Tuesday, August 14, 2007
I Heel

All I ever wanted to be in front. To be the leader, the top dog, the one in charge, the benevolent ruler of all that I survey. I should be in charge anyways. I'm the one taking care of and looking after my human. I enjoy helping my human, she needs me. So is it too much to ask that when we walk I get to go first? Apparently so.

After a year with my human and I battling over who gets to lead the walks, and I was winning, she brought in another trainer. I could just look at this guy and know he wasn't going to let me win. Not to mention he could easily pick me up and put me in my place in a matter of seconds. Not that he ever needed to.

After 30 minutes with him I knew I'd have to heel from now on. Honestly I always knew what was expected of me but simply refused to heel for my human. She's small and I'm stronger so the way I see it, I should be in front. The trainer didn't agree and asserted his dominance over me without ever touching me. Oh I'm being such a wuss.

Now that I'm following, not leading my human seems happier and less apprehensive about taking me out in public. To keep me in place the trainer gave my human some new commands and instructions so she would be able to keep me in check.

As a way to checking up on my progress and behavior my human along with the trainer and his wife and a friend have been hanging out a bit more. Every human in our little group has service dog and we all go out together now and then.

Apparently this fella is going to be coming around a bit more often as I've overheard my human discussing some other small behavioral issues with him. Issues? I have issues? I scoff at that notion.

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