Geordie's Very Bad Day

[Geordie]

If you are a terrier-lover, then you would generally say that your dog has a “strong prey drive”.  If you are frustrated by terriers, you would label them as having “no self-restraint”.  Geordie typically demonstrated both in great abundance in school.  As others would be trying to walk past doing their exercises, he would bark at the top of his shrill voice and try to give chase.  While most were amused by his antics, his barking and tendency to try to get in another dog’s face didn’t go over well.

One evening, we had a particularly bad class.  Despite exercising him first, Geordie had too much energy and was misbehaving all over the place.  He got yelled at for barking whenever anyone moved.  He got yelled at for jumping on top of a Sheltie he liked.   Later he was reprimanded for getting away and running underneath one of the larger dogs in class.  It was a non-stop evening of trouble, and I was exhausted when we finally got to leave.

After we were home, and I changed clothes, I started looking around for Geordie to see if he wanted anything to eat.   I couldn’t find him, though.   Geordie?  Geordie?  Now, where could that pup have gotten to?  When I finally found him, what I saw nearly broke my heart.  In the darkest part of the darkest room, my little puppy was in a self-banished position, lying with his nose in the corner.

Poor Geordie! He really loved dog school.  He has a super-outgoing personality and thought he was having fun, but he got nothing but yelled at at his favoritest place.  How could everyone be so angry when he was just being himself?

Quickly, I wracked my brain trying to recall what I might have gleaned from child psychology about how to handle this.  I went to the corner where my pup was, sat beside him and gently pet his back.  I told him that I could see that he had had a very bad day but that I still loved him.  I said that I understood if he needed a little time to himself, but if he wanted to come to the other room to sit with me, he was more than welcome.  Then I gave his ear a little kiss and walked away.  I waited, and a few minutes later Geordie came strolling out, testing the waters to see if I meant what I said.

Of course, I did little sweetie!  I love you even when you are naughty.

[Apollo]

Awww Geordie! 

[Geordie]

My Mommy cried when this whole thing happened, then she cried again when she wrote the story.  Silly Mommies!

[rosco]

Aww, Geordie. That brought a tear to Mama's eye.

We all have to go through our learning experiences, but then we grow into happy, well-adjusted pups who still love being terriers, but with a little more attention on our humans. (I'm still learning that myself! BOL!)