Sometimes the most difficult things in life surprise you with the greatest rewards.
I have blogged in the past about my pup Pablo and his special needs. Pablo’s breed comes from dog-fighting stock and he has a brain that makes him instantly aggressive toward other dogs. I was an innocent when I adopted Pablo. I believed that dogs were aggressive because of bad ownership–I had no idea some dogs brains are naturally aggressive.
No one, I repeat, no one will get this until they themselves adopt a special needs dog.
You might think training a dog is difficult and that you’re just naturally good at it because your dog isn’t aggressive.
Sorry folks, but you lucked out. You adopted a breed that is relatively easy to train (most likely a popular breed, bred to be low-key for families). The difference between a family-friendly breed and an aggressive breed is like this: one is like training a kitten to use a littler box and the other, like training a tiger not to stalk goats.
Pablo is teaching me about dogs. Pablo is teaching me about aggression. Pablo pushes me past my comfort zone to an edge I never thought I’d be balancing on. To be on the front lines of dog aggression is a scary place to be. I’ll never like being there. No one would. I believe aggressive dogs should not be bred, period. If an adult dog is aggressive to humans or other dogs–do not breed it. This will weed out the faulty brain glitch and we will have a world full of trustworthy dogs. There are aggressive bully breed dogs and non aggressive bullys. Breed the non aggressive only and we will have no more breed specific bans. I adore Pablo. He is my boy–but I would not breed him. I believe his instant aggression toward other dogs is a dangerous trait and his lineage stops with him.
Training Pablo is often exhausting and never ending. We have great days and a few crazy ones. Pablo is a special needs dog that I never thought I’d adopt. Though, through the training of Pablo, I have been forced to grow in ways I would not have without him. He has taught me so much about being a leader, facing aggression and never giving up.
Something wonderful has seeped from between our fears and tears. Pablo is also the most intellegent and loyal friend in the world. He is so devoted, obedient and playful. He worries about me, if I am ever uneasy, he will not let me out of his sight. I am blessed each day to come home to his constant companionship and love. The same goes for my other dog-boy, Fernando. Though, now I am beginning to see that Fernando’s behavior, in general, is much worse than Pablo’s! But let’s face it, Fernando is a pug and even on his worst days, when his behavior is deplorable, all I have to do is pick up his squat, cuddly, little body, tuck him under my arm and off we go.
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