As I go from home to home working with people and their
pets, I’m often greeted with the phrase, "I want this animal to be
perfect." I always answer, "Let’s make it perfect for your lifestyle and
your personality."Does anyone really want a perfect dog? Or do you want a dog
that’s fun to be around? Picture the dog that never gets excited or loses its cool
when you come home; the puppy that never pounces out of a hiding place, grabs your leg and
then runs to hide again. Pretty boring, huh? I think living with a perfect dog would be
about as boring as living with a perfect person!
The perfect dog for you is one you enjoy––the one that makes you laugh, cry,
excited, or just plain content. So if your 200-pound dog wants to sleep on your bed and
you have a big enough bed and like the idea, go for it!
If you give your dog a basic education in house rules and public etiquette, you will
know how to handle undesirable behavior when it pops up.
Don’t train the personality out of your friend––instead, shape that
personality to complement yours.
