Last summer, we moved full-time to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. During the summer, the farmer's market is the highlight of my whole weekend. The Greek lady brings her homemade baklava, local farmers bring their fresh eggs,fresh corn and the bee man brings his honey. It is a social event and most of the town turns out to mill around. I thought it would be fun to bring Otto. Otto was almost two years old the first time I took him.
Two things happened at the Farmer's Market.
Event #1: The market had just opened, Otto and I were amongst the first to attend. I was so excited that he was there with me. I just love to show him off and this was our first time attending together. We made it past the organic produce on the corner, past the second stand with handmade lace and fresh baskets of raspberries and worked our way down to the third stand filled with bushels of corn and zucchini all neatly arranged on the top. As I walked by, I saw Otto raise his leg on the bushel of zucchini to the HORROR of the farmer. It happened so fast, I have never seen a dog have so much urine in such a short burst! The farmer was a good sport about it, I paid him $30.00 for the bushel, grabbed it and took Otto home, missing the rest of the market walk. I was too embarrassed to return and my arms were too tired from carrying an entire bushel of zucchini, I don't even like zucchini.. I really didn't know what to do, how was I supposed to properly discipline the dog in front of all of strolling families. If truth must be known, I sort of thought it was funny.
The second time Otto attended the market was the "donut episode." Otto was on his leash, a small girl about 4 years old was coming towards us with a donut in her outstretched hand. I remember seeing her waddle the way only a four year old can do and still be cute, I remember passing her with Otto close by my side. To this day, I don't remember how this happened but I looked down at Otto and he his muzzle was covered in powered sugar. I looked back at the little girl, who will had her arms outstretched but this time her mouth was wide open and no sound was coming out. There was no donut in her outstretched hand either. Her eyes were actually bugging.
I imagined Otto bit her hand off...but he didn't. I remember my face got hot and my eye's welled up, there was nothing funny about this one. He never touched her hand, he just got the donut. Thank you, Dear Lord. I apologized profusely to the mother who just stared at me. I think she might have said something but I blocked it out. ...I left the scene in lightning speed, pulling the prongs of his collar with my fingers (never a good idea) and threw him in the car. I never heard another word about it, maybe no one else saw what had happened. I grabbed him again when I got him home to further discuss it with him, and to discuss it with him again, and again.....the breeder was correct when she said, "Never overly correct the dog." I couldn't help myself, I would still be yanking on him, he made me so mad. It was unforgivable on both our parts.
Otto is now uninvited to the Farmer's market.
Now if anyone reads this and passes judgment just remember back to the first Anatolian Shepherd Dog that you had. I have made and will continue to make mistakes in Otto's training. This breed is very difficult and having dogs in the past in NO WAY prepared me for Otto. He and I are a work in progress. I am crazy about him but every day is a new challenge with him.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
3 comments:
Having Otto is like having a child-always a work in progress. You try your best every day knowing there will be mistakes made along the way. Consistency,patience, and most of all, love. I think parenting and raising a dog are very similiar.
Perhaps you have forgotten that he also lifted his leg on that lovely pot of flowers at the farmers market when I was visiting.
LOL, too funny! and embarrassing!
I had leased an import male Anatolian and he also had a quick 'draw' reflex about his legs. He had no problem lifting his leg on people and children. It could happen so quick!
When I got him, he was already 3 years and the habit ingrained. He was very friendly and would enjoy getting pets while he leaned on someone, but you just never knew when his leg would hike up and a tiny shot of pee come forth so I made a habit of making him sit at heel by me if we were at dog shows or going through some pet supply store. That helped, but you could never let down your guard.
We had him for a year and when the lease was done, he went back to a ranch where he lived out his last days.
The good news is that none of his progeny that I know about, have had that particular habit! :)
Post a Comment