Yes, I agree, Pip's mom is exactly right. I've been working with a dog trainer for several months and it's taken me a while to feel OK about ignoring them when they are in an excited state, but we're all getting used to it. It helped me when the dog trainer said what Pip's mom said. The dog's feelings don't get "hurt" if you ignore them. They have to learn that they are not the center of your world. So now I take the "nothing in life is free approach" whenever I feed them or even give them water, or anything, I make them sit for me. I won't let them sleep in my bed at night either. That took them a long time to get used to, but they're fine with it now. They're like kids -- they want limits put on them b/c it makes them feel more relaxed. Like they don't have to be the leader. |