'Ask Buddy', Installment Number 19

'Ask Buddy' Installment Number 19

Once in a while there comes a time in every mans life when he discovers that he is Not actually in charge of everything in his life. Sometimes he must face the music and admit that some things constitute a loosing battle and it's time to throw up the white flag of truce.

 

 

Dear Buddy,

I am confident that you can help me with a very vexing issue.
 Here, I'll start at the beginning. My 21-month-old Border Collie, 'Beautiful' has for some reason known only to her, has arbitrarily decided that she wants to sleep downstairs now instead of in her crate upstairs where she has slept every night since she was 9 weeks old. I mean, what's with that?? Our other BC, 'Prettyboy' 14 years old, also slept upstairs until 'he' decided that the stairs were not worth tackling anymore, and so he now sleeps downstairs. I feel abandoned and un-needed now but I refuse to sleep downstairs just because they have decided to. Did I mention that I just spent a small fortune for a brand new soft sided crate for her? Grrr!

What should I do now Buddy? I've tried talking to her about this but to no avail.

'Feeling flustered in the Alleghanies'

 

Dear 'Flustered'

Relax, take a deep breathe, life is short, otherwise you'll just die tired, and thank your lucky stars you have only 'two' Border Collies, and that you have wisely turned to me for help!

Few realize it but when it comes to BC's, there's a particular method to their madness, and the sooner you are in touch with that fact, the sooner you will find the inner peace you seek.

'Beautiful' has simply decided that this phase of 'your' training has successfully been completed, and it is time for you to gradually move into 'your' new training regimen. You see, she has, since she was 9 weeks old, allowed 'you' to imagine that 'you' were training 'her', when all along 'she' was training 'you' to let 'her' do what 'she' wanted to do all along. And now that she is 'older' and more independent, she has decided that enough is enough of this time-consuming coddling of you in your continuing infancy, and time for 'you' to learn 'new tricks'. You must quickly get over this moment and move on with life as she dictates. You don't want to step on a 'doggie mine' in the middle of the night, do you? Do you?? Of course not! Simply go along with her decision as if it were your own. Humor her, praise her for her great decision-making skills, ask her to teach you a new board game such as checkers or chess, and give her lots of those, 'good girl, good girl' praises that she looks for. It's ok for you to 'pretend' that 'you' are in charge, she expects that but always know that 'you' are just along for the ride, 'she' is the 'driver' and you, simply a willing passenger.

Relax, and enjoy the 'ride'. Peace!  ;)  ;)