Last week my clients gave up a pup they’ve had for just a bit over a month. It was a Yorkie that had no issues. Even its puppy-ness was nothing hard to handle.

This week another client is giving up a JRT rescue with C-OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder). I detected it as soon as I met the dog, and their vet eventually prescribed Prozac which made the dog much better and easier to train. I checked up on them between our 3rd and 4th/last session and my client said things were definitely improving.

Both clients had 3 (out of 4) sessions with me then messaged me that they were giving up their respective pups.

I take these things personally. I feel like I failed as a trainer somehow. After a lot of contemplation though, I realized I shouldn’t blame myself. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the Yorkie, and I somewhat don’t blame them for giving up the JRT with C-OCD; it’s not easy living with a “special child”. I should know; I’ve been living with Jorge Araneta for 7 years, and having two dogs, one with Autism, has certainly limited my life as far as travel, social life, or even having guests over. After contemplation, I realized that a lot of people acquire dogs impulsively or because they’re so cute (all dogs are, in my book), and A LOT of owners and dogs are a mismatch. Fact.

I think I feel down when I hear about the news because I’m shocked, because I’ve thought of giving up Jorge more often than anyone can ever imagine yet never will, and because I was not able to say goodbye.