My Dog Diary

Darl has been complaining that I haven’t been following the Cesar Millan’s way to walk Xiao Bi for the past few days. He said I was too soft in terms of controlling her. Hello! She is huge for me ok… -.-

Anyway, I went walking Xiao Bi this evening myself. I walked her the way I want her to listen to me, and I think it went pretty well. She sat instantly when we met a small dog on the way back and I asked her to sit. She didn’t struggle to go to the dog. She followed when I walked, and she stopped when I stopped. Although yes at times she tried to sniff further than I allowed but she came back immediately once I pulled the leash. No struggling and pulling from her. It could just be one of the best walks that I’ve had with her so far.

Before we returned, I practiced with her in front of the house, walking round and round, again and again. She followed with no question asked. When I turned, she turned. When I stopped, she stopped. It was just so perfect!

I wouldn’t say that she is not 100% rehabilitated, but I would give a score of, say, 70%-80%. She is just so extra sweet now, that I believe very soon she will no longer be referred as my forever-rebellious GR.

After watching several episodes of the Dog Whisperer, we have been practicing the idea and exercise on Xiao Bi for the past one week. Believe it or not, it has been working really, really, really well!

Today marked my first walk with Xiao Bi with no pulling and trying to fight attitude from her. It was a peaceful walk, with her walking and following by my side. I wasn’t able to take control two days ago and darl was the one who walked her. But I guess she had picked up the calm, submissive behavior and when I walked her today, she was just… so different with the Xiao Bi that I used to know! lol.

I felt so good after walking her this evening. She was calm, adorable… goodness! I still can’t believe that this is happening to my GR whom I thought will always be rebellious!

It’s not only the method of training that matters. It was about dog psychology. As soon as we understand the ‘why’, we’ll understand the ‘how’. It was that simple!

When Eileen told me about a show, Dog Whisperer a few months back, although I was interested in watching it, but I didn’t really make any effort for it. Probably the title itself sounded a little bit like a documentary or something and I was expecting boredom. lol.

But thanks to Eileen. She passed me a copy of it some time last week and upon finishing the first episode, Cesar Millan is already my idol! It was so amazing seeing him helping all the dogs with all sorts of behavior problems, and helping the owners to keep moving with their dogs. I watched, and watched, and watched, and then I thought, hey Xiao Bi’s problems aren’t that bad. I was just never a leader to her and probably never corrected her bad behavior on time!

So I told myself to learn as much as I could, as fast as possible. Yesterday I was determined to bring Xiao Bi out for a walk MY WAY, instead of her way of walking in front of me and dragging me all over the place. The moment she realised that I was trying to control her, she stopped and sat on the floor, refusing to move! @.@

But one good thing that she had corrected just within a day was her barking-at-everything attitude. Whether it’s because of excitement, or seeing a cat. Yesterday just before we went out for the walk she was at her garden territory barking at my dad and niece who were at the front part of the garden. She did that all the while, for attention I guess. Much like ‘hey let me out, I wanna play!’. I went to her and started ’shoo-ing’ her and gently pressing her down to the floor. After that, I notice that whenever she barks, I just need to ’shoo’ her and point at her, and she’ll stop! Not bad huh!

Today I went to the pet shop with the intention to get either a collar or a choke collar. We just have to put away her harness for the time being. I ended up with a choke collar.

I tried to walk her right after I came back and NO she didn’t wanna walk. Cleverly I bought a small pack of snack to lure her. It was just an OK session.

In the evening during her normal walking time, she could follow me through a street but not until she saw her boyfriend, Bobby. Haiz. Kids.