Parenting & Playdates

I am at a point in my life where a lot of my friends are getting married, buying homes, getting dogs and even thinking about about having children. Yes, I said thinking - only a few friends have taken the plunge so far, which explains why we are all so obsessed with our dogs!

Just like parents have their children get-together to play,  us dog-moms have playdates too. I always get a little anxious before one of Rocky’s get-togethers. You see, Patrick and I have a different approach to training our dog. Actually – I don’t think we have an approach, that may be the problem. We are not the type of people that meet a new dog and immediately start giving him commands to sit, lay down, roll over, jump, spin, bark. That’s. Just. Not. Us.

When we meet a new canine we pet him, snuggle up, hug, play, run, throw a ball around. (Patrick talks to dogs in a very cute/funny voice – it’s hilarious!) We just aren’t that “dominant” over our dog. I used the dominant in quotes because that word comes up very often- and it really bugs me! A lot of the other dog parents use this term regularly when referring to their furry friends. It seems as though I am not a good dog-mom because Rocky does not see me as a dominant person. OK- well he’s smarter than we think… I’m not!

When we are on playdates, it can be embarrassing when Rocky doesn’t listen to me or when his little friend is so much more behaved than he is. I am sure that happens to real parents as well. It’s like I feel responsible for his actions, (which I am) but nobody realizes that he acts totally different when we are not around other dogs then when we are at home.  At home, Rocky follows me everywhere, so I have never needed to use the  “Come!” command – he has no idea what that means. I haven’t needed Rocky to sit at any certain time either – when we get in from his walks he automatically sits down to get his leash taken off – so ”sit” really isn’t in his vocab either.

If I want Rocky to lay down, I lay down. I really don’t understand why I would ever need him to roll over, he knows how of course, but I would never ask him to do it. To me Rocky is the best dog ever-  he’s a cuddler, a protector, a playmate, an exercise buddy… my little shadow. I have no issues whatsoever with his behavior when we are in the privacy of our own home. (Okay, there may be a few small issues – but they all have to do with the fact that Rocky wants all the attention from Patrick and I – I cannot remember the last time I gave Patrick a hug without Rocky trying to jump up and get in on the love. Too cute!)

The only words he knows are “NO! ” and “DOWN!”- go figure!

When we go on playdates I get annoyed when people are always telling Rocky to sit, roll over, lay down- he just doesn’t do it. And to be honest – I don’t really think Rocky wants to take orders from someone he hardly knows – I wouldn’t!! I get plenty of eye rolls, head shakes and shoulder shrugs about my puppy parenting skills (or lack thereof), but I’m starting to let it roll off my back. Just because Rocky’s friends are more disciplined than he is, doesn’t make me love Rocky any less and  I have never wished that Rocky was more like someone else’s dog. He is my perfect little spoiled puppy.

I try to relate all of my newly learned puppy parenting skills to real parenting. I’m sure that there many different parenting techniques out there. Have you ever come across an incident where your parenting styles conflicted with someone else’s? Sticky subject, I’m sure…

*Please note – I will take motherhood so much more seriously than I have taken my role as a dog-mom. I realize that structure and learning are both very important!)

*Update- since I wrote this post I have decided to take Rocky to obedience classes. His behavior has become a problem and quite embarrassing. Wish us luck!