Dog Training and Love

When I was 10 years old Dad brought home what I thought was the perfect dog She was a beautiful German Shorthaired Pointer.   I know she was his perfect hunting dog and field trial dog, but she also became my best friend. Dutchess became the first dog I ever helped to train. She was my first obedience project but also my very own circus act.  But as it always does time moves on.  I guess I spent a lot of time looking for a replacement for her.

My husband and I have had a lot of good dogs. I guess all in all over the last 40 years we have owned 13 dogs.  From our first dog together a Min. Poodle Mignon, our Boxers, a Saluki, a Black English Lab, Drizzle, a Standard Poodle Jessica, to Shadow our rescued Doberman and Ben our Rottweiler that we lost 10 years ago at age 13. Even Dante our rescued Chihuahua, that I was never able to train at all but grew to love his very badness. He was at least 12 when we got him and the few years he had with us taught me to appreciate small dogs.

My last project was Absolute Scarlett a Jack Russell Terrier we got for our daughter.  Abby the JRT has to have been the biggest challenge of my life. And when my husband suggested another Terrier well lets just say I was nervous about getting into that struggle again.

But I have never had anything like Heddwyn enter my life.  She is ALL TERRIER a wonderful tough little dog that every guy would love to have around. But also my loving LAP dog that is always ready to cuddle and play.  I do not know if all Border Terriers are like her but if they are I understand the devotion I hear from other owners.

Maybe it is because she has been with me ever since she arrived. It is wonderful that I can take her to work and our life allows her to be so much a part of our time.  But I think it is also because she is just a WONDERFUL DOG!  She is smart and pretty tolerant of all of the mistakes I am making in training her.

Dog training has changed in the 45 years that I have been involved with dogs.  When I was 10 it was ALL about corrections Dad had the perfect hunting dog and I had a very well behaved playmate but I am not sure SHE was having fun.  Even when I was training Ben I believed that the only way to control a dog was with total CONTROL and maybe even a little fear. I was the ALPHA  and that was all that mattered.  I had very well behaved dogs. Dogs I was always proud to take anywhere. BUT with Heddy I have learned about training with love and FUN. 

It may take a little longer for her to figure out what I want her to do rather than me forcing her to do what I want when I want it. But I have to believe and hope that the lessons will last longer when she figures it out on her own. 

SO FAR SO GOOD.