Zen and the Art of Dog Training

As a new dog owner I had little idea how complicated dog training would be. Not that it is impossible, it just takes a lot of hard work and patience. So, just like many things in life really. The difference between this and other choices you make in life is that there is no backing out, unless you want a whole world of pain in the future. With other choices we make there is always the chance to start again later. If you miss a few weeks of running, you can start again. It might hurt, but you can still do it. But with dog training, if you miss part of the fundamental training when they are young, there could be no going back.

Sick Little Boy

I wasn’t prepared for this. My little baby got sick. Ears down, tired, not knowing what to do with himself. You feel lost when your pet gets ill. You can’t communicate with them, it is all so much guess work. All you can do is turn them over to the professionals and hope for the best.

Training Time

Playtime is over. He is still a child, of course, but it is time to get serious. Zack is now 5 months old and, until now, I have been training him myself. It has become apparent though that it is time to go to school. You can watch as many YouTube videos as you like, but we all know there is no replacement for a real teacher. So that is what we did last weekend, Zack had his first private training session.

Summer of the Dog

We finally took the plunge, after many discussions, different thoughts, and opinions. We did it, we got a dog. Welcome to the family, Zack the black labrador.

The decision about when to get him was made easier by the travel restrictions which are still in place, and the fact that both my wife and I are teachers. So, summer was going to be spent at home. Nearly 8 weeks to welcome a puppy, train him, make him feel at home. What could go wrong?

Fresh Air?

Spring has sprung, and it seems to be just in time. After the first real winter in the Czech Republic for a few years now, it is good to be sitting on my balcony and enjoying the warmth of the sunshine on my back. The plants have been released from their winter protection and are ready for the new season to begin in earnest. I, similarly, feel a freedom to enjoy my small sanctuary yet again.