I have three children and except for some mistakes along the way, I have done a good job with discipline. I know how important it is to create boundaries and enforce consequences. Why then, is it so difficult for me to enforce the rules with my dog?
His breaches in discipline are almost always the same. He enjoys chewing on the socks that my husband leaves on the floor, and he chews on the woodwork. The situation looks like this. I find a sock near the dog that is suspiciously wet, I pick it up and say, “do you see this? You are not supposed to eat this. I have told you this many times.” At this point, he is licking my face, looking remorseful, and begging for love. I know I should stay firm to teach him that chomping on socks is wrong, but I melt every time.
It would be bad enough if I was the only one under his spell, but my husband has succumbed too. The man who used to have to go for long walks when our last puppy ate the woodwork, just looks at the damage and calmly says, “don’t do that.”
We are in big trouble because it seems that this beautiful, fluffy, high-energy puppy is quickly learning that showing us his loving demeanor is the way to our hearts. I know it is a hopeless situation, so unless I can harden my resolve, and be a little tougher, I will be looking for someone to fix the woodwork and make sure the socks are up.
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