How do these sayings get started? Old wive's tales? Something someone picked up along the way? There are tons of them out there. Don't pop your knuckles because you will have arthritus? Wrong. If anything it's good for your knuckles because it relieves pressure. Going out in the rain will make you sick? Wrong, it will make you cold. Bacteria will make you sick. Old dogs can't learn new tricks? Again, not entirely true. I don't think they're any easier teach, but not learning at all? That's not true.
How do I know this? Well, I can gladly say that recently I taught an old dog a new trick. Not exactly by myself, it was a cooperative effort, but my girlfriend and I certainly taught her dog a new trick.
Her American bulldog mix, Missy, was always the WORST dog to take on a walk. She would pull the leash, run out into traffic, chase cars and people; you name it, she would do it. She wouldn't listen either; in fact, it seemed entirely the opposite. It was almost like she would do things just because you didn't want her to. After watching an episode of The Dog Whisperer, however, we found out how to make her walk correctly. My girlfriend would hold her leash and I would walk in front of her with a stick. Every time she would try to pull the leash or run away I would smack her with the stick. Not hard, just enough to let her know that she shouldn't pull the leash or run away. She should stay right beside us while she walks.
Amazing! Of all dogs, this is the one I would think could never learn any new tricks. Besides being 10+ years old, she isn't exactly the smartest dog in the world, but she did it. We walked for almost half a mile with Missy right beside, me in front with a stick letting her know what her position was in the pack. Old dogs can't learn new tricks.... wrong.
No comments:
Post a Comment