When your Dog Gets Sick

I have seen this happen a handful of times, and it is one of the most difficult things for owners to handle. 

Your baby gets sick or hurt, and being the loving, caring owners that we are, we take care of them. 

We nurse them back to health, we cuddle them, we spoil them. 

And because of that, we derail their training. 

It is difficult for most owners to draw the line between taking care of their sick or hurting dog, and making sure they retain the solid mindset we have spent weeks (or months, or years) developing. 

While we absolutely need to take care of them, it is also important that we make sure to retain the balance in their training. 

Rules that applied before they got hurt, still apply. 

If you are not allowed on the couch when you are well, you are still not allowed on the couch when you are sick. 

If a dog is injured, going outside and doing recall in the park may not be possible, but that doesn't mean that you can't call the dog to "come" inside the house when it is dinner time. 

Loving on your pet, taking care of them, and doing what is best for them are important, especially if they are going through a recovery period. 

But changing the rules dramatically cannot only undo work you have fine-tuned, but also be very confusing for your dog. 
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A little slacking off happens to the best of us, but don't forget what your dog is capable of and what your expectations are for her to get the most out of your relationship and your life together!