OTTO WAIT FOR ME!

I am taking the kind advice of some of the more experienced dog owners, those who have left comments to me on this blog. With much appreciation, things are going remarkably well at least they have been for the past two weeks and four days. There is a new sheriff in Otto's life and as I start to believe that to be true, it transcends to Otto.

For example, who would have ever imagined that the simple way that I exit my home can set the tone for the rest of the walk. For the past 4,380 walks, Otto has pushed by me to get out first and I have consistently been catching up with him and being pulled by him. I was always under the impression that the lesson starts once we are outside when I can position him correctly on my left side. Boy was I wrong! A few days ago, new rules were enforced. Leash, sit, wait, I go out first and Otto gets to go out when I say it is okay. By the sixth walk, Otto was making eye contact with me instead of the door, that is a good sign.

The problem as I see it is "rules are rules" and I think in order for them to work, they must be consistently followed by everyone (husband) otherwise it is confusing to Otto and counterproductive to my efforts. We all have to exit the door in the same manner, consistently, not one day, one way and another day, another way...even when everyone is tired.

Getting Otto off the bed is a different story...I am not too sure about enforcing that rule especially when every morning he creeps into bed and lands asleep on my legs until I get up. It is quite sweet. I love this dog, he is my most unusual friend.