Shake. Roll over. Dance. Ruby performs tricks like a trained circus dog…when she is in the mood. She comes when called…if she feels so inclined. She fetches the ball and drops it at my feet…then quickly snatches it back before I can retrieve it. I’d never make it as a professional dog trainer.
We read highly touted dog training books, watched podcasts, and received tips from canine experts. Feeling a bit like we were drinking from a fire hose, we tried to digest the information and implement the instructions…with only marginal success.
They say each person has a specific type of “love language.” Apparently, the same is true for dogs. Ruby’s love language is anything edible. Food is a far more effective training tool than petting or praise. So, we purchased a surplus of dog training treats to reward good behavior, only to discover that Ruby preferred Costco rotisserie chicken. We could have saved a small fortune had we skipped the high-end gourmet goodies and gone straight to the cheap chicken.
Ruby is friendly and loves to explore. She flies out the door like a jet-propelled rocket, eager to meet new acquaintances – both human and canine. The first time she took off, my husband panicked and gave chase. Bad move. She thought it was a game. He’s a runner and in fairly good shape. But our little pooch has the boundless energy of a puppy, the fleet feet of a rabbit, and the fast-twitch moves of an athlete. She raced around our neighborhood, pausing occasionally to allow him to catch up. Then she’d deftly dodge his outreached arms when he reached for her and sprint ahead again, continuing her game of chase. After several blocks, frustrated and winded, my hubby turned around and headed for home…and she dutifully trotted after him. Lesson learned. Sometimes I wonder who is training whom.
