In response to your response to my message about a happy puppy. I had somehow hoped that, in spite of my collection of human failings, that the cheerfulness of my dog would reflect well on my and my household. Of course, that’s a partially vain hope, as some dog personality traits are just the dog’s personality. On the other hand, the dog’s consistently good spirits may be added to by a lack of abuse and a presence of positive interaction.
That being said, we are all very proud of our clever, energetic pup. This is the first dog any of us have ever had, so we were clueless about training. As a result, she may be a little headstrong and hard of listening, but aside from loving a game of “you can’t catch me” she is very easy to live with (no messes on the rug, and she generally treats the kids somewhat maternally).
No real point to this story, except that I felt like bragging about my dog to someone who appears to love, understand, and value dogs highly.
Everyone with a puppy should seek a well-respected and ethical dog obedience trainer, and this is a rare instance of the more you pay the less you get. In general, I suggest a public class or obedience club rather than an expert who makes housecalls. Start by asking your vet for a recommendation.
