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Originally Posted by Marhcarter  Exactly. I didn't know how to say this, so I left it alone. Thanks for clarifying. This is actually something I learned from watching Victoria Stillwell. I really like the way she does things and I can't think of a single time I have disagreed with something she has said, but there is no way I can provide that kind of consistency with training. It is not just my laziness, although I admit that is a part; it is mostly my 12 hour night shift schedule where I don't work set days and might work 3 nights one week and 6 or 7 the next. I have decided that cleaning up tootsie rolls and the occasional peepee is just not that big of a deal. Huey has brought so much fun and joy to us that it is worth it. Will I do it differently next time? You betcha I will. Live and learn.  |
I'm lazy with my dogs, too, and let them get away with a lot unless it becomes a problem or I'm correcting a dog's behavior in an area, such as slowly trying to become dominant and causing problems or not coming when called. Then he has to comply every time until he settles back into mostly being good again. But I make him want to and enjoy complying by setting him up so he wins and actually enjoys it. If you don't lead so that you dog is happy and wins, what is the point? Nobody wants one of those puppet dogs except in the military and service situations but they are usually rewarded with lots of fun and good, rough play, extensive exercise! I want a dog to be a dog and enjoy his doggie life. Putting one by on mommie is part of it! Pack leaders in the wild are like that - they will expose their belly when playing and being silly with most of the pack but the one or two members who they are in the process of teaching something may not get such frivolous treatment and the alpha is sterner in how they are treated until they get back in line. Then, when they are compliant and not really acting out, they get cut some slack and accepted just like the rest. There is room for lots of laziness in life and why not!!!