Disney Dad versus The Rules Lady

[BG and Gavin]

My DH is now retired while I work every day during the school year. He has taken over all of the weekday dog walking duties.  He is awesome with Gavin. They go for a brisk one hour walk including off-leash runs in the park with tons of ball chasing, wrestling and the occasional meet-up and play sessions with other neighbourhood dogs.  Often times an afternoon walk is also scheduled.  What more could a doodle want?  Gavin is happy, healthy, eats well and sleeps wells.  We are both very lucky with this arrangement. 

However...when I walk Gavin on the weekends, he has his own agenda and his leash manners are not as good as they once were.  Last weekend Gavin literally tried to pull me into his favorite park.  So this weekend the Rules Lady got serious with him.  Back to basics we went.  Gavin was tethered around my waist and we went where I wanted and each time he inched toward the end of the leash I changed directions, often running the opposite way.  "Look buddy, you had better pay attention to me because I am very unpredictable."  He tried for the park yesterday, but I ran the other way when he did.  Today he was quite a bit better and was rewarded with some off leash tennis action at the park. 

I figure that I should have him completely straightened out by the end of the Christmas break...only to have him fall back when Disney Dad takes over again :)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ha ha!  We have gotten really lax on practicing any behavior rules and, boy, do our dogs reflect it.  I am going to get serious about basic manners over the winter.

[BG and Gavin]

You go Nancy!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I really think that he'll just learn that there are different rules between Mom and Dad.  My guys know that when they're with me there is an expectation about how they will walk....and with Dad it's "whatever".  They totally "get it" now.  They never even try to play games with me because they know it's just not going to work.  It's so contextual with them that they can totally adjust to "Mom's rules" versus "Dad's rules".  Nice that DH is retired and spending this quality time with Gav...does he have dinner on the table too..LOL.

[Kyoko]

That's really cool that they can distinguish when to and when not to !!

[BG and Gavin]

Gavin is very contextual.  I put his special fancy collar and leash and scarf on for therapy work and he focuses like a pro.  I remember when he was younger he would blow me off when he was in a new neighbourhood.  Crazy dog.

I can't tell you how lucky I am to have my DH.  Now that he is home, he makes my lunch for work, starts the car for me on the cold mornings and keeps up the house and laundry. 

[BG and Gavin]

Big Murph and Guinness are pretty smart cookies.  They know they have it made too!

[Bonnie and Kona]

You are awesome, BJ! Disney Dad might mess Gav up for awhile but with your "refresher classes" he will straighten right up! You inspire me.

[BG and Gavin]

Thanks for the vote of confidence Bonnie!  When I took Gavin to the park today to play ball, he was do happy that he rolled putting all fours in the air snorting.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This sounds like the best of both worlds to me...and I'll bet Gavin thinks so, too. :)

[BG and Gavin]

It really is Karen.  I kid him, but would not have him change a thing.  I used to tell him he was Gavin's littermate, so Disney Dad is a step up :)

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

LOL Gavin's littermate! I'm going to use that one on my DH! Perfect!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I know Disney Dad is not following the rules, BUT I think you are so lucky to have him home. My dogs know exactly who is holding the leash when we walk. They listen to dad, and not me :) Gavin will get it all figured out, too.