Adopted LifeOctober 3, 2020 – February 7, 2023 Diego, My sweet boy, we fought so hard. In a way, I’ve been grieving your loss since the beginning, afraid that our time would be cut short rather than end in your old age. It’s not fair. Honey I’m sorry. There will be a part of me that wishes I hadContinue reading “Dear Diego”
Tag Archives: Training
Trainer Consultation
It was finally time for our trainer consultation! Allison and I met through video chat to discuss the situation and let her have a look at Diego at home. We established a plan: Install a solid leave it for the reactivity Teach Diego that strangers are not scary Resolve his resource guarding Minimize his overallContinue reading “Trainer Consultation”
Pills Pills Pills
I’m lyin’ here on the floor where you left meI think I took too muchI’m crying here, what have you done?I thought it would be fun… I think I’ll get outta here, where I canRun just as fast as I canTo the middle of nowhereTo the middle of my frustrated fearsAnd I swear you’re justContinue reading “Pills Pills Pills”
The Vet Part 2
“I’m tired of being afraid of my dog! I am your mom.” I grabbed Diego’s collar, holding him at a distance so that he couldn’t lunge toward me. Purvasha walked into a whole new scene at home from what she left a month ago. She looked surprised as she walked into the living room, justContinue reading “The Vet Part 2”
Dog Scholarship?
“Good news! Our training committee has approved an initial training consultation as well as a full medical work-up, with one of our veterinary partners, for Diego! Today, I will be securing one of our trainers to work with Diego. While I do that, please feel free to schedule a time for Diego to be seenContinue reading “Dog Scholarship?”
No-kill Shelter
“Megan, this is Whitney from Best Friends.” The rest of our conversation is mostly a blur now. Whitney asked me for my experience with Diego since I had had him. I told her of the bites, the vet, the fear. She told me that she worked with a nonprofit called Best Friends Animal Society. “OnceContinue reading “No-kill Shelter”
Stay Back
Walks had always been a source of peace for me, a way to decompress from the day and work through some thoughts. When I was furloughed months before, I strolled around a nearby lake several times a week, watching the swans grow up and prepare to fly away for the winter. The turtles would sunbatheContinue reading “Stay Back”
Energy
One week passed from Diego’s pseudo surrender evaluation, and it was time to take him back to see Adam, the trainer, in his group class. I attached the leash to Diego’s collar, rather than the orange harness he came in, as Adam had instructed. The week before I was too scared to do it, beingContinue reading “Energy”
Crate Training Expectations
Shadow—that could have been another name for Diego. He followed me from room to room, looking at me with big eyes and little tail wags. He would lay in the doorway while I curl my hair, stay by my feet when I’m at my desk, and sprawl out on the ottoman in front of meContinue reading “Crate Training Expectations”
Megan Kiecker 