Teach by Example:
Monday afternoon I went home on lunch to walk the dogs. I typically walk the dogs at lunch, mostly because there are far less people and dogs out at that particular time of day, and after work I tend to get busy.
I changed into walking clothes, hitched the dogs up and headed out the door. As soon as our feet touched the stoop I heard my neighbor say to her young grandson, “Get Gutter.” (Gutter is the name of their dog and he likes to roam the neighborhood. Incidentally, he was found in the gutter many years ago, hence his name.)
The boy reached for Gutter and Gutter…well you know what dogs do when you chase them. Gutter left his yard and crossed the street.
He looked both ways didn’t he? You know you have to look both ways before crossing the street.
I turned around, put the dogs back inside the house and offered my solution, “I have treats.”
“Oh, that might work,” said the grandmother.
I suggested the boys break up the Lamb Lungs and toss them toward Gutter. Except the ground was a bit muddy and the grandmother said, nix, nix. She didn’t want the dog eating treats out of the mud. (She’s never been on a walk with my dog.)
Then Grandma said, “He’s already been around the block, if we just go inside he’ll come back.” And so they went inside.
Meanwhile my lunch hour is ticking away.
Tick tock, tick tock.
I stood in the doorway with Sampson and Delilah all ready to go.
Gutter strolled over to the yard and started picking up bits of Lamb Lung.
Tick tock, tick tock.
The oldest boy came outside with a leash, if I had to guess his age I’d place him at about 7 or 8. He reached for Gutter and Gutter once again moved away.
The child look up to me, I opened the door and walked towards him. “Here try using the treat again.” I handed him another bit of lung and stood on the stoop watching.
The child held the treat out.
Tick tock, tick tock.
“Take the damn treat Gutter,” I screamed silently from my perch on the stoop.
Tick tock, tick tock.
Suddenly the boy looked up at me, “I got him!” He exclaimed.
“Good” I shouted back, “Give him another treat.” (And get your dog inside, I’ve got a walk to take.) 🙂
Gutter is a wanderer. He takes any opportunity to check out the hood. I’m hoping the next time he’s close to home, the child will remember the success he had with treats and use those to lure him home.
I believe our children will be the change for animals and hope I have shown him by example a good way to interact with his dog.
Alternative titles: Tick tock, tick tock and Get Gutter
The New Puppy at Our House
My sister gave me a new puppy as an early birthday present.
I couldn’t believe it. No-one has EVER given me a puppy as a gift. Normally I would frown upon this, I mean, puppies are a lot of work and require a lot of commitment.
Everyone was excited to meet the new puppy too! Even Hubby who thus far has been very against adding another dog to the pack. The best part is that the puppy looks exactly how Sampson looked when he was a puppy.
Our puppy was greeted enthusiastically by the dogs too.
I know you said he looks like me, but I can’t see the resemblance.
Sadly it turns out that Puppy is an outside dog.
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Hahaha, I was expecting photos of a real puppy 😛
Oh my gosh, LOL!! You have more patients than me! I’m trying to be better with kids, but I don’t really know what to do with them.
That’s cute, I love your new puppy! 😀
Cute ‘puppy’ LOL!
sumskersandearlskers13.blogspot.com
LOL you got us too, we were expecting a puppy. Have a tremendous Thursday.
Best wishes Molly
I bet that puppy will always be a “good boy.”
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Looks like you have had huge success with sit and stay for the new addition. Can’t wait to see how come works out 😉
Haha! You almost had me with the new puppy part…until you said the dogs greeted him enthusiastically. Sampson possibly since he’s a lover boy but Delilah? 🙂 Anyway, the puppy IS cute.
LOL Sometimes those types of puppies are good place-holders until you’re ready for a new softer variety! 😉
I was thinking “Are you and your sister out of your friggin mind?” but happy endings…
Damn that Gutter – you’ve got things to do, places to be. It just sounds so funny. Your new puppy is cute but he looks like he might be a bit rigid – have you taken him to the vet? And by the looks of things he might have some resource guarding going on.
I knew there was no way you got a real puppy, unless it was a beagle. 🙂 I need one of those for my house….so people can enjoy being welcomed by a dog who doesn’t bark at them!
Great job helping out the neighbor kids and teaching them some basic dog training!
That lesson will probably stick with the little boy and who knows, maybe one day he’ll be a successful dog trainer and think back to the day he met a nice lady who taught him something about his dog named Gutter. Hey, he’ll probably even write a book and mention you. That’s what you call Gutter Karma! 🙂
Oh those situations with limited-time walks and kids and dogs who won’t get out of the way are so frustrating! We who have reactive dogs know all about that 🙂
Better those people should learn not to let their dog roam. I know you don’t let your dogs roam so I kind of doubt they will learn by example. I think you probably have to hit them over the head, but then that would not be positive training. 🙂
Good that Gutter Got Gotted before he got SQUASHED by a Car…
OMD we LOVE your new Puppy… THAT is super GRRRREAT….
Hi Y’all!
Tick tock, tick tock, the mouse ran up the clock…Gather the actual walk turned out uneventful or did you even have time for more than a “quick pee pee run”? Hopefully, the kids learned something, but the adults have to co-operate and supply the treats. Congrats on such an obedient, well behaved puppy.
Y’all come on by,
Hawk aka BrownDog
You so calmly mentioned the new puppy, I knew something was up! Those are the best kind of puppies 🙂
Ah yes, the runaway dog problem. A few months ago, Leo raced out the front door and danced around the front lawn while Rob and his parents tried to lure him back with treats (I think it was lamb lung too!). Except throwing lamb lung at him just wound up rewarding him for playing keepaway. I started yelling, “Stop giving him treats!” Sigh. Oh, Leo.
Barley and I try to “train” the kids in our neighborhood, too. They have learned they have to ask to pet her instead of running up to her; they have to wait until she sits and they can only pet her one at a time and only on her back so their faces don’t get near her faces. It’s always nice to see them start asking other people out walking if they can pet their dogs now 🙂
hahaha love the new puppy!