Discipline??

Have you ever heard the term "ring-tailed-tooter" and wondered what it looked like?

Well, let me introduce you. Oh, she looks sweet and innocent but don't be fooled.

Emma and I have gotten to know each other very well over the past few days. I've been attempting to use Caesar Milan's formula of "exercise, discipline, then affection". The affection part comes natural, it is the easy part. Exercise, that too, I think I can handle fairly well. Discipline... uuhhhh, look at her face!! The tricky part about discipline is that it is harder on the disciplinarian than it is on the disciplined. They need it, they want it. Dogs don't want to be the pack leader, they want rules, boundaries, and limitations. And, being the human, I've got to be the one to set them. It ain't gonna be easy folks.

Eddie challenged me, don't get me wrong, but I can already tell that this is going to be quite an adventure. Emma had 10 brothers...TEN! This, no doubt, had some affect on her. She isn't timid at all. She is sweet and darling but head strong. Her intelligence has already impressed me. I only worked with her for a few minutes and she had "sit" down pat! I was amazed and so proud. Yesterday was her 8-week birthday and she can sit...I'm a proud momma.

Yep, setting limits and boundaries with a face like this is gonna be tricky. My heart just wells up and I my heart says, "oh, she needs a hug". She is very smart and I can already see that she could, very well, plot to use this for evil if I don't nip some things in the bud. I guess the affection part will more than make up for the discipline...it will for me anyway. Her sweet cuddles and funny antics have sent me well on my way to healing. I love her for that.