#i dont think she wouldve adopted the behaviour style she had if she wasnt. she learned VERY EARLY (pre-8wks) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

fjordfolk · 8 months ago

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100% don't punish the growl and listen to your dog and your puppy is not an evil mastermind AND ALSO seeing how Melis behaved today and latey, feeling very validated in our approach to her outbursts of screaming thrashing gnashing teeth being less "sorry sorry never mind" and more "ok buddy are u sure though"

time will tell if she has another ride on the melty brain hormone train coming (Sparta didn't - but she might) but at this moment in time, Melis is a pretty tolerant, people-oriented, socially intelligent little dog who's displaying some very pleasant traits. and who has not growled or snarled or gotten near threshold in many months. at this rate our worst puppy might end up our best dog

#her impulse control is tons better (as one expects when they start to hormonally mature a bit)#and its not so much about teaching her to moderate her behaviour anymore as it seems like she finally understands #that the best way to the best outcome for her is simply to #behave. and take it easy. and trust us and the environment to make things work out in good ways #conflict free resolutions etc #to be fair i think melis has ALWAYS been socially intelligent #i dont think she wouldve adopted the behaviour style she had if she wasnt. she learned VERY EARLY (pre-8wks)#that if she blustered big enough she'd win anything. and that became the most convenient and successful way for her to behave #so all we really had to do was make that behaviour inefficient. not punish it - that wasnt necessary #because the wanted behaviour requires less of her than the unwanted one does #anyway i love her and her remorselessness to bits and now we can foster her need for chaos and violence in productive and harmonious ways #<3

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