[matese]

It's very hard to be firm and strict with these sweet, melt your heart lil critters. I spoil my boy rotten, he is such a good boy. His previous owner trained him very well, but,like a 3 y/o with a new baby sitter, they will see how far they can go. When I adopted him one year ago (11/12/13) he was like the kid with a new baby sitter,seeing what he could get away with. Me feeling so sorry for him that his prev. owner surrendered him allowed him to do what ever, also I wanted him to gain trust in me, not correct him for fear he would be afraid of me and not trust me. When I had dinner he would sit by the sink, about 6 feet from my kitchen table and hang his head, not watching me eat. OMG how awful I thought, how could anyone teach a sweet lil baby to hang his head while ppl are eating. I would call him to me, pet him, but not feed him what I had. After a week of this when I ate, he would sit by me watching but not asking for table food. (I always feed him before I eat). All my past dogs did this, I always felt guilty because I knew they wanted what I was eating, I never feed my pups while I was eating. So I decided it was best to re-enforce what he was taught and did for the 2 1/2 years he was with his first owner. I made him sit away from the table. I myself am very weak when it comes to these babies. I find it very hard to be firm, I have to force myself to be strict, and no means no. They have to obey commands, know who is the boss, this can be for their own safety. It is hard, I will be the first to admit that. All and all, Cody IMO is a very good boy. Being firm, consistent, using the same correction commands, he will get it. Now if you have a mate, that does follow through on what you are training to do!!!!! send mate to obedience school lol, that is a tougher one to train.