Scruffy

This is Scruffy.

Scruffy is kind and sweet. Scruffy is awesome.  Scruffy barks a lot.

That’s Trixie, there, in the background.

Scruffy is a cairn terrier/ poodle mix.  You get this kind of dog when you want a challenge.

Cairn Terriers have iron wills. They like to get their way. They drive to closure.

And Poodles? Poodles are smart.

So Scruffy’s owners, Bridgette and Chona, did everything right with this dog. They trained and socialized her. They spend quality time with Scruffy.

But, Scruffy, you know, she barks a lot. So Bridgette and Chona asked me to help.

I have never heard a dog talk as fast as Scruffy. Nor have I ever seen a dog narrate her story with pictures so well.  It was like The Wonder Years.

Here’s a snippet:

Bridget: Let’s
talk about barking at people outside.

Scruffy: Oh my
god, it’s so fun!

Bridget: it’s
fun?

Scruffy: It’s
great. They see me. They think I’m awesome. Some walk by just to see me!

Bridget:  So, are you telling them to go away?

Scruffy: I’m
telling them, “This is my house and I am awesome!”

Bridgette and Chona confirmed that their neighbors do, indeed, walk by to see Scruffy’s little face in the window!

Dogs that are raised with love and confidence building activities are so quick to say, “I am Awesome.” They know that they are a wonderful creature and they act accordingly.

What a gift we give our dogs when we do this for them.

We’re getting the barking under control at Chona and Bridgette’s house, without limiting the extent of Scruffy’s awesomeness.