Oh! For The Love Of Your Dogs!
Dogs boarding at Harmony Farm Kennel And Lamb, near Kamloops, BC love their luxurious kennel accommodations, big view windows, private covered yard, natural countryside surroundings, their 2-3x daily interesting and entertaining hikes and even their pillow treats they find back in their room where they relax and lounge in between meals! These are a few of the many reasons you have chosen a custom care dog boarding location for your doggy's vacation right? While away you know they are safe and healthy and no worries with our emails that verify how your dog is doing in your absence.
Okay, so that clear, I am going to take the liberty of assuming that you love your dog(s) very much and have spent quality time creating a human/canine relationship with them that is bonded and loving. Now your 'family' dog has had their usual great time with us during their kennel vacation and your happy happy dog knows you're on your way to pick them up! They can feel you draw closer and they are excited!
So, why is it I ask, that so many owners coming to pick up their dogs from a kennel vacation, whether it be after a day or a month, get so upset when their dog greets them with fresh, ecstatic, excited, honest exuberance!? It never ceases to amaze me how instantly angry and furious some people become at this precious moment of re-acquaintance. Yes, it's rambunctious and even frenetic energy but folks, it's love... it's your dog's honest and unconditional love! How or WHY, should that EVER be a bad thing?
Have you not trained them from the start that you are a good place to come to, a positive secure place to be? This is what you have worked for in your relationship is it not? Yes, understandably there are most other occassions where your dog needs to 'behave' however, please don't spoil it for them by reprimanding, smacking or jerking on them, scolding and insisting they hold their enthusiasm quietly inside, behave, or worse, dampen their love completely, only to be rejected into learning they are a 'bad dog' for feeling so expressive of their joy, of their relief, of their love - uhhhum, to see... YOU!
I am not a professional trainer, I just love dogs. I feel for dogs and over and over, when I see people get upset and scold their dogs at this moment of rejoicing, I can not help but sigh and wonder... How would they respond if their dog expressed nothing upon their return? How would they feel if the dog did what they were telling them to; shut down, behaved quietly, turned inside themselves and walked out of the kennel aloof, showing nothing but indifference? You and I both know exactly how that response would feel and that is NOT why you have a dog in your life is it?
Please, do you and your dog a great favour and embrace the moment! Be grateful! Make the most of the opportunity to be the very best thing in that dog's entire life...it will only last a very short time and I promise, the moment will be gone...back to responsively following your alpha guidance, getting in the vehicle and returning to once again to mesh into the fibers of your everyday life, like the balanced dog you've trained them to be.
Just think, how wonderful it would be, if one, even one person in your life, would greet you with such enthusiasm as your loyal companion dog! Just think how awesome it would feel to have any other individual, anyone, show their excited and unconditional acceptance of you upon greeting, no matter your mood, what you drove up in, how you looked, smelled, if your hair was a mess, whether you were dressed like royalty or just out of bed! Oh, for the love of your dog!
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