Yesterday was puppy school day.

After the major frustrations suffered in class last week, I emailed the instructor hoping for words of wisdom that would whisk us past the bumps in the road and get us back on track.  She kindly explained that there are times I have the “above-average Jaxon” at class…a model student.  Last week I had the “never-been-to-puppy-school-before Jaxon” at class.  Her assessment:

I simply took the wrong dog to class, so it was basically my fault.

She was right!

Jaxon was simply being a 6-month old boxer puppy determined to do what he wants to do.  It is my job as the human to teach him how to behave in many situations.  He does not come automatically programmed to do so.

Oh, how I wish!

Jaxon weighs 40 pounds.  He is a strong dog.  I want to be able to walk him without having my arm removed from the socket.  I also want my mother to be able to walk him.  Controlling him on the leash would be a huge accomplishment. During the email discussion we explored the possibility of trying a prong collar. 

I did some reading.  As a tiny puppy, the mother dog teaches it how to behave.  When it does something it should not, she gives it a corrective bite in the neck.  Obviously this is not a harmful bite.  The puppy does not like this reaction, and learns how to behave and avoid the bite.   The prongs on the collar are a dull, rounded metal.  When the dog pulls, the prongs mimic the mother dog biting the neck.  Given I have tried every positive reinforcement method possible to avoid the pulling, it seemed logical to try the collar.

Once the collar was fitted properly, Jaxon tried to pull, and got a corrective “bite”.

From that point on, Jaxon pouted.

He was, however, the best-behaved dog in class!

We both learned something new.

I had an opportunity to visit with one of my cousins yesterday.  It was a unique opportunity, as we do not get to visit as often as we would like.  She is a cousin on my father’s side of the family, and we share a last name.  Interestingly, we also share some character traits.  Suffice it to say, we are strong-willed women.

Okay.

We are stubborn.

I think that is why we get along so well!  We both ask “why”, rather than just accept.  Neither of us likes being told what we can or cannot do.

As we visited, we updated each other on our parts of the family, and what we have been doing to fill our days.  We both have a variety of interests.  We both love to read and grow our brains.  I talked about Jaxon and puppy training.  She talked about learning to play the piano.  She told me that one of the elders in our family once told her:

You should learn something new every year.

She has incorporated this into her life.  Despite my never being given this advice, I realized she and I also have that in common.

Reflecting on the last year, I recognize I have certainly had my share of learning new things!  My lessons have included becoming a personal trainer, working on the old truck, training a puppy, writing a blog, and how to live life as a retiree. 

Reflecting on last night, it will take some time for both Jaxon and me to adjust to the collar.  He obviously recognizes the collar “bites”, and teaching him to accept wearing it will take some work.  I will have to work with him patiently, knowing the prize at the end is well worth it.

Learning keeps my life interesting.

I will continue to embrace the advice of the wise family elder.  I may not be a puppy, but I am an old dog who can continue to learn new tricks!