I work with a lot of small timid doggies.
Many are so timid they won’t let you put on a collar, pick them up, sometimes you can’t pet them, often having house training problems, run away from family and guests, and sometimes just vibrate.
All the normal stuff you do when working with the average dog can’t be done at the pace or intensity most people would expect.
There is a lot of glory for people with dogs doing tasks they were specifically bred to do. They are big and flashy, and you can do all the things. You’ve got prey drive, food motivation, and other tools. These dogs aren’t any easier, you just have to train them differently. You can also get ribbons and awards and great pictures to post online for your followers.
The little timid doggies don’t get anyone any ribbons. No titles. No certifications.
No glory.
But they need help to be happy and workable pets.
I worked my third lesson with such a doggie this morning. On the first lesson, she started out being afraid of being any less than 8 feet from me and instead would go hide in another room. The owner couldn’t pick her up or get a collar on her. Forget about a walk on a leash. I left the owner with some important homework. Second lesson, we made some progress, she did come up to sniff me at the front entry, and we spent the lesson getting her to jump up on the couch to lay next to the owner. That was about an hour of work before she was out of gas. That week, the dog would then allow the owner to pet her on the couch. Third lesson, today, she was bolder to come see me at the door. She didn’t run out of the room where I was. I got her to touch my hands with her nose, to Come, Sit and Down. At the end of the lesson, she laid down at my feet to rest. She now does a head tilt when I talk to her, so she is trying to figure me out.
Very small but important interactive increments. Our first milestone will be getting her to allow the owner to put on a collar and leash, and to be able to pick her up (instead of running away).
We made good progress today, more than I expected. That is very gratifying. The owner recorded a video of me so she can try do what I did today.
These dogs require very fine adjustments with everything you do. Not everyone has the patience for this kind of work. Some owners lose their cool or give up. I’m fortunate for the students that choose to work with me.
There will be no ribbon, bow, certificate, award or news story for these dogs to celebrate their accomplishments.
No glory.
But that is ok. The results are the reward. I never got into this for ribbons and bows.
Plan accordingly.