Transforming Austin with the Disabled Advantage Training Style

Problems We Started With

• Austin would launch himself into every walk with the enthusiasm of First Walk Ever, forcing my legs to push themselves to the limit of keep up or fall over and get dragged, while staying ready for his 80 lb sack of happy to jolt off the road into the ditch after a butterfly or a flower dancing in the wind at a moment’s notice.
• Someone taught him it was adorable to stand up and give bear hugs or box at your upper body. The first two weeks with Austin I withstood blow after blow of him standing up to box with me in what he thought was a fun game.
• It took 4 months to teach Austin that we did not appreciate him mouthing on our hands, arms, or faces. He would grab our left hand whenever possible, looking for treats which weren’t there, or rake his teeth down my arms during playtime, or spin around in play and grab my arm. He never bit down, and it wasn’t a hard mouth, but his teeth are very pointy.
• No one had ever taught him personal space boundaries or manners with people or other animals. We had to supervise his interactions with Robbie closely, ready to advocate for Robbie’s space often. When he saw Harley & Thumper, he used to stand on his hind legs, reaching up to the sky, and hopping with all his might towards them. Training him boundaries and manners was excruciatingly painful and exhausting for me due to his size and strength. He had no ill intent, but he was clearly used to getting his way.
• Happy Tantrums – when he got frustrated or didn’t want to do something, he would bark, bounce, play bow, dart away, or snuggle up against me harder, even if he was getting corrections for doing so, he’d do it harder and happier.