A common misconception amongst civilians (people who are not airline crew) is that flight attendants are an uneducated bunch. This (for the most part) is completely untrue. I've worked with former doctors, nurses, accountants, teachers, a school superintendent and even an ex-Secret Serviceman who helped guard the prez. We are a varied bunch with a common thread. A love for flying, travel, interacting with people and eating meals over the trash can.
I tend to learn a lot from my crew and this last trip was no exception. I worked with a great flight attendant who used to run an animal rescue. She has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, taken in thousands of animals and trained hundreds of dogs and cats. I was in awe. Of course I whipped out pictures of my pups and began peppering her with questions. "Is it normal for my dog to pee on our chair? Why does Winnie always hold her back paw in her mouth? Should we be worried about Hosses aggression when we take him on walks and he freaks out when we see another dog?...." She listened to all my questions with the appropriate nod here and there. Then she turned to me and asked "Does Hoss sit on you? Does he put his butt up to you first? Does he lean on you? Push you? Pee every three seconds when you're on a walk? Bite Winnie when she's in his way?". "Um....ya? That isn't normal?" was the only reply I could muster. She smiled and said "Nope. Your dog is making a jack-ass out of you."
Apparently our dog, Hoss, is trying to take over the world. Starting with his two stupid owners. I think that if we would have thought about it harder we *might* have realized that he had filled out the application for the "alpha dog" role and signed it in blood a long time ago. Our blood. From the dog bites. I didn't mention that he bites? When he was a puppy he bit HARD and drew blood multiple times with those vampire-like puppy teeth. Nowadays he just occasionally keeps us on our toes by giving a polite little chomp on our rear. Poor Joel used to have to flatten himself on the fridge for fear of a chomping of his man parts. An old Hoss favorite. Were probably lucky that we haven't been trying to get knocked up, 'cause I'm sure that can't help fertility prospects.
So as of a few days ago were starting intense doggy boot-camp. The most important part is going to be the crate training . We will follow that up by cutting back on their food (they may or may not be getting a bit pudgy), new collars and individual walks. The biggest part of the training though won't be with the dogs, it will be with us...especially me. The dogs may be my babies, but they aren't actual babies. Apparently they are canines who have very specific needs. First, they need an alpha to show them who's in charge. Secondly, they need mental and physical exercise daily. Thirdly falls my favorite....praise (aka "I wuv you puuppies. You are so preshhhius to meeee baby doggle facessss....). Molly has also volunteered to help me train them when we both have the day off. For free! Holla!
So cross your fingers folks 'cause my rear is counting on it.... Ouch.
I tend to learn a lot from my crew and this last trip was no exception. I worked with a great flight attendant who used to run an animal rescue. She has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, taken in thousands of animals and trained hundreds of dogs and cats. I was in awe. Of course I whipped out pictures of my pups and began peppering her with questions. "Is it normal for my dog to pee on our chair? Why does Winnie always hold her back paw in her mouth? Should we be worried about Hosses aggression when we take him on walks and he freaks out when we see another dog?...." She listened to all my questions with the appropriate nod here and there. Then she turned to me and asked "Does Hoss sit on you? Does he put his butt up to you first? Does he lean on you? Push you? Pee every three seconds when you're on a walk? Bite Winnie when she's in his way?". "Um....ya? That isn't normal?" was the only reply I could muster. She smiled and said "Nope. Your dog is making a jack-ass out of you."
Apparently our dog, Hoss, is trying to take over the world. Starting with his two stupid owners. I think that if we would have thought about it harder we *might* have realized that he had filled out the application for the "alpha dog" role and signed it in blood a long time ago. Our blood. From the dog bites. I didn't mention that he bites? When he was a puppy he bit HARD and drew blood multiple times with those vampire-like puppy teeth. Nowadays he just occasionally keeps us on our toes by giving a polite little chomp on our rear. Poor Joel used to have to flatten himself on the fridge for fear of a chomping of his man parts. An old Hoss favorite. Were probably lucky that we haven't been trying to get knocked up, 'cause I'm sure that can't help fertility prospects.
So as of a few days ago were starting intense doggy boot-camp. The most important part is going to be the crate training . We will follow that up by cutting back on their food (they may or may not be getting a bit pudgy), new collars and individual walks. The biggest part of the training though won't be with the dogs, it will be with us...especially me. The dogs may be my babies, but they aren't actual babies. Apparently they are canines who have very specific needs. First, they need an alpha to show them who's in charge. Secondly, they need mental and physical exercise daily. Thirdly falls my favorite....praise (aka "I wuv you puuppies. You are so preshhhius to meeee baby doggle facessss....). Molly has also volunteered to help me train them when we both have the day off. For free! Holla!
So cross your fingers folks 'cause my rear is counting on it.... Ouch.
