Little fun and excitement yesterday.
Mrs. LaFluer needed help with her newly adopted dog.
Being a lifelong dog lover, she had small dogs all of her life. This time she adopted a puppy and was told he would be on the small side. Now with a 60 LB. ball of energy, she needed help.
She made a smart move and called in a top dog training specialist (me) to help bring him under control.
I was there for about five minutes and even with all my expertise, experience and unlimited knowledge of Canis lupus familiaris, I knew I would not be able to help this lady.
How can this be true?
How can the Amazing Dog Training Man (GASP) fail to help?
See, it wasn’t the dog, it wasn’t Mrs. LaFluer, it was…..
…..the son!
The son was in college and living at home. He walked into the room and when the dog went to him and jumped the son said:
“Get your stinking paws off me!”
He sounded just like Charlton Heston in Planet of the Apes and just needed to add: “You damned dirty ape.”
I then watched Junior interact with the dog and asked if I could show him a few things. His attitude towards me, the dog and his mother was a little shocking.
I asked Mrs. Lafluer to follow me outside so I could talk to her. I explained that her dog was very nice and could be taught good manners with just a few lessons.
The problem I explained was NOT her dog. The problem was her son. Any training would be ruined by him. I added that consistency is very important with training and everyone in the house has to be on the same page.
She nodded her head and said she understood. She thanked me for coming and turned to go back in the house.
Before she entered the house I said I was going to send her my Good K9 Manners program. I let her know that the behaviors she was dealing with could be stopped using the techniques I show on the course.
If she could get her son to follow along she would be golden.
This is what I sent:
Best,
Eric