27/03/2025
Surviving Adolescence Part: It's all gone Pete Tong.
Again, been a while.
That's because we've been busy (trying not to go insane).
No, seriously, we have! Work, shows, training...Crufts...four dogs...life...
Whilst we have been a tad busier than usual, we wish we could say that it's just down to life that we are being driven insane, and we wish we could say that with White Hippo, things are a breeze, but if we did, we'd be lying!
My god, nothing can prepare you for adolescence with a Bull Terrier.
Or, maybe it's just ours!?
What we *do* know is that we have hit the "up yours", "make me" and "what are you going to do about it" part.
We don't recall hitting this before.
Now, we know that you can forget what owning a puppy or adolescent is like if it's been a fair few years, but since we've only just come out of this stage, we're pretty sure our memory of the Ginger Grinch isn't quite *that* rose tinted!
Luckily, most of the training we've done has remained intact, we haven't had to do much revisiting to our foundation work (though we still do occasionally, for all the Nell and Co Crew. Sometimes everyone needs an easy win!).
We don't have a "don't understand the cue" issue, because in the right set of circumstances we have 100% "yep, know that one".
Ditto for attention.
Ditto for settling.
What we have is: A JCB, with a broken satnav, being drunk driven by a bull with the attention span of an amoeba, travelling occasionally at 100mph - but sometimes 0.5mph, mostly on the wrong side of the road, with selective breaking and no indicators.
We know you can teach loose lead walking using the drunk method, but that usually applies to the handlers walking, NOT the dogs.
How we've all (just about) managed to survive so far without being crushed, accidentally decapitated or from decking it, is nothing short of a miracle.
No. The issue we have is that the White Hippo, has zero concept of personal space, nor a single iota of mindfulness.
Well, they do, but only in 5 second slots, once every 4 hours...
Outside of those times, we have to think. Very much outside the box.
So, where are we going with this? We don't know yet, not fully. We are only part way through what is looking like a long and arduous journey.
What we can tell you is that, this is the part where you DONT give up.
Yes, it's hard. It's infuriating. It's painful. It's EXHAUSTING. But, don't give up. Instead of giving up, give each other space.
Whether that be you grabbing a bath (alone), hiring a dog sitter for a few hours so that you can go out (alone), hiring a secure field and attaching a long line, finding an open empty space and screaming at the top of your lungs, or meditating. Whatever it is, do it alone, or with another human, but make it dog free.
Have a rest from your usual schedule or plans and take some *you* time.
Sure, you might come back and nothing has changed. Except it will have done. You will have had some breathing space. Some time for reflection or ranting. Some time to chill.
Whilst you are at this point, write down 5-10 things your dog is good at, can do or has recently achieved (it could be placed in a comp, or it could be they didn't try to kill your vacuum cleaner). Keep it somewhere safe, and then, once a week, add 5-10 more.
Why? Because, when you are in the middle of a s**t storm, it's much easier to concentrate on the negatives and ignore or forget all the positives (We aren't saying ignore the negatives, just, don't let them become the sole focus of life with your dog).
It puts a positive spin on what is potentially feeling like train wreck groundhog day.
It gives you a chance to pick out some things to build on.
It shows you that the dog before you got this point, is still there.
Training wise (and life wise!), plan to keep sessions short and go into them with clear goals, but without too many expectations, (or maybe, even lower them! We know! Shock horror, right?! Lowering them! Take what you can get and celebrate the win!), if it's going well, end the session. Better to end on a good note than push it too far.
Set yourselves up for success, have some alternative plans.
Keep things fun and engaging, but stick to your boundaries.
If it isn't working out, quit, then try again later. No point getting frustrated because some raging, hormone filled tank decides it's not going to participate or wants some rule changes.
If all else fails, ask for help.
You won't be the first, nor will you be the last, that is struggling.
Even we ask.
We are a fully qualified Dog trainer specialising in Obedience, Scentwork and Mantrailing.
