Puppy found his voice.
“FEED ME! FEED ME!” he barks while I’m preparing food at the kitchen counter.
“FEED ME! FEED ME! FEED ME!”
Puppy Pippin
I turn and face him.
Me: “QUIET!”
Him: “FEED ME! FEED ME. FEED ME!”
Me: “QUIET. QUIET. QUIET!”
Him: “FEED ME! FEED ME! FEED ME! and FEED ME!”
He’s always louder.
Frustration begins where knowledge ends.
Time to review and improve puppy training skills. If I’m not careful Puppy Pippin will be shaping my behavior.
Step 1 is to make his bed the most important place in the world where great things happen. On the bed? You get a tasty treat. Barking? Treat woman leaves. Back on the bed? Great! You get a super treat. All this is done in a whisper.
As with Mr. First, I send that mental picture of what I want him to do followed by energy and voice. It’s a challenge not to react into the frenzy and turn learning into Don’t. Don’t bark. Don’t jump. Don’t bite. Awful way to live.
Instead, catch him doing Good and reward that. Let him think, choose and make decisions. Tire his little puppy brain out so he’ll nap and I can get into the studio!
Whisper, whisper.
Taking whisper into the studio too. Working with muted colors and less boundaries.
Wondering what direction frustration is shaping my behavior? And what am I going to do about it?
Time to get curious.
XOXO,
Francesca
