I found out the hard way that my smart dog was not that obedient. I’ve got a Bouvier named Jinji that I have known for close to 8 years. Actually I’ve known her since she was 4 months old. She’s a herder who despite the two of us having attended The Hungry Puppy Obedience School — not once but twice– continues to herd me from one room to another to the back yard and down the street. Jinji weighs about 80 pounds and as big as she is, her breed make excellent pets.
Look at that face? We are en route to the groomer. The word means “Cow Herder of Flanders” as these dogs originally came from the Flemish section of Belgium. You may have also heard them referred to as Cattle Drivers or Dirty Beards. Today the breed continues to used for farm work and herding as guard dogs and police dogs.
At six months we went to The Hungry Puppy Obedience school to develop and build her vocabulary beyond me telling her what no, sit, heel etc. Every Saturday morning for 6 weeks we headed to The Hungry Puppy to run through our paces. But here is the deal: She had no interest in other dogs whatsoever and did not like them sniffing her up. Her only interest was in me and in securing treats. Our instructor however did not believe in rewarding the dogs for what she believed they should simply learn to do with practice. A pat on the head, a reinforcing “good sit” was what Teresa felt was important. But after 6 weeks when it came time for Jinji to show what she’d learned, she simply would not cooperate. We did not pass the test and we did not graduate you.
I was not deterred. I thought Teresa, the instructor was brilliant. Encouraged that Jinji would feel more comfortable with other dogs this time, we went returned to The Hungry Puppy Obedience School every Saturday morning again to to learn the basics: no, sit, wait, heel, no pull. My dog is highly intelligent. I mean the breed is. I am not just waxing poetically. She listens to human’s conversations. She knows words I do not remember teaching her. If I say “Jinji, if you would like a treat, you should go to your room,” then off she goes. If I say, “No pull,” she slows down. If I ask if she would like some water, she will walk across the room IF THAT IS WHAT SHE WANTS TO HER water dish. She will come to my bedroom door and awaken me if she needs to go outside. And when I am away from home, she will climb into the section of the couch where I sit but dash down when she hears the key. She never sits on furniture when people are around. I say all this to infer, stupidity or a weak mind are not what is at issue here. Disobedience is at issue.
She is strong willed. I was to learn that a herder instinctively herds. You don’t tell a Bouvier what to do because hey are so alpha as a breed. But they are also very gentle and extremely protective. They integrate well into family because quite frankly, I don’t think they think they are dogs.
Notwithstanding her vocabulary and sheer likability once you are INSIDE my house, she has to be consistently reminded to not herd me when we go out to walk, to not bark at gas station attendants. She really tries to walk me as if she has a leash. And for the first couple of blocks I must remind her softly, “No pull.” She attempts to decide on the direction we’ll walk.The only time she does not try to herd me is when she wants something to eat and it’s clear I am the one with the food. No leash allowed.
So even though she did not graduate Obedience School, I easily crate trained her.She has earned her GED equivalency as a home-school Bouvier des Flanders working with Patricia, the dog whisperer. I guess the classroom environment with other dogs did not appeal to her and were just too distracting.
Here she is after having been groomed. My dog has brought me much comfort. I identify with her independence and her mindset. Often people claim that dogs and their owners favor each other. Well when her hair is long, a case for this could be made. But I really understand her independent disposition. When she wants love, she comes for it and nestles her head in my lap. She would love to be able to climb into my lap. But about the closest she can come to this is to throw her paw into my lap or to lie on her back for me to rub her tummy. And because of her, I really don’t consider myself as an empty-nester. Jinji always welcomes me home and is happy to see me.
So while she is not that obedient, it has little bearing on her intelligence or her vocabulary. She supports me in all the important ways. And she has helped me appreciate what is enduring and important in any relationship.
Do you have a special relationship with a pet who has a mind of its own?
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