tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post3541150831639214675..comments2024-03-04T06:54:50.622-06:00Comments on Reactive Champion: Reasonable ExpectationsCrystal (Thompson) Barrerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738188430244886019noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-76037069312298793652011-10-11T18:52:15.619-05:002011-10-11T18:52:15.619-05:00Kristine- you're welcome. I live it, too, and ...Kristine- you're welcome. I live it, too, and completely understand the frustration. Sometimes Maisy will bark at a stranger even when I AM paying attention. It's not always a failure on anyone's part, it's just... life.Crystal (Thompson) Barrerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01738188430244886019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-359740081528208262011-10-11T18:51:10.014-05:002011-10-11T18:51:10.014-05:00Ninso, sure you could put in more time and be a be...Ninso, sure you could put in more time and be a better trainer. We all could. But I already know you ARE a good trainer and that you DO put in a lot of time. For some dogs, just maintaining them in a home is a huge thing. I think Jun might be one of those dogs.Crystal (Thompson) Barrerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01738188430244886019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-39845710887942485262011-10-11T09:38:00.767-05:002011-10-11T09:38:00.767-05:00This weekend I realized how unreasonable it is to ...This weekend I realized how unreasonable it is to expect there will be no more reactive episodes ever again. I became instantly frustrated when my dog barked at a stranger. But because I had stopped paying attention to her I didn't even know the man was approaching. Her barking was a reminder that even though she has improved beyond my original expectations, she is still a reactive dog. Forgetting that only makes things harder for both of us.<br /><br />Thanks for the reminder to keep things reasonable. I am guilty of often expecting too much and pushing just a little too far. It's not fair for either of us.Kristinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08942859130560139570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-66909754001668394052011-10-11T09:26:52.285-05:002011-10-11T09:26:52.285-05:00We sure have made progress, even if it sometimes s...We sure have made progress, even if it sometimes seems small. But I feel like most of our progress that has been more than temporary has been due to drugs, thus more of a blessing than anything I was entitled to. We made progress before drugs, but it was always temporary.<br /><br />Of course there is always the possibility that if I put in more time, if I were a better trainer I would see better progress. That's probably even likely. But neither of those things are going to happen, so for me personally, I keep working, I HOPE for progress, but I don't necessarily expect it, cause that just leads to disappointment. I don't set goals for Jun, as far as behavior. I just make a plan for THIS session and see what happens, ready to vary my plan if I need to.<br /><br />As with anything, I think it will vary from dog to dog.Ninsohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11926615638315977082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-59393326868032075082011-10-10T17:43:23.731-05:002011-10-10T17:43:23.731-05:00I have thought about your comment all day, Ninso. ...I have thought about your comment all day, Ninso. I want to argue with you, to say yes, all dogs will progress, though some more than others. I feel like Jun must have made SOME progress somewhere along the line, even if it's been a very small amount.<br /><br />But then... well, I know you're a talented and dedicated trainer, and I know you guys have struggled. And it certainly seems possible that there are some dogs who are so "crazy" (for lack of better word) that progress will be minimal. <br /><br />That's a hard one. And I'm really sorry progress is so elusive for you guys. Jun is truly lucky to have you.Crystal (Thompson) Barrerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01738188430244886019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-25355681499214965472011-10-10T09:13:07.707-05:002011-10-10T09:13:07.707-05:00I am not sure that for all dogs it's reasonabl...I am not sure that for all dogs it's reasonable to expect progress, even if you measure it in months. For Elo, if I am diligent in putting in the work he needs he will progress. But with Jun, any progress we make feels more like a gift than an entitlement.Ninsohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11926615638315977082noreply@blogger.com