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Positive Dog

'Different Mistakes'

Published about 6 hours ago • 1 min read

I wish I could have a do-over with all of my previous dogs.

With Jubilee, it took me way too long to realize she was in pain. Looking back, I feel so bad for her and what I asked her to do.

With Enzo I didn't know enough about toy play so I built conflict into the game. Traditional games didn't work for him so we blamed the dog instead of the method.

Maxi - oh she was the sweetest. I don't have a lot of regrets with her, I just wish I took more time to cuddle and hug her.

Ramses - his illness took a much bigger toll on his mental health than I realized.

Kodi - I had no idea he had such bad hip dysplasia.. we could have helped him stay strong.

Toby - Ugggh poor Toby had the bad luck of having me watching Cesar Millan.

Kona - My first dog - I loved her dearly but knew absolutely nothing about protecting anxious dogs from people trying to pet them.

When we make a mistake with a dog, we often overdo that skill with our next dog, creating the opposite problem.

❓Did you make a mistake with your current dog that you are trying to undo?

❓Did you make mistakes with your previous dog that you are trying hard not to repeat?

I try not to beat myself up too much. I made different mistakes with Riker and I'll make different mistakes with Runa.

When we know better, we do better.

With each dog, the severity of my mistakes is less. I become much more aware of how to support my dogs and love them for who they are, giving them the training they each need.

With each dog I train - my own and my students, I learn more. I learn how to best help each dog.

There are no recipes - Every dog, every person, and every home is unique. It's ok if you don't know how to help your dog. That is what I'm here for - to help you figure that out.

~Christina

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Positive Dog

Christina Young, BSc, CDBC, PCBC-A

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