"Family dog" was a phrase that I rarely ever used. My Eddie didn't act much like a dog - he thought he had control of this household. And he definitely was NOT a family man - he would have preferred we left Miss Priss at the pound.
But that was before Jim the Dog Tornado.
After the first session, we were already seeing a change in my growly, furry toddler. To review, he's on a leash all day long, allowing for instant correction. We had to revive the crate, the most hated, reviled thing, in Eddie's mind. And a new rule was established - sit before petting. Like a stripper with daddy issues, he had to work for his affection.
Session #2 with Jim the Dog Tornado - walking.
Well, I mean, we all know HOW to walk. What we were learning was how to walk TOGETHER!
Eddie has never been too awful. Yes, he pulls - but that's mostly when we first leave the house. And he doesn't care much about other dogs. What he really wants to eat are squirrels. And rabbits. Not birds, though. He figured out when he was a puppy that birds can fly away and, seeing this as an unfair advantage, he doesn't bother with them.
What Jim the Dog Tornado informed me of, when the three of us stepped outside, was that dogs do NOT have to pee on everything in sight.
"They don't? I guess I always saw that as a natural dog thing that he can't help doing," I replied.
"No. Remember, he has to fit into YOUR world. If you don't like it, change it."
And off we went.
We now use an old-fashioned, six-foot nylon leash, no more automatic leashes around here! Although I do miss my automatic. I had the super cool bag holder thingy attached to it, which just doesn't work on the nylon kind!
The leash was kept loose as we walked, and when he started to pull (to pee, or run, or to hurry me along) he got a quick jerk.
Do you know how hard it is to keep your dog from peeing on everything? I had been so conditioned to let him do that, Jim the Dog Tornado had to keep reminding me, "Don't let him pee on that!" "Oh, yeah!" And he'd get a jerk.
Every so often, though, the call of the bush was too much for poor Eddie to resist. I'd jerk, and he'd pull and pull with all his might, desperate to leave his scent on just one leaf.
"But, this other dog is a total @$$hole, I can smell it! Just let me leave one little drop!!!!"
When jerking didn't work, Jim the Dog Tornado told me to turn and head in the opposite direction.
"Confusion equals power. If he doesn't know what you're next step will be, then he'll be forced to focus on you."
Then, with his trademark diabolical laugh, he added, "Confusion! I use it with my handlers all the time!"
Remind me to never work for this guy.
