esrosedotblog

OPENDOOR POLICY

While we are on the subject of Franklin, it seems worthwhile to mention something that he is not doing. He has still not learned to open a door. This pleases John as he maintains that the disability is similar to Franklin's aversion to going in the pool; actually, to water of any kind except to drink. The point is that there are some things it is GOOD to be dumb about. The water aversion means that he won't get all wet, then muddy, then need toweling. The door block means that he won't go in where he is not supposed to. Or out.

I kinda disagree on the door thing. I feel that any dog worth his or her salt should be able to open a door. Even if it is LATCHED. We see dogs doing this on the teevee all the time. While we are agreed that we do not want to bother Franklin with silliness; to have a circus dog who does undistinguished things like 'tricks' there are certain skill fundamentals which would be nice to have under his--belt?--collar.

There are two parts to the door routine. One, is that he will not go through any space that seems too narrow to him whether it is really too tight or not. He needs about a two-foot opening and is about one-foot thick. The second part is that we will not work at opening any door further than it is ajar (yeh, when is a door a jar and all that; I heard the joke). So if a door is open but not open far enough, he stands and groans. Franklin does whine but there are about four levels of complaint. A groan usually means 'I cannot do this, why aren't you helping me'? A whine means he is afraid or wants to go BE afraid; chase something in the yard that he cannot see. A series of groans and whines means KITTY ALERT or similar. Bark,groan,whine,run,whine,groan,bark,shit,goddam,goddam,bark,groan,whine. Well. That is a call to get the leash and we all go see what is going on. We probably do not want to be off the leash and run to see what it is. It might be the notorious and infamous (are they the same thing?) skunk. We met him once. Enough.

In solving an intractable behavior problem, it always useful to ponder the possible origin of the block or disability. We wonder, for example, if this unwillingness to enter until conditions are right might relate to a birth trauma. Mom was not wide open and he felt constricted. Everything was OK in the canal but it looked kinda bleak out there in Victorville. There are certain therapies that you can relive the birth experience. Or maybe it is that he is just looking for attention and getting us to open an already open door is a way to get it. Perhaps, he is just dumb. But all evidence is to the contrary. This dog is smart as a whip. There IS something going on. Working the smart angle, it is likely that he is teaching US tricks. This has occurred to us more than once. We certainly are adaptable in that regard. We feed him on schedule, let him take his walks when and where he wants to, he decides on the turns. He has a lot of toys for us to play with. Hmmmm. The door. I wonder if I will get a biscuit if I open it fast enough.