Ministik Hills Dog Training

I need you to listen to this. Really listen. Soak it in. No matter how much socialization you do, no matter how much work and training, no matter how much time... and effort you put in, your dog is going to struggle through adolescence. NO MATTER WHAT. Please accept it. It will make your journey together so much better. Reactivity, hyperarousal, destructive behavior, failure to remember even the simplest cues, easily distracted, the list goes on. You’re going to experience at least one of those, probably most or all, after your dog hits 5 months of age but ESPECIALLY around the 7-8 month mark it will all start imploding and you’ll think you’ve done something wrong. You haven’t. This is normal. This is adolescence and you can’t give up now. It’s going to go on like this for up to 3 years of age. Aslan is soon to reach the 6 month old milestone. His teeth are all falling out and his new ones coming in. His adult coat is beginning to change. He is changing as much on the inside as he is on the outside, and he’s having amazing moments but also horrific ones too. Barking at people, intense arousal, forgetting how to sit, I swear I threatened today to skin him alive if he barked one more time at a noise. But, deep down, I know this is 100% normal. I haven’t failed, he’s not broken, he’s a shepherd, and my life is going to suck on and off for a bit while he figures out things and we will take every day at a time. I tell people time and time again this is normal, and often they are so blinded by the fact that they don’t remember this with their last dog they struggle to accept it. But I promise you; even their last dog did it too, it’s just love fogs our memories sometimes (just like with kids) and we are such impatient creatures it’s hard in the moment. You aren’t failing. Your dog isn’t broken. Focus on management. Focus on exercising the brain and body in ways that keep your dog enriched and entertained and you sane. Go back to basics. Go back to fun. Ride the waves and try to not focus on all the bad but a lot of the good. You’ll both get there, I promise. Sincerely, Mom of a Belgian shepherd who barks at everything and forgot how to sit but then also has learned to swim and loves to fetch sticks!

If you know someone in Parkland County we are opening up to help, we can house cats and dogs, for those being evacuated from the fire.

How can you know if your dog is enjoying the interaction?

For all of my dog loving friends.