Protector

Ace and I are planning to move in together this summer and just found an apartment we love in Mystic, Connecticut. And, yes, of course, the apartment allows dogs.... although this does mean that Shamus's reign as "Urban" Adventure Dog will be a bit short lived. Maybe I can call him Suburban Adventure Dog from now on, but somehow that is not quite so edgy. (Was Urban Adventure Dog edgy sounding to begin with, or more cartoon-y?)

Anyway, anyone who knows Shamus knows he's not cartoon-y at all. In fact, he can come across as quite ferocious, especially when a dog or human that he perceives as scary walks beneath my apartment windows. He jumps at the glass, barks, and growls. It's really his only vice (okay, other than the occasional leg hump to visitors or thieved paper towel). But it is definitely a vice. He's done damage to the window sill of my apartment, though thankfully hasn't hurt himself or the glass window. It's also annoying. You're right at the good part of a movie or something and there goes Shamus - viciously guarding the house against an innocent bystander walking two floors below. Over the years, I've kind of accepted this as just part of his personality, something I had to put up with.

And, the truth is, I like the fact that occasionally when I'm out walking him around my neighborhood late at night and a large or intimidating person walks by us, Shamus will growl or bark. Twice he's even pulled at the leash as if to get at the person... and the funny thing is, both times it was someone who I actually was terribly afraid of in the moment. Shamus's protective side made me feel less vulnerable.

Okay, here's the thing.... our dream apartment is in a historic home that has wide low windows that face a popular dog walking street in Mystic. And, ummm, it also has (according to our sweet but slightly neurotic new landlord) the original windowsills that the original owner designed in 1902. They're this beautiful wood, with a unique (and clearly irreplaceable) design. And, ummm, I don't think Shamus can be allowed to jump on them, EVER.

Ace says (lovingly), "He's just going to have to accept that he won't be your protector anymore. Except when I'm away."

I have been mulling that over.

I even started working on breaking Shamus's fixation at the window by calling him to me with treats and making him sit, which worked some of the time. When it didn't work, I was dragging him off into a spare room and punishing him with isolation.

Then, by coincidence, I picked Cesar's Way off my sister's bookshelf last weekend and read it in a couple of days. (Let me be clear, I'm not a big fan of most animal showmanship, which I consider Cesar Millan to kind of take part in. He has this reputation as a dog guru with miracle methods, but most people struggle with those methods because they don't have the instinct, time, strength, confidence, will power, or experience to make them work. The problem is that the showman then presents a book or TV show that makes it look soooooooo easy and people feel like idiots if they can't do it and give up on their animals.) However, Millan makes some great points in this book, and his philosophy/ technique has really helped me in training Shamus to stop protecting me. The points are these:

• Your energy influences your dog. (i.e. Shamus protects me from the people I'm afraid of, not because he senses something bad about the people, but because he senses my anxiety and feels he has to be the leader and take care of me. And no doubt about it, Shamus does sense my anxiety - when I have insomnia, he stretches his body alongside mine to help me calm down.)
• Your dog doesn't really want to be the leader. (I've read this before. But Millan made it clearer to me. My dog is not in a natural state of mind and is actually unhappy when he's barking at the window or protecting my from strangers or sprawling his body alongside mine when I can't sleep. This is causing him frustration and anxiety. What he wants is a leader with calm-assertive energy.)
• Lessons need to be repeated again and again and again. It requires patience to change habits. Ideally, I would have stopped Shamus from doing this when it first began, but now that it's ingrained in his behavior, I have to put real effort into changing it. (This is great advice and is working!)
• Finally, your dog needs "exercise, discipline, and affection" in that order. Millan suggests a long walk to start the day, before breakfast. This is so working for Shamus. I have always done a long walk with him daily but have been inconsistent about when in the day. This morning walk ritual has left me with such a manageable, happy dog. It's amazing.

So, I've always been skeptical about Cesar (and I have seen some dog owners, especially guys, use his claims about leadership as an excuse to dominate their dogs in ignorant ways), but his book reminded me of some good principles of dog ownership and really made me think about the fact that expecting Shamus to protect me is kind of selfish. He should not be "on duty" as a guard dog - he should be able to relax and enjoy his life. So, Ace or no Ace, I'm forcing Urban Adventure Dog into an early retirement when it comes to his protective role. It's time for him to just enjoy.