Otter's Journey....

Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
@snowbunny , @Beanwood Very inspiring to read all this. I can apply the Holland/Italy analogy to many bit of my life, that's for sure.

Said this before, but... Kate, I have zero doubts that Otter will end up fulfilling her potential in full because you will twist and turn and keep wiggling through any barriers that come along until you get there. I kind of feel sorry for anyone who gets in your way, including vets and trainers. ;)
 
snowbunny

snowbunny

Location
Andorra and Spain
Emily_Babbelhund said:
you will twist and turn and keep wiggling through any barriers that come along until you get there
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This. This is precisely what we do to get through this life with the dogs that don’t do “life” easily. We twist. We wiggle. We make our way through. It’s a dance, and we get better at the steps as we go along, until we’re not just learning the moves from someone else, we’re improvising and making up our own dance.
We learn from others, but then... then we start to innovate, because we have to.

Kate, you are doing wonderful things with your IMDT training right now. I am so proud of all you have achieved so far, and am excited for where you will go from here. But let me tell you, there is nothing that will improve your skills and understanding than a dog who struggles through life. I cherish my little worry worts for everything they have taught me, and everything I continue to learn from them.

You know how much I love all of my dogs. My little angel Squidge is the bright light of fun in my life. She shows me what is normal, what it “should” be like. She’s a monster, a total hooligan, but she simply is “Labrador”. Yet there is something so incredibly poignant about helping a scared animal through to the other side, and for them to experience their pride in their bravery. When you can turn around to your dog and say, “I know that was difficult for you, but you were so brave!”, and for them to understand and to know it. Nothing can describe that feeling. It makes up for all the heartache and the “if only”s. And, not to toot my own horn, but every time I help the creature that I love through a difficult time, I thank the stars that they ended up with me, and not someone who couldn’t understand.
So I thank those same stars that Otter ended up with you. Because, for every second of heartache you experience with her, you are giving her back so much more.
 
Natalie

Natalie

snowbunny said:
This. This is precisely what we do to get through this life with the dogs that don’t do “life” easily. We twist. We wiggle. We make our way through. It’s a dance, and we get better at the steps as we go along, until we’re not just learning the moves from someone else, we’re improvising and making up our own dance.
We learn from others, but then... then we start to innovate, because we have to.

Kate, you are doing wonderful things with your IMDT training right now. I am so proud of all you have achieved so far, and am excited for where you will go from here. But let me tell you, there is nothing that will improve your skills and understanding than a dog who struggles through life. I cherish my little worry worts for everything they have taught me, and everything I continue to learn from them.

You know how much I love all of my dogs. My little angel Squidge is the bright light of fun in my life. She shows me what is normal, what it “should” be like. She’s a monster, a total hooligan, but she simply is “Labrador”. Yet there is something so incredibly poignant about helping a scared animal through to the other side, and for them to experience their pride in their bravery. When you can turn around to your dog and say, “I know that was difficult for you, but you were so brave!”, and for them to understand and to know it. Nothing can describe that feeling. It makes up for all the heartache and the “if only”s. And, not to toot my own horn, but every time I help the creature that I love through a difficult time, I thank the stars that they ended up with me, and not someone who couldn’t understand.
So I thank those same stars that Otter ended up with you. Because, for every second of heartache you experience with her, you are giving her back so much more.
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Those are lovely words @snowbunny. If only all owners invested a fraction of the time, effort and patience that you and @Beanwood put in, the doggy world would be a very happy place indeed.
 
Beanwood

Beanwood

Administrator
Lab_adore said:
I just realised that sounded flippant and it wasn't supposed to. I am truly sorry that you and little Otter are having a difficult journey @Beanwood
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No not at all! I NEED your humour as Jeez...working with Otter is bit perplexing right now. For example. OK.. working on mat right now, we did this as a puppy, and she is pretty good at this. We need to take it however to another level (more on that later...) I had a thought, why don't I get the remote trainer out? I can then reward Otter remotely for going to her mat. Taking it slow though. I get the RT out, set it on the rug in the kitchen. Think hmmm.... I don't want to cause any conflict so when she is at a distance, will turn it on, but throw a treat from a distance, so no pressure to come forward if the remote trainer is a bit freaky for her.
So this is how it goes, she gives it a sniff, then wanders off. When she is by the kitchen door ( a safe distance...)I turn it on. She glares at it. Comes over, bashes it a couple of times with both paws, runs away barks, looks at it, goes back and grabs the treat from the dispenser. I am left thinking....Okkkkk....think about it very seriously for a bit...then just start laughing!! I have no idea sometimes what on earth is going through her mind...:rofl:
 
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