Badger’s Big Gaffe - the dark side of training a puppy…
Badger is a gentle young boy... He loves heading out in his cape, walks and behaves very nicely in public. He has been an excellent example of a service dog in training. For these reasons, my role as Badger's foundational trainer over the last 4 months has been smooth. So smooth that I don’t hesitate to bring him along to appointments or when I am fulfilling my role as an IAAD fundraiser.
This was the case on a sunny Friday morning when I popped into Boundary Ranch to ask if they’d consider a donation to our Elevation Art Gallery silent auction. Badger wore a clean IAAD cape and walked right beside me into the reception/gift store area. Everything was great until I looked down and saw him lifting his leg and peeing on the jackets on display for sale. Horror and embarrassment overcame me, and all I could say, in a loud voice, was, “What are you doing?” Of course, when I said this, everyone looked at the pee on the floor and up at the jackets. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. I looked up and said, “I’ll be back.” As I marched Badger back to the car, I crumpled up the advertisement for the fundraiser. There was absolutely no way I could ask for a donation after that!
Once Badger was back in the car, I returned sheepishly to the reception area. I walked in and saw the ranch manager, Haley, holding 5 jackets, all splashed in pee. Another person was mopping the floor. All I could say was, “I’ll buy them!” After all, as the saying goes, “you break them, you buy them”, or in this case, “you pee on them, you pay for them.” Luckily, Boundary Ranch folks understand animals, including intact young male pooches! I don’t remember much more of the conversation as I was still very embarrassed and flustered, but the result was a kind donation from Boundary Ranch towards our silent auction and a discount on the purchased jackets, which i would have paid full price for!
One week later, Badger was neutered. Although the operation was planned, it was not without poetic justice!
Poor boy…
Signed, Foundational Trainer, Beth Pinckston
