Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Some People's Kids
You know, some people shouldn’t have dogs. They really shouldn’t.
So, I’m in PetSmart today because I’ve realized that with two puppies, I don’t get the focus on me like I need if I let them to roam free throughout the day, in the house. They haven’t learned that I am the sole source of entertainment, goodies, food, life. They spend about 70% of the time focused on me and 30% of the time focused on each other when I’m with them. That’s not going to fly with me. They need to learn and respect that when I say to do something, it is to be done and not look to their sibling to see if their sibling is going to do it before they decide if they will. Nope, doesn’t work that way, hoodlums.
I’ve only used crate training for housebreaking, in the past, and it works well. I also used it when the dog needed a time out; to calm down. It was her cave, she had a nice blanket inside, toys and no one was allowed inside, (meaning the cats), except when I crawled in to clean it. She often went in there on her own free will and took naps.
But I decided that crate training is necessary this time around to keep them separated. (Please note, they still get playtimes together but during initial training, they will be separate.) When I come home, I will take them out, individually, so that they learn to focus on me and what I’m telling them to do. It is because of that I found myself inside PetSmart today.
As I’m discussing training collars with a manager, this hideously stupid bitch dog owner comes down the aisle with her two mutts. These are small dogs and it’s obvious she doesn’t have a damn clue as to what she’s doing. So, there we are, me speaking to the manager about collars, my dogs sitting obediently at my feet when these two dogs come down the aisle. They see my dogs and start barking like mad. One of them is lunging at the end of the leash, barking and barking and barking and barking and barking. It is so loud, no one can talk. My dogs remain seated and stare at this idiot.
Now, I’m the alpha. I’m the pack leader. It is my job not only to train these hoodlums to be obedient dogs but it’s also to protect them and anybody who thinks that their dogs are not watching them every. single. moment. is a complete moron. If you are telling them to respect you as a pack leader then you damn well better act like a leader.
So after about 2 minutes of this fool dog barking its fool head off and dragging the lady closer and closer to us as it continues to lunge at my dogs, I finally get fed up. I keep myself calm but assertive. I step towards her dog and tell it to knock it off.
The dog actually stopped for a second, unsure about what just happened because it’s bloody fucking obvious no one has told this dog, ‘NO’ before. The owner does nothing. (As she’s been doing this entire time...NOTHING.)
The dog starts up again so I take a step towards it again and tell it to knock it off.
Now the bitch holding the leash wants to tell me, “Don’t get too close, don’t get too close, don’t get too close.” I told her that I’m not afraid of her dog and her dog needs to calm down. I told her that I will indeed step between my dogs and another dog to protect them, especially if the owner is not going to do anything at all about their dog’s behavior.
She says, I shit you not, “She’s in training!” THEN TRAIN YOUR FUCKING DOG, YOU INSIPID TWIT! She did absolutely NOTHING to correct this dog’s behavior. NOTHING. She says that her dog is not trying to attack my dogs. I told her, “I don’t know your dog and I don’t want your dog coming over to my dogs. You aren’t doing a thing to correct your dog so I WILL!”
Now the manager wants to step in and tell me to come on over to another row and we will continue to discuss collars. I say, as we go, “Stupid ass did nothing to correct her dog”. The manager says, “I know but I can’t have you fighting with people in the store.”
Ok, hold the fucking bacon fat, bitch. I remained calm and assertive the entire time. I did not yell, raise my voice or get angry. I was firm and I ensured the lady knew that I thought she was a complete and utter moron but I did it all in a calm manner. Yes, believe it or not, I did. And the reason is because I know my dogs are watching me. How I deal with people away from my dogs is NOT calm but in front of my dogs, yes, I am.
We continue discussing training collars and then, unbelievably, the manager actually had the audacity to ask me if I wanted to enroll in training courses at the store. Oh, I’m sorry, did you not see how my dogs were acting? They were sitting and behaving. They didn’t bark, growl or carry on like lunatics while this other dog lunged and barked at them. They sat and stared and did nothing. Because they KNEW I was there to stand between them. I looked her square in the eye and said, “I think we’re doing fine on our own.”
See, the other idiot dog and its idiot owner? Were taking training classes at the store.
Not exactly the best advertisement.
ANYWAY, (My GOD people are stupid), I got them some crates and then I got them a remote collar thing because I want them to stay out of my bedroom but the doorway is too narrow for any gate. It’s only 24” and I can’t find a gate that narrow. So this is the next best thing.
And yes they got their damn treats, too.
Got home, put their little crates together, put the memory foam mattress padding in there, (are these dogs spoiled as shit these days or what?), threw in a toy, a bone and a treat. Then I placed each dog in their respective crate.
Girl dog was NOT pleased. She whined a bit so I promptly ignored her while I put together their remote collar system. Because the Boy was behaving better, I let him out of his crate, attached the collar around his neck, made sure it was on, told him to sit. Double checked that the “zone barrier”, (a round thing that looks like a smoke detector), was on, range was satisfactory and then allowed the Boy to waltz on towards the bedroom.
He passed by the zone barrier and at first I thought it was a piece of shit and didn’t work. Then I heard something beeping. Then I saw him jump and yelp and run from the area I don’t want him in. Ok, that worked. I really didn’t want to cause him pain but I’m sure it won’t take but a few times of that business before they get it.
I then went and got the Girl. Repeat the process. I allowed her to walk over to the “forbidden zone” and heard the beeping again. This time I was prepared. She, on the other hand, was NOT. I’ve never seen a dog jump that high. And it must have hurt her because that wasn’t a surprise yelp like with the Boy. Shit. I hate doing that but it’s for their safety as well as the cats. Like I said, I tried to find a gate first. I spent weeks searching for gates but none are narrow enough. What else can I do? I can’t keep them in the crate 24/7.
I then decided to put them back in the crates for some crash course training today, my last day of vacation. When I started typing this entry, the Girl was in her crate throwing an all out fit, screaming, barking, tearing at the padding, slamming herself in to the sides of the crate.
I ignored her.
As of 3 minutes ago, she finally stopped. And now she will be greatly rewarded. So let me get to doing that.
These dogs are expensive. These dogs are a lot of work. These dogs are young and still learning. These dogs were unexpected. But I am proud to say, these dogs are good dogs and I must have some clue what the fuck I’m doing because my dogs act better than 90% of the dogs I’ve seen out there, including PetSmart bitch, today.
And I’ve only had them a month.
