I realized that Zeus is not just a bad dog. Bad dog pawing me when I try to work. Bad dog jumping on me and running away right when I need to leave for work, bad dog chewing on my prescription glasses, bad. Dog.
Zeus is a male dog.
So yesterday when he jumped on the chair, clawed at me wanting attention, barked for attention, jumped for attention.
I gave him attention.
Full attention. Eye ball to eye ball attention. I cupped my hands around his head and hugged him tightly. I held him to my chest and crooned, Oh, you are such a puppy, let me look deeply into your eyes and ask you how you feel? Right now, tell me, tell me.
How do you feel?
It wasn’t too long ago I used this same technique to encourage my oldest son to do his homework. You can finish your math, I’d promise him, or you can tell me how you feel.
I know that my youngest son much prefers to talk while sitting in a car traveling forward at 60 miles per hour. Don’t look at me while I’m talking, was his mantra.
So I knew what would bug the dog the most.
And I was right.
After not telling me how he felt, Zeus couldn’t get away from me fast enough and head to the refuge of his chew toys.
I’ll tell you how I felt. I felt better.
Tomorrow I will hug Zeus in public and ask him about his future plans.
