The Hardest Lessons

I have found raising two sons really easy. Both boys have gone through various stages of development smoothly.  There were no terrible twos or fussy babies.  Both have been a dream to parent.

However, having a dog has been the exact opposite.  It has been a huge struggle for me.  Not to love the dog, but to be a good dog owner.   I have had to admit many things:    I am totally out of my league, and I do not know what I am doing.  I have read lots of articles that often seem to contradict one another.   I have been confused.  I haven't followed through.  I don't understand the dog's behaviour.  I am continually asking myself, "why is he doing this?".  I have had this nagging feeling under my skin about the dog... "why is it so hard?".  On and on.  


And, it has made me empathize with parents who struggle with understanding their children.  Now, I am not comparing being a dog owner to being a parent, but I am empathizing with parents who don't understand the "lay of the land" so to speak.  That is me with Boris.


So now, I am on a mission.  I like to do things well.  I am learning to be with my dog.  I am taking it right back to having him learn how to walk properly with me on the leash.  It will be a lot of work, but I need to do this for me.  Hopefully I will learn a great deal along the way!  Thank you Dog Smart