And she wasn't any trouble! Nuala returned to the pack yesterday after her week of vacation. When her family is away, Nuala gets to go to the doggie spa for the week...actually, I think it is a ranch that she is sent to. In the past, our first day back with her has been problematic, but this time I was prepared.
Terriers in general are pretty smart dogs. They are much like two year olds, boundary testing is their job. If you stay on top of them they can be fantastic but if they notice a chink in your resolve, if just one time they don't have to follow the rules, then things can go a bit haywire. For example, if you must sit before going through a doorway...you have to sit EVERY time. The first time a door is magically opened for you while you are still on all fours, then you don't have to sit anymore, ever - because who would want to.
Nuala is like that after a week at the spa. Why would I possibly need her to wait to have a leash on before walking down to the car...and why would she take herself into the paddock at the end of our park time. Of course I should need to "get" her (as if I could catch her)! Come has no meaning anymore.
Fortunately, we have been down that road before, and I was the one who learned my lesson. So Nuala was thwarted by a door only opened a crack before I could catch her leash, and a leash over the last 100 meters before we got to the paddock so we could leave on my schedule rather than hers. All in all, a pretty good solution, and by next week, I am sure she will be back to her usual stellar self...for the most part.
No comments:
Post a Comment