Rescue Remedy

He's a rescue. He had a rough start. He was beat.

Let's be clear, if your dog is misbehaving it's because you are not training him to do otherwise. Its not because he was tied, or left in a shed or starved. It's not because he doesn't know how to learn. It's not because he doesn't want to please. It's simply because he's never been consistently shown that it's not acceptable. (medical and temperament issues aside)

Dogs that pull on leash are allowed to pull (don't think I'm right? next walk, picture yourself in a white wedding gown holding a glass of red wine in your leash hand and see how much more consistent you become) Dogs that bark, are getting rewarded by you barking with them. Dogs that jump on people get rewarded by you handling/talking to them while pulling them off. Dogs do what gets rewarded. I see it every single day.

I detest, hate, abhor the phrase "he's a rescue". First because "rescue" is a verb, once the act is complete it becomes "rescued", PAST TENSE. And truly, it's a fire word, a word being used to trigger an emotional response. To make you feel something, to allow smoke and mirrors, to excuse lack of training. It's not accurate or productive.

Second because it seems to magically alleviate any responsibility from owners to correct behavior. It seems to be a catch all excuse for every bad behavior in the books. When the bad behavior that needs to be address is walking upright feeling big about this selfless act they have performed; they rescued a dog.

No, no they didn't.

I run a program called Oops! Puppies. I primarily take in litters of puppies that are unwanted or unplanned. They go to great homes, with great families. When time and space allow I take in adult dogs. Some dogs have sketchy pasts, most are mundane. Not a single one of them has been "rescued". None were falling through ice when I took them in. None were being beat to death. None were balancing on the side of a cliff. None.  I do not give past stories. I don't want the people who are looking to adopt a story to tell at barbecues. I want people who will step up and give the dog a great home.

I feel we get pompous about ourselves as humans. Look how great I am, look what I did... you know what? Dogs would fair much better in the wild then we would. Your dog would find food, shelter and water first, then share it and never refer to you as his rescue.

We say we don't want to see the sadness then buy into these words.


By all means adopt a dog. They are wonderful. Question your shelter about behavior modification, Question them about unwanted behaviors and what's being done/what works to correct it. Find a trainer that will work with you through specific issues. Do the time, train the dog. Do not stop at "he's a rescue." Insist on light not fire.

Toad is a lot of things. Strong willed, Brilliant, Loving, Manipulative. Handsome. Loyal. Bad. He's funny and sweet. He's easily offended. He's learning as fast as he can. He ate my belt this morning and stole my coffee.

He is a bull terrier, he is mine.

He is not "a rescue."

Clowns to the Left of Me

Toad has learned all his basics and some common phrases. It's hard to believe he's been here 6 months, and yet when I think about where we started he's a pretty darned amazing boy. He knows; Back up, Stay, Sit, down, Roll, spin, inside, outside, stop, wait, easy (on leash), off, shake, high five, go lay down, pick a hand, hug, go around, Momma help.

We are working on personal hygiene items now. No licking, let me see your teeth, open your mouth, and a personal favorite; hold still while I wipe your crazy large testicles where poop had smeared them/it. Someone posted this pig photo and asked if maybe I got the species wrong.... there is an uncanny resemblance. (for those who don't know, Toad experienced a trauma and cannot be operated on, you can read more here; Momma Help )

I read a week ago that bull terriers are not dogs at all (not news to anyone who has ever lived with one) but their explanation seems legit. The author went on to explain how they are actually aliens who tried to assimilate with humans in the form of a dog, and missed the mark. It would explain the triangle eyes, the egg/cement block head, and the antics! 

We needed a break from formal training and I recently signed up for a trick training group. It was just what I needed. And as it turns out Toad's going to be a lot of fun not to mention a willing participant. 

Until today I'd just been reading other's posts. Refreshing my memory on training methods and thinking about what I'd like to train. What I think he'd naturally do.

Today I picked up the clicker, a tool he's so familiar with he almost starts drooling in anticipation of treats, just say the word Mom and it's a done deal! 

Today I just wanted to free shape, no pressure, no expectations. Basically what that means is I wait until he does something I like and I click/treat in the hopes of getting it repeated. You can lure a dog into a position, you can shape them or free shape them.  I never would have guessed what he offered, I was thinking we'd be doing more of a basketball backboard (with me being the backboard) type *trick*

Now I need to confess that I am a hopeless person when it comes to telling my left from my right. I've begged my nephew to reprogram my GPS to say "my way and your way" instead of left and right (and putting an end to her judgmental and angry voice telling me to make a legal U-turn when I get it wrong). So when Toad offered to look a particular way, I clicked/treated.

He offered and got rewarded enough times I felt it was pretty solid. The problem was having to halt the training session so I could figure out if he was looking left or right,,, and he was facing me, so I had to reverse it... and then remember it so I could google the lyrics to see if the jokers or the clowns were on the right... suffice to say, Toad had to perform the stunt numerous times for me. 

God love him...even with his bumbling Momma he now has mastered in a mere 3 short session looking to the right when I ask him "where are the jokers" Brilliant! 

I've always said the first step in training is to be smarter then the dog... not sure I accomplished that today, but he pulled me through. 

Should be a cute trick once complete!!!!