Taking Pride in Small Victories
May 26th 2009 01:42
If there's one thing I've learned real quick in working with Wally, it's taking joy in the little successes he achieves. Sometimes, when he does things right, I don't really make a huge deal of it. I click and treat (if I remembered to bring each this time) and go on. Sometimes I see all the little "faults" in doing what he's supposed to do - I say "let's go" and he dashes ahead like a game is to start when I want him to just walk in heel position. He tries to sniff as we walk and sometimes "goes deaf" when he's nose deep in a spot. Things like that which aren't major or even unexpected, but are "flaws" in execution nonetheless.
But then reality slaps me in the face - in the form of other people's comments on Wally's behavior. Just tonight, I was praised about how well-trained Wally is. He was walking with me off leash. I was thinking - "that's...a big deal?" Another time this afternoon we walked and came to an intersection. I stopped at the intersection, he stood there for a couple seconds, then sat and looked at me. Got a click and treat, then I looked up to see a car turning in (they were watching him it seems) and the driver gave me a thumps up and a big smile.
Yesterday, a dog and his owner walked by on their walk and the dog barked rather loudly at Wally as he walked by. The owner said "Stop it! He's being a good boy and you should too!" He was sitting there, just looking calmly at the other dog. Now this, I was impressed with for sure, but still hearing a comment like that made me even more proud of him.
Other things like taking food from a kids hand, or accepting 10 minutes of "petting" from a couple young girls (they were gentle, but they played a little with his ears and tickled him, etc), or sniffing the air of a couple families that clustered around him and I because he's sooo cute and were asking me some questions about him. Things that probably are like "no big deal" are small, and some not so small (such as the families) triumphs for him and I have to remember that what's no big deal for other dogs can be for him.
Of course, there was the time he was (apparently) acting soooo cute for some young girls that one asked if she could have him!
Looks like I need to remember to notice that Wally's making strong progress - and to give him, and myself, more credit and praise.
But then reality slaps me in the face - in the form of other people's comments on Wally's behavior. Just tonight, I was praised about how well-trained Wally is. He was walking with me off leash. I was thinking - "that's...a big deal?" Another time this afternoon we walked and came to an intersection. I stopped at the intersection, he stood there for a couple seconds, then sat and looked at me. Got a click and treat, then I looked up to see a car turning in (they were watching him it seems) and the driver gave me a thumps up and a big smile.
Yesterday, a dog and his owner walked by on their walk and the dog barked rather loudly at Wally as he walked by. The owner said "Stop it! He's being a good boy and you should too!" He was sitting there, just looking calmly at the other dog. Now this, I was impressed with for sure, but still hearing a comment like that made me even more proud of him.
Other things like taking food from a kids hand, or accepting 10 minutes of "petting" from a couple young girls (they were gentle, but they played a little with his ears and tickled him, etc), or sniffing the air of a couple families that clustered around him and I because he's sooo cute and were asking me some questions about him. Things that probably are like "no big deal" are small, and some not so small (such as the families) triumphs for him and I have to remember that what's no big deal for other dogs can be for him.
Of course, there was the time he was (apparently) acting soooo cute for some young girls that one asked if she could have him!
Looks like I need to remember to notice that Wally's making strong progress - and to give him, and myself, more credit and praise.
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