Perhaps a metaphor for life? Boundaries. Working with vs against. Exceptions to rules. I wrestle with how much leeway to give our beast so as not to squelch her playfulness and spontaneity. Perhaps this makes your own work harder? Not my intention of course. I walk Izzie off leash on almost all our outings. In a couple areas I encourage her to run, chase whatever I just threw, and have extended sniffing sessions. Fair is fair. She goes where I want her to go and I decide when a walk is over. In between she might initiate a game of keep away, her and the thrown object, by dodging me, eluding my outstretched hand. A variant for her is seeing just how close she can come without me being able to touch her as she sidesteps me at the last second. In the dark, hide and seek is another option. In all variants I read the joy in her body posture and eyes. I’m grateful to be her erstwhile playmate. In our home there is far less “do your own thing.” No means no. Stop means stop. Chill means, well, chill. Calm down. Don’t bite the kitty’s head off! (She is not aggressive. More like grand gestures, taking the cat’s head completely into her mouth!) We do permit “rumbles” with cat chasing dog and vice versa. Perhaps this isn’t really a control situation but a negotiation?
I have to laugh, Gail. Not at you but with you. She sounds like a child who knows how to push all your buttons! And getting up in the middle of the night would make anyone grouchy. One reason we don't have a dog!
Perhaps a metaphor for life? Boundaries. Working with vs against. Exceptions to rules. I wrestle with how much leeway to give our beast so as not to squelch her playfulness and spontaneity. Perhaps this makes your own work harder? Not my intention of course. I walk Izzie off leash on almost all our outings. In a couple areas I encourage her to run, chase whatever I just threw, and have extended sniffing sessions. Fair is fair. She goes where I want her to go and I decide when a walk is over. In between she might initiate a game of keep away, her and the thrown object, by dodging me, eluding my outstretched hand. A variant for her is seeing just how close she can come without me being able to touch her as she sidesteps me at the last second. In the dark, hide and seek is another option. In all variants I read the joy in her body posture and eyes. I’m grateful to be her erstwhile playmate. In our home there is far less “do your own thing.” No means no. Stop means stop. Chill means, well, chill. Calm down. Don’t bite the kitty’s head off! (She is not aggressive. More like grand gestures, taking the cat’s head completely into her mouth!) We do permit “rumbles” with cat chasing dog and vice versa. Perhaps this isn’t really a control situation but a negotiation?
It sounds like you and she have balance. The good with the bad. All is well.
I have to laugh, Gail. Not at you but with you. She sounds like a child who knows how to push all your buttons! And getting up in the middle of the night would make anyone grouchy. One reason we don't have a dog!