When getting a dog, it’s important to get one that matches the owner’s lifestyle and energy. Getting a very energetic and active dog can be detrimental for people that have a sedentary lifestyle. What’s even more dangerous is getting a chaotic dog for people with severe medical conditions like the person described in this story.
Debbie is a woman who owns three dogs. One of her dogs, named Samson, is too energetic for her. Debbie has a medical condition that makes her tired all the time, so taking care of Samson takes a toll on her body.
Debbie’s father often tells her to get rid of the dog whenever he visits. At one point, he made an ultimatum. If Debbie didn’t give Samson away or at least do something about his behavior, her father would never visit again. This was when she asked for the help of a professional dog trainer.
A dog trainer named Victoria Stilwell observed how Debbies dog behaved. The dog would often jump on guests excessively, especially Debbie’s father. It was quite clear right from the start that something had to be done. Otherwise, someone in the house might get into an accident.
After the observation, Victoria taught Samson how to stay put. She prepared a location for him, far from the door. It was where he was going to sit and stay whenever a guest would arrive.
The trainer enticed Samson with treats and got him to go into the designated area. She then slowly backed away towards the door while urging the dog to sit still and stay. This was an attempt to see if Samson would fight the urge to run towards the guest waiting behind the door.
Once Samson managed to remain in the designated area, Victoria asked Debbie to repeat what she did. The dog owner experienced a few difficulties and almost gave up on the training. However, Victoria urged her to remain calm and keep going at it. Eventually, Debbie was able to make Samson sit still as well.
Video courtesy of It’s Me or The Dog via YouTube.