The Story of BB the Great Dane

 A peaceful moment with the Brother’s Grin, 5 months old

Reading another blog that had a list of dog owner habits inspired me to write one myself. It is so easy to forget that dogs are a totally different creature from humans. There are things besides food and water that they need from us, and we need from them.

Patience: It’s alot more than a virtue, it’s a necessity. We get in such a hurry, don’t we? Hurry up and potty, I’ve got things to do…You know better than that, how many times to I have to tell you to leave the trash alone…I can’t play, I’m making dinner…I said stay! 

When it comes to dogs and puppies, it takes as long as it takes. They learn as fast as they learn. And they don’t understand the concept of living by a dayplanner. Clocks are just things that click and ding.

Getting irritable with a dog makes them anxious. Ever had a boss that rode your back every day, about every little thing? It’s no fun, and you wish you didn’t have to go to work. 

Awareness: Your feelings go straight into your puppy’s observant eyes, and they react to it. If you are upset, they get upset. If you are happy, they are happy. If you don’t want to be bothered with them, they know it and are sad. Anyone who’s ever tried to walk a dog just to get it over with knows that neither one of you enjoyed it.

Often behavior we don’t understand comes from not being aware of what the dog is feeling. We scold a puppy who chews up their crate instead of teaching them it’s okay to be alone for awhile. We get even madder when the dog plays runaway instead of coming when we’re ticked off at him.

Awareness is sorely missing today because we don’t allow ourselves the time to feel our feelings, or just watch and interact with our dogs. We’re too busy, if our to-do list has replaced knowing ourselves and the creatures that have chosen to befriend us.

Acceptance: We all want to be accepted for who we are, overlooking our flaws and enjoying our good points. Sometimes that gets lost when we look at our dogs. We wanted a quiet puppy, but the one we have is energetic and nosey. We bought a dog for agility trials, but the dog isn’t interested. We feel like having a good nap, but the dog wants to play. Without even knowing it, our best friend means less to us for not fitting the image of what we want them to be.

If we want a companion, we must be a companion in return. A companion dog is one that has your time, your attention, your play. A companion isn’t just somebody hanging around waiting for you to fill his food bowl. He is loved and accepted as irreplacable for what he gives us, not what we want from him. He will be a part of your activities, your family, and will have had room made for his personality in our hearts.

Approach: If we are aware of ourselves and our dogs, if we have accepted them, then they teach us how best to approach their training and living with us. Some dogs need alot of gentleness, and others need more firmness to coexist with us. Yelling at a sensitive dog will injure their trust in you, where a stubborn dog might let it roll off his back.

Approaching our dogs should be done with respect for them as living creatures, and with an understanding of how we affect them. As a rule, dogs will respond best to an emotionally stable and confident person. Patience, enouragement, and training build a bond of trust and respect.

Joy: Joy is the currency of life in the dog world. It is why they play with a rock as happily as a $20 toy. It isn’t about the toy, it’s about the joy of being alive and being loved. If your dog’s eyes are sad or dull, pick up your own mood and let the dishes sit in the sink. Have yourselves a good long playtime. The joy will carry over…