Have you ever assessed yourself as a dog owner?

I assess my behavior as an owner from time to time. Usually, it's when I notice that Misha has been acting up in some way. She's hyper, not following commands, or being bratty. It can be frustrating.

I take the time to read up on dog training when this happens. It helps to find my focus and reminds me what I should be doing. But, I always see it as a learning situation, a chance for me to change what I am doing so that I can change her behavior. My experience with dogs has shown me that nothing is permanent and that dog's can be retrained at any stage. Sometimes it just takes a small correction to get things back on track.

Misha is a prime example of what you are talking about, Haopee. Her first nine or ten months, I did everything I was suppose to. I followed my books. I got her around different people. She was shy, so worked hard on this. I had her around other dogs. I started training her from the first day I got her. I was consistent.

Then, my Dad got sick and then two months later he died. He lived with us, so Misha felt his loss.

I was upset emotionally. In addition to that, I was preparing to move, so the house was in chaos. One day about a month after he died, I realize Misha was a terror. I couldn't pick her up without getting bit and she was terrified of other people. She was just awful. I couldn't figure it out at first. Then, I realize what was going on. While I was tending to my own needs, I was not tending to hers. My world had been flipped upside down. So, was hers. Because I wasn't acting as the leader, she responded in the only way she could by taking over the situation. It was a terrible time. Looking back, I could see exactly where and how it all went wrong.

But, it all ended up okay. I moved three months after my Dad died. Misha was back to square one as if I had never trained her at all. It took a lot of work and many months, but eventually she worked through her issues. She's much better now.

I don't think you could ever have the perfect dog unless you are the Dog Whisperer.