Look out girls...I'm in charge now!

I, like many dog owners, have always believed that I had reasonably trained pets that would obey most of my commands unconditionally. After comparing my three very unique females to my step-grandmother's champion Mach papillion though, I feel somewhat embarrassed at my own feeble attempts to claim control over my pets. After spending time with Jazz the wonderdog (she really is amazing, as is Karen), I began to wonder why my animals were unable to follow the same commands. Were they not as bright as her? Perhaps they're just rebellious and anti-authoritarian.

Undoubtedly, the answer to my question doesn't lie in their personalities or predispositions, but in my own competence as an owner. I'm fully aware and able to admit that I thoroughly spoil my pets. Not only do I spoil them to the worst degree (they eat what I eat, when I eat), but I also have failed to properly train them to behave according to my direction. I am a firm believer in the statement, "there are no bad dogs, just irresponsible owners".

I'm just now realizing that I myself, the dog lover and fanatic, am included in the irresponsible owner category, and its a tiny bit difficult to accept. I don't accept failure well; actually I don't accept it at all. So perhaps now is the time to change my irresponsible ways and retrain myself and my pets. I do want to make it absolutely clear that I don't own the wrecking-ball destructive dogs that are usually the case on It's Me or the Dog, but I do want to increase the number of commands my dogs will respond to and also their consistency to respond according to those commands.

Its a difficult thing, considering how to go about retraining three dogs ranging from around two years old to over twelve. I'm worried about how the oldest, Rozalyn, will do. She's developed slight cataracts and I'm positive she has difficulty seeing and possibly hearing in her old age. However, she's definitely got the heart to be trained; she loves to please and human approval and affection. I think Ruby and Athena will do just fine. Luckily Ruby is small enough, that if she wasn't doing what I wanted her to do, I could pick her up and literally remove her from her trouble making. Athena is a different story altogether. She's a 105 lb Akita belonging to my boyfriend. There is no moving her out of trouble. Countless times we've had to share a bed with a huge furry panda bear because there isn't a way to get her to stay down. It sure would be nice to just be able to command her to stop being so stubborn though.

So now I'm stuck with the decision of how to train these three girls. Clicker training makes me a little uncomfortable because I favor positive reinforcements such as treats and praise for good behavior. Honestly, the biggest obstacle right now is finding time to begin training. With classes, a job, the holidays and finals, its hard to find time for myself, let alone to train my rebellious dogs. Hopefully, I can take the first step soon and commit myself to training these girls into imitation champions because they deserve it!!