[Fluff] Finally learned how to reward for calm

Ever since we brought our now 8 month old frenchie Puppy home almost 6 months ago I've just regretted it almost daily and not felt like being a puppy parent was for me.I put it down to puppy blues and kept on with the mentality that I had made a commitment and would see it through regardless of how I felt and hoped that one day he would grow out of being this lovable terror that was worse than a 4 year old let loose in a candy store.We had engaged a behaviorist early on because we were first time dog owners without any clue and wanted to do it right. Little did we know he was happy to pocket our cash without really imparting much by way of understanding dog behaviour and according to him, Thomas the Terror was being a normal puppy and would outgrow his crazy.Thomas did not outgrow the crazy and really grew further into the crazy, which was incredibly exhausting but apparently normal and all we had to do was wait until he was an adult dog for the magic to happen. I read many a book/article/Reddit thread for the answer to try unlock the mystery of a calm dog and although i could read the theory on rewarding for calm this did not translate to real life. If I said "good boy" while he happened to lie down that wasn't rewarding calm it was a cue for him to get up and be nutso, the direct opposite of what I wanted to achieve.Finally, today I tried another behaviorist that came highly recommended. Sceptical after my prior experience I nonetheless gave it a go because I just wasn't getting there without help.She was amazing and she really helped to display the techniques I was missing and explain Thomas' behaviour and pointed out that he was responding to me, I was just not being calm so neither was he.My excited, high pitch "baby voice" indicated what I was saying was super exciting and therefore he was excited. The more I used that tone the more revved up he gets. The louder I said for him to stop the more he saw that as exciting too. It isn't enough to cross my arms and turn away when he jumps because that's a reaction. There should be zero reaction, which means stand still and reward as soon as he does present a good behaviour.In all my reading I hadn't come across it put exactly that way before but somehow that's what I needed for it to click.We've had the first evening of calm and frustration free since he's been home. I wish we had met this trainer earlier and not wasted 6 months but I'm glad we have a chance to start now. via /r/dogs http://ift.tt/2rLnj4h