[nagdu] What do you do when you're angry with your dog?

[Julie J]

One of the low points in my life with Monty...

About a year ago the weather was warming up and therefore the backyard 
became muddy.  the dogs, husband and Kiddo had tracked mud into the house. 
I spent a good hour sweeping, mopping, vacuuming and washing rugs.  I was 
feeling pretty good when I sat down on the couch to wait for the floor to 
dry.

then I realized that there were some odd noises coming from my bedroom.  I 
called Monty.  He came promptly and happily, but he looked odd...a bit more 
gray than black.  I reached out to touch him and there was this odd fluff 
stuck all over him.  I had no clue what had happened...until I went into the 
bedroom.

My ordinarily dark green and brown bedroom was white.  Upon closer 
inspection I realized that there were feathers all over everything.  Teeny, 
tiny goose down feathers that had previously been encased in my favorite 
pillow.    I didn't know whether to cry or scream.  I found the mangle 
pillow, showed it to Monty and hollered at him.  Then I got a grip and  put 
him in his crate.

If you have never had the joy of cleaning up a down feather mess, let me 
tell you that the feathers stick to everything.  I vacuumed it several times 
and still found feathers for days.  I took the bedspread outside to shake it 
out, except that it was a rather windy day and I ended up covering myself 
head to toe with feathers...feathers in my hair, feathers stuck to my 
sweater, feathers in my shoelaces.   Yeah, it was a good time.

I'd like to say that Monty learned his lesson, that hollering at him had 
some effect, but I'd be lying.  I can say that I learned my lesson.  I was 
much better at keeping tabs on him and what he was doing.  the next time he 
grabbed something with lots of fluff inside I was able to intervene sooner 
with a firm "no" and removal of the object before destruction.  Well, most 
of the time I got the soft fluffy thing before it was destroyed.

For me the best thing I can do when I'm angry or upset with Monty is to have 
a time out.  He goes in his kennel and I go do something soothing.   Half an 
hour or an hour later I go get him and we resume life as usual.

Julie