As traumatic as it was for me, and I am not a wimp, watching my dog attacking another dog, I can't even imaging how 7 year old must've felt then. For two years my daughter would become hysterical any time we would consider taking Brandy to public or camping.
When I started going to Margot for private lessons she agreed that it would be a good idea to bring my girl with me. Every saturday I would load my girl into the car crying hysterically terrified that Brandy will destroy Margot's yorkie, then she would be sitting on the bench in Margot's yard quietly crying through the half of the lesson.
Gradually it was becoming better, and I stopped thinking about her past behavior as much, but last night I finally realized just how much progressed we had made, when on our way from the class she was telling me about how important it is for her to go to the class, that she is trying to pay careful attention to what Margot is saying to everyone, so that when she grows up and gets her own dog she will know exactly what to do:-) My thoughts went back to the class that we just had. The most of the class the leash spent on the floor dragging behind my dog rather than in my hand and not a single time I've heard my daughter's terrified scream - "mama what are you doing?!"
I think I can scratch one more thing of my "to do list" :-)
Yuliya-
ReplyDeleteI just came back and read your post one more time. You have no idea just how much it is helping me to stay focused. I so want to reach, teach, encourage youngsters and you know the "set-back" I received last Saturday.
It means I need to be able to read and re-read posts telling me I really am helping/reaching/encouraging young people to be interested in training and enjoying dogs because they are dogs.
So, thank you for posting the progress of your daughter. It does mean a lot to me.