WAW: Watching & Waiting (part deux)

[Bridgestone]

I disagree. Even a dog needs to know why even if that "why" is that they get positive reinforcement if they do what your will asks them to do.

However, the 'why' for me is NOT to reward the dog for staying in the yard.. the 'why' for me is to keep him safe.

The 'why' to the dog is to earn the reward and do AS I WILL.

If the dog only thought to the 'why' is that he's being rewarded & he likes the reward he may continue to do the behaviour, until the dog begins to think the 'why' might be controlling and not an equal relationship, as he doesn't understand the intentions of keeping in the yard in the first place.

I don't think you want a dog though. I think you want a partner. Partners have figured out how to accept, embrace, and flourish in each other's differences and still remain partners. You can interchange partner and friend and spouse for that sentence.

I agree

You are both trying to figure out how to be a person. How to interact and respect each other together or separate.

I think we are looking at each other as 'new people' as we have grown & gotten healthier...and seeing how we interact & respect each other as 'new' people.

Thanks for asking so I can clarify my thoughts.
Peace
Bridge