Never Give Up
There was a young man who was having a difficult time with his dog. Whenever he let his dog outside, the dog ran away, chased cars, and caused trouble in his neighbors’ yards. He had a large yard, but the dog wouldn’t stay in it.
One day he decided to take his dog to a local animal trainer. He’d heard many stories about the success of this trainer who lived nearby on a small farm. When the young man drove up the driveway, he was surprised at the number of animals roaming about the place. He was even more surprised when he noticed that there was no fence around it.
The man got out of his car, leaving his dog inside. The trainer was outside and he walked over to meet him. They talked for a few minutes and the trainer then asked the man to let his dog out so he could meet him. The young man hesitated, fearing his dog would run away and cause trouble with the other animals, so he put a leash on him and brought him out.
The trainer asked the man if he would like to go for a walk with him. The man agreed and they started down the driveway. Several animals, including some goats, a couple of dogs, and a small pony walked along with them. The man looked down at his dog who was still on a leash and struggling to get free.
When they had walked for several minutes, the man turned to the trainer and asked him, “How do you do it? You have no fence around your yard, yet you have so many animals. Now we are walking and these animals stay right with you. What’s your secret?”
The trainer smiled, and after a pause, replied, “It’s a very simple idea, but one that is difficult to put into practice. It requires time, patience, and commitment, but the rewards are great. The basic principle is this: you must teach your dog that staying in your yard is the very best place to be, and it is where he’ll be happy.”
“How can I do that?” the young man asked.
“There are three basic steps. First, choose a goal. For you, that is having your dog stay in the yard. Second, make a plan. Many times a day you will work toward your goal by rewarding and praising your dog every time he stays in the yard. Third, and this is the most important, never waver from the plan. Never. Stick with it until you reach your goal and your dog chooses to stay in your yard. Follow these three steps and you’ll never again have a problem with your dog.”
“Really? That sounds so simple.” The young man reached down and patted his dog’s head.
“It is, but many people give up because they get frustrated or bored or discouraged. The key is to keep going no matter what.”
They reached the driveway again and the man started to get into his car. He took once more look at the animals roaming freely and peacefully around him. “Thank you”, he said as he reached for the trainers hand.
The trainer shook his hand and smiled. Then he said, “Good luck.” The young man watched the trainer walk away. He couldn’t wait to get home and begin.
