me "Oh wow - when will you be done?" I roll my eyes and say "Never!"

[RottyMom]

Originally Posted by TrishB

I know what you mean! They ooo and ahhh - and in the same breath they ask me if I'm going to breed Parker so that they can have a puppy "just like him".

OMG that's too funny...one of the dad's from my daughter's team asked me if she was spayed...so I said "OF COURSE she is, there are enough dogs without homes blah blah blah...she is a rescue and I don't know anything about her background, health, and although she is extremely gorgeous she is one of those long legged slim types (tail included) and I told him she certainly doesn't even come close to the breed standard...and even after I finish my little rant...he looks at me and says "oh that's too bad you should have let her have puppies"

[Laura]

I know what you mean. When someone asks me to show them what I learned in Obedience I show them and they give me a smile and a look like is that it. I want say, why are you giving me a look of that's it, do you know I've been training her for 2 years and how much work it took to do this. This stuff doesn't happen overnight people. I'd like to see them get their dogs to do a stand. Thanks for the vent.

[debbiej]

thats so true, but think of the alternative! I'd rather people smile and admire my dog than than back away from her! hilda is getting a crash refresher course on what she learned in beginning obedience, next class starts next week. So I took her to my daughter's house for a small get together with the other kids. Hilda behaved beautifully. held her sit stay the whole time we ate outside. her good behavior was completely taken for granted. (except by me!!) when I told my kids "look how good she's being" I get "yeah mom " Well, I told people to look how good they were being when they were kids!!

[RottiMomCT]

I have been told that several people want a dog 'just like my Ben'...well, in order to get a dog 'just like my Ben' you need to be willing to spend at LEAST 5 hours a week training and working with him, and that's not including the little sessions before we go out the door, in the door, eat meals, etc...you have to be willing to take your dog everywhere, deal with incredibly stupid people asking really dumb questions, willing to take every step possible to ensure your dog is healthy, happy and well cared for, and finally, you need to make the commitment to that dog for it's whole life, not just until you don't want to.

Once I tell everyone how much time, effort and money (especially the money part) I've invested in my dog, they don't want one anymore...it's sad because they see the result, they just don't want to take the time to do it...they want the quick fix...they wonder why we still go to classes...

Ay yay yay!!!

[Squeaky2004]

We were out today doing some socializing and the comments I got when people seen Squeak and seen what she can do i.e. shake there hand give high fives, give puppy loves and talk, it made my head swell LOL. But then in the back of my mind I am always saying yah she does that but man it took alot of work, and we still have a long way to go...lol I still love it though. You should be very proud, it is always nice to see how our dogs take to being raised properly and trained properly. Go and shock more people LOL......