Training our family dog is teaching me more than I thought possible
Our miniature Schnauzer Fritzli cuddles and lives to play. He’s irresistibly cute. Problem is the adorable fluffball thinks he’s king. He jumps on couches, sleeps on our beds, pulls on his leash, and barks at strangers.
The trainer said Fritzli is hyper-vigilant and feels responsible for us.
To fix the problem, we need to teach him that we’ve got this. We’re in charge, not him.
After just a couple of training sessions, the tension in Fritzli’s body left, and his barking ceased.
A miracle!
This success got me thinking about parenting.
In the name of self-esteem building and out of fear of being disliked by our children, my generation has helicoptered and controlled, and avoided our duty to discipline and set limits.
Problem is when children are in charge—as many of today’s children are—they feel unsafe, have trouble focusing, become hyperactive, and—in some cases—aggressive.
The result? Teen suicide and addiction have risen exponentially. Cases of “failure-to-launch,” a term used to describe young adults who fail to live on their own and earn their own keep, have also risen.
Compounding their pain, teens feel guilty for disappointing their parents who have sacrificed so much for them.
But have we?
We’ve taken away their God-given right to screw up.
We’ve controlled and allowed our kids to walk all over us. By taking care of everything, and avoiding our duty to provide boundaries, we’ve prevented them from feeling discomfort, necessary to learning.
It’s time for us parents to let go of extra responsibilities. It’s time to live simply, to give, and to embrace spiritual paths.
Our children and our dogs will relax and thank us for it.