I see that the number who read the post about solo training of young dogs is quite many. I realized that I might have written a little less about how the training we do actually goes and goes, So I was going to break it down into smaller parts and tell a little more in detail about how I lonely train Boyo.
There are lots to tell, so I thought I'd start with my own approach. I've already told you that solo training has been my biggest weakness when it comes to Boyo. I like to blame Covid, and that's a huge reason why I didn't go out without a reason. But I've also been a bit lazy and comfortable – I'll be honest and admit that. Plus I've had an attitude that Boyo is so soft and ridiculous, that I did not bring myself to subject him to it.
And there lies my own biggest problem in this. Boyo must be thousands of times softer than Ella, but he's not a gurgling puddle on the floor. Plus att han är tuffare än man tror – close, än jag tror. Av någon anledning har jag varit lite löjlig med honom, och det tjänar varken han eller jag på. Min attityd är det allra, allra viktigaste i det här. Att Boyo tycker det är jobbigt precis när jag går – det är sånt han får lära sig att hantera, quite simply. Och det ligger på mig att ge honom utrymmet att lära sig det.
That's me väl började inse det, gick allt mycket lättare.
Så hur har jag faktiskt gjort?
Jag började med att stänga in Boyo i sovrummet bakom kompostgaller, när jag gjorde min yoga. Han kunde se mig, i alla fall stundvis. Han var rätt pipig, men inte så det störde nämnvärt. Det här roade vi oss med (mja, vi och vi… jag 😀 ) for a few weeks, with exceptions here and there.
It went well a bit like that, I thought. I tried any opportunity to actually go out the front door, whereupon Boyo threw a party and barked like crazy most of the time I was out in the stairwell. Went in once he was quiet. I did that a few times, but didn't think it gave much.
That which did that it turned out to be the day I had laundry time and all of a sudden I wondered if I had gotten the day wrong and had to run down and double check. Normally I bring Boyo to go for a walk while the machines are running, but to run down and check if I really washed on the right day, it felt a little ridiculous to connect him.
Said and done. A firm no made him slap his ass in surprise, and I went out and locked the door. He barked like a madman, but not more than a couple of minutes. After that it was actually quiet, and I ran down and checked – just to see that I actually washed on the correct day.
But there and then I realized that clarity and determination make all the difference. And believe me, I actually already know. You know that, if you follow this blog. But sometimes it's very easy to worry about, and a little less easy to put into practice. 😀 Since then we have practiced several times, and it's going surprisingly well. And, Certainly – he is a muppet and barks in panic just when I leave, for a minute or two. But then it's quiet, and I have stayed away approx 40 – 45 minutes several times, just because. And, another thing is, of course, that he throws himself at the door, and pull my jackets down from hangers. But I can live with that as a consequence, like this in the beginning.
Looked at it overall, I feel quite satisfied. It can of course be better, but I have full confidence that it will be. Boyo is so old now (he will be whole 2 year in December) that I no longer feel the need to pet him. The bastard, it's time for him to be a big boy and handle things like this now.
And as said our; it's mostly my attitude to the whole thing that determines how this will go. Boyo is my mirror, so I'm the one who has to handle this for him to do it.