For years I have wanted a dog but, frankly, we have not had - and don't have
now - a lifestyle for a dog. We are gone from our home so much. But I have been
thinking more and more seriously about getting a dog. If everything holds to plan
- and nothing ever really does - we've going to get a dog when we come back
from our trip to Portugal, Spain and France this Fall.
I've been talking to several people who have dogs about things it would be
helpful to know. The one topic that has consistently come up has been the matter
of training. Some have advised getting an older dog who is already trained and
others have stressed the importance of training a younger dog from the very
beginning. People have given me the names of dog trainers and they speak
reverentially of them - one even referred to his trainer as a "dog whisperer." I
have now found out that there is a television program by this name. One man
said to me, "You have to relate to the dog as if you yourself were a dog and from
the very beginning you have to let him know that you are the Alpha Dog." I think
I've gotten some good advice about dogs. We'll see how it all plays out.
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