A Conversation with Trudy about Appropriate Locations for ... urmmm "Scent Signals"
So, let's have a conversation with Trudy about appropriate locations.
Remember. Heidi is Big Momma. Dan is Big Daddy. Grace is Little Momma. Bosco is puppy brother.
Level one response from Big Momma and Big Daddy: Big Voice, pointy finger, clean up and put poop outside, banishment to the patio for a minute, spray smelly human air freshener on the spot. Then no more than 60 seconds later, reconnect with love and praise (both dogs) in the house where it still smells like human air freshener.
"Hands on Hips" Level two response from Big Momma and Big Daddy: Reenact level one with bigger emotional displays coupled with ignoring the dogs: Really Big Voice, pointy finger with lots of shaking, throw the poop in the back yard, stand and stare in the direction that you threw the poop - hands on hips (ignoring dogs), leave them outside, spray the offending spot and related area with air freshener. Then no more than 60 seconds later, reconnect with love and praise (both dogs) in the house where it still smells like human air freshener.
Level three response from Big Momma and Big Daddy: at a later time in the presence of the dogs and for no other reason than you want to, spray the offending spot with air freshener, ignoring dogs’ response. After 60 seconds, tell them they are good dogs.
When you throw the poop and stare at it and when you overwhelm the offending spot with your smell, the dogs will start a conversation with you where they say: “I am sorry.”
By ignoring them for a few seconds, you finish the conversation by communicating “Don't talk to me. You should be sorry.”
Level four response from Big Momma and Big Daddy: Perform all previous levels and then place something of yours that smells like you (a not-laundered tee shirt) in the middle of the room and chastise the dogs with Warning Voice and even finger point for getting near it. You can pick up the tee shirt and put it away. You can bring it back for no reason other than you want to. Don’t leave it there too long. (A conversation has to end at some point, doesn’t it?)
Grace should not be a part of the discipline conversation. She is Little Momma. Her role is key in reconnection with love and praise and she should ask them directly to be nice to Big Momma and Big Daddy. Grace can point out the poop to YOU. Grace can tell YOU that they are getting near the tee shirt. Grace can watch quietly as you stomp out of the room with the offending poop. But she should actively participate in the reconnection at the end of the discipline. Her role as Little Momma is a bridge between Big People and Little Dogs. She always sides with Big People and asks Little Dogs to be good.
If Grace forgets her role during the discipline conversation, try to hush her quickly and quietly. She should never be disciplined at the same time that Little Dogs are being disciplined, that would undermine her status. Status is everything. She is Little Momma and that is a special relationship to be prized and cultivated.
There will be an added benefit for Grace if she performs her role as Little Momma well. (She will love it.) If in the future Grace gets in trouble with Big Momma and/or Big Daddy for something she has done, Little Dogs will start a conversation with her. They will comfort her. “Little Momma," they will say, "We understand what it feels like to be disciplined but please, please be good to Big Momma and Big Daddy.”
Remember. Heidi is Big Momma. Dan is Big Daddy. Grace is Little Momma. Bosco is puppy brother.
Level one response from Big Momma and Big Daddy: Big Voice, pointy finger, clean up and put poop outside, banishment to the patio for a minute, spray smelly human air freshener on the spot. Then no more than 60 seconds later, reconnect with love and praise (both dogs) in the house where it still smells like human air freshener.
"Hands on Hips" Level two response from Big Momma and Big Daddy: Reenact level one with bigger emotional displays coupled with ignoring the dogs: Really Big Voice, pointy finger with lots of shaking, throw the poop in the back yard, stand and stare in the direction that you threw the poop - hands on hips (ignoring dogs), leave them outside, spray the offending spot and related area with air freshener. Then no more than 60 seconds later, reconnect with love and praise (both dogs) in the house where it still smells like human air freshener.
Level three response from Big Momma and Big Daddy: at a later time in the presence of the dogs and for no other reason than you want to, spray the offending spot with air freshener, ignoring dogs’ response. After 60 seconds, tell them they are good dogs.
When you throw the poop and stare at it and when you overwhelm the offending spot with your smell, the dogs will start a conversation with you where they say: “I am sorry.”
By ignoring them for a few seconds, you finish the conversation by communicating “Don't talk to me. You should be sorry.”
Level four response from Big Momma and Big Daddy: Perform all previous levels and then place something of yours that smells like you (a not-laundered tee shirt) in the middle of the room and chastise the dogs with Warning Voice and even finger point for getting near it. You can pick up the tee shirt and put it away. You can bring it back for no reason other than you want to. Don’t leave it there too long. (A conversation has to end at some point, doesn’t it?)
Grace should not be a part of the discipline conversation. She is Little Momma. Her role is key in reconnection with love and praise and she should ask them directly to be nice to Big Momma and Big Daddy. Grace can point out the poop to YOU. Grace can tell YOU that they are getting near the tee shirt. Grace can watch quietly as you stomp out of the room with the offending poop. But she should actively participate in the reconnection at the end of the discipline. Her role as Little Momma is a bridge between Big People and Little Dogs. She always sides with Big People and asks Little Dogs to be good.
If Grace forgets her role during the discipline conversation, try to hush her quickly and quietly. She should never be disciplined at the same time that Little Dogs are being disciplined, that would undermine her status. Status is everything. She is Little Momma and that is a special relationship to be prized and cultivated.
There will be an added benefit for Grace if she performs her role as Little Momma well. (She will love it.) If in the future Grace gets in trouble with Big Momma and/or Big Daddy for something she has done, Little Dogs will start a conversation with her. They will comfort her. “Little Momma," they will say, "We understand what it feels like to be disciplined but please, please be good to Big Momma and Big Daddy.”
Labels: Conversations with Animals, Scottish Terriers, Trudy
posted by PajamaGirl at
3:10 PM
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