Last Friday, I took Lilly to watch a 60 weave pole challenge. We sat way off to the side in the shade under a tree to keep her stress level as low as possible. As always, I clicked and treated her for staying calm, looking at other dogs without responding, etc. She did great, and yet … a competitor asked us a favor.
It turns out her dog hates the clicker noise. Hates it. Hates it. Hates it. So, she asked, could we please not click when she and her dog were on deck and during their run at the long, long, long line of poles.
I apologized and was happy to comply. I slid my clicker band up my arm so that I wouldn’t forget, and instead, I switched to our marker word (yes!). Even that, I said quietly to Lilly and slipped her food as needed for the rest of our stay.
I see some important lessons here. First, even our best efforts to take care of our own dogs in our own way can annoy the crap out of other dogs and other people. So, as much as I get frustrated at times by things people and dogs do that upset Lilly, I need to remember that sometimes we probably bug people too.
And, I believe, handlers should have the right to ask for our help in such situations, even when what the person or dog is doing is truly within handling “norms.”
It’s a tough spot to be in. Lilly’s list of things that cause a reaction or fear or shut down is nearly endless. Most times I simply cannot ask everyone we encounter to cater to our needs. Yet, there are times when a simple act can completely change Lilly’s day or her experience.
So, I’m happy to say that I made a deposit in a the favor bank. Perhaps some day when it really matters, someone will do the same for me.
0 comments