Old Dogs CAN Learn New Tricks
Yesterday our beloved black labrador Dylan turned 11. Since he was a puppy Dylan has been the most gentle, docile dog know to man. Sometimes he almost seems comatose. Although he lives to eat, he takes anything offered to him with extreme care, never once snapping it up like our other dog Jake does.
Dylan’s only bad habit in life is his penchant for female golden retrievers at the dog park, where he mounts them until they drop in submission. He has been banished by angry owners of 3-month-old puppies who have been subjected to the aggressive Dylan. This behavior is quite in contrast to his general personality.
In the last few years Dylan has become a creature of habit and fears. He has worn a path in the yard through the bushes as he carefully retraces his steps from the lower to the upper level of our back yard. He has resolutely refused to go up the 12 steps to the upper level of our house.
Our son Dan could not accept the fact that old dogs have stubborn habits. With some prodding he has persuaded Dylan that he really doesn’t have to go through the bushes every time he traverses the back yard. He has also convinced Dylan that he still can go up and down stairs without being afraid. Dan quietly urges him and Dylan puts one paw ahead of the other to go up. With a little nudge he slowly goes down. Jake still flies off the last step to skid across the wooden floor of the living room. Dogs are as different as children in a family.
So with Dan’s help our aging Dylan has shown that old dogs can still learn new tricks! We all hope he outlives us because there will never be another dog like Dylan.
Dylan’s only bad habit in life is his penchant for female golden retrievers at the dog park, where he mounts them until they drop in submission. He has been banished by angry owners of 3-month-old puppies who have been subjected to the aggressive Dylan. This behavior is quite in contrast to his general personality.
In the last few years Dylan has become a creature of habit and fears. He has worn a path in the yard through the bushes as he carefully retraces his steps from the lower to the upper level of our back yard. He has resolutely refused to go up the 12 steps to the upper level of our house.
Our son Dan could not accept the fact that old dogs have stubborn habits. With some prodding he has persuaded Dylan that he really doesn’t have to go through the bushes every time he traverses the back yard. He has also convinced Dylan that he still can go up and down stairs without being afraid. Dan quietly urges him and Dylan puts one paw ahead of the other to go up. With a little nudge he slowly goes down. Jake still flies off the last step to skid across the wooden floor of the living room. Dogs are as different as children in a family.
So with Dan’s help our aging Dylan has shown that old dogs can still learn new tricks! We all hope he outlives us because there will never be another dog like Dylan.
posted by Barbara at 6:24 PM
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