There are all sorts of dog training classes out there, it is very confusing, but no matter how hard I look I can’t find the classes I really need: How to be the Pack Leader for me and How to be a Follower for River.
After Foley passed over the River of Life to the Bridge I had three weeks alone, and I was an excellent Pack Leader during that time. Then River came to live with us. And she doesn’t get the “Pack Leader” idea at all. So I have done my best to physically assert myself as the leader but I usually end up on my back with River’s teeth on my throat.
Foley comes down and tells me that if I am going to a pack leader I have to stop letting everything scare the bejesbers out of me. Honestly, having Foley come down and suddenly appear next to me scares the bejesbers out of me.
I can’t help it. I am a dog who worries about things. Like that thing that lives in our balls.
Daddy came home with these two balls that were big and had holes in them. He cut some of the rubber around the holes so we could stick our face in them. He then put these things called Whimzees in them. Then he rolled them across the floor. River took to hers right away. Sticking her face in the ball to bite at the Whimzee, walking around the house with her face stuck in the ball, and generally enjoying herself.
I went over and pawed at the ball. It rolled as the thing inside moved. By itself! The only things that move by themselves are alive and most things that are alive are sneaky and going to bite me. When I saw the thing in the ball move I knew it wouldn’t be long before it got out of that ball and attacked me so I went under the kitchen table and trembled.
Daddy picked me up and put me in his chair and patted me. I anxiously watched the ball roll back and forth and River snap at it. I shook. Daddy passed me to Mommy who told me it was just a toy and that I had nothing to be afraid of.
Which is what Foley had told me. So I am trying very hard to be less afraid of things.
I wish there was a class for that.
But if there was I would be too afraid to go.
