Diary of Dominance Training

 

You know how they say that pigs can be stubborn and ‘pig-headed’?  Well, that about sums me up.  I know – I’m trying.  I really am trying.  It’s like my alter ego, Deviled Ham, comes out at times when I least expect it.  Mom/Dad are not quitters and they are hanging in there.  Here’s the update on dominance training.

Tuesday, 04/29/2013 – Dominance training actually started this evening. It is something that I’m not used to.  Dad has said the “NO” word very firmly, very southern might I add – snort giggles.  It does make me stop in my hooves and rethink my surroundings before Deviled Ham shows up.  When I was on the couch with mom, dad came over several times to see me.  The first time, I went all pig ballistic on him.  He put me in my place with the southern firm “NO” and petted my little head.  After about the third attempt, I never grunted or barked and allowed dad to pet me.

Wednesday, 04/30/2013 – After my morning snack when I was going back to my room, Deviled Ham came out from no where and I jumped dad in the hallway.  Bad move.  The rest of the day, I was fine.  Again, when I was on the couch with mom, dad came over several times to see me.  The first time, I again barked and growled but not as bad as the night before.  The second time he came over, it was just a small grumble when he pet me.  After that, I never grunted or barked and allowed dad to pet me as long as he wanted.

Thursday, 5/1/2013 – Well, you know how they say the third time is the charm?  Snort – not so much in this case.  I lost my piggy mind tonight.  I was good all day long with dad.  I never gave him a moment’s trouble while it was me and him at the Hotel Thompson.  That night, daddy and mommy went out to dinner.  When they came back, my rebellious teenager Deviled Ham made an appearance.  I tried to attack daddy.  Mom thought it was those god forsaken orange shorts he wears because they were so bright – snort.  It wasn’t.  My hoove nipped him on the knee cap, not bad.  His southern “NO” really did nothing for me.  Mommy had to be the firm one.  Instead of minding her, what did I do?  Rebellious teenager Deviled Ham tried to go after her.  Drops and shakes my piggy head.  I was bad.  Mom sent me to my room which I minded.  No bedtime snack.  No bedtime story.  No night time snuggles.  Mommy said it hurt her more than it was hurting me.  I’m not so sure.  You see, this is the one thing that piggies have a hard time with – being ignored.  She ignored me the rest of the night.  That’s tough on this little guy. And, I think I made mommy cry.  I could hear her and daddy in their room.  Mommy wouldn’t even let Bashful sleep with me last night.  I was all by myself and had all night to rethink my rebellious ways.  It was a long night.

Friday, 5/2/2013 – This morning I got mommy up to get ready for the worky place and breakfast.  It was a new day with new ways.  Mommy fixed me breakfast and I just wagged my tail so fast when she was talking to me about last night.  We had our little prayer meeting and she put me back to bed for my morning nap.  Today, I am really, REALLY going to try to be good.  Wish me luck and think of me.  Mommy says that this weekend there will be lots of training.  I’m game. 

 

Bacon and Daddy Dominance Training

There comes a time in a miniature pot bellied pig’s life that he starts to grow up and become an adult. Mom and dad have known through the past 18 months when it is time for me to take my next step . Well, this time around I beat them to the punch.  I’m not proud of misbehavior.  Mom says that I need to post this to come clean with my friends and myself.  I think it’s a good idea too.  You know – you get the good, you get the bad kind of thing. 

There’s lots of things to factor in with my behavior and attitude. For instance, if it’s raining and cold outside I tend to be a little aggressive and clingy. Sometimes when I don’t get my 5-6 naps during the day, I can also be a little bear to deal with at the Hotel Thompson. And if I’m scared, I can be the biggest scaredy pig you can imagine and want to be held like a baby.  You have to understand and I know that for the most part, I am the cutest, loving and most adorable little piggy here in the south.  But, there is that 10% of the time that my alter ego, Deviled Ham, comes out and I totally lose my piggy mind.  This is one of those times.

So, here we go with the admission… which is good for this pigs soul (that’s what mommy says.) 

For the past couple of days, I’ve pulled out all of the stops and have tried to show my dominance over daddy. You see, me and mom have a different kind of relationship and I don’t have to show dominance with her. But daddy, well that’s another story. Here and there, I’ve oinked and barked at him to back off and get away. But the past couple of days have been different. I might have… perhaps… well… maybe I jumped him in the hallway at the Hotel Thompson.

I know – I know – I shouldn’t have. I understand he feeds and takes care of me all day long while mommy is at the worky place. It’s just that I wanted to show him that “I” was the dominant one. I understand that it was a major bad thing… especially after he called mommy at the worky place and told her about my behavior. Yeah, that wasn’t good. I was totally grounded to my room until she got home. 

You have to also understand that there’s three males at the Hotel Thompson – me, daddy and Master Hemi.  Now, that little Master Hemi is a 10 pound terror.  HE is dominant over me and knows exactly how to put this little pig in his place – shivers.  So that leaves daddy.  All I gotta say is bad mistake.

Since this type of misconduct is totally unacceptable at the Hotel Thompson, mom had to figure out why and what to do with me. She called my piggyatrician and they had a long talk. Well, did you know that at this age in my life is when dominance tries to come out. So, now we know what the problem is so you’re asking yourself what is the solution. Well, there’s a word I don’t hear much of but I’m going to learn today. Me and dad have to start dominance training…. well that and me writing 100 times on my chalkboard, “I am not dominant over daddy, I am not dominant over daddy.”

Training has already started and I’m glad to report that daddy says I’m getting better already. It’s a good thing too because me being dominant is really not like me. I’m a sweet, innocent, loving miniature pot bellied pig. But, I’m just like any other child. I have to be shown what my limitations are when I try to push them. This is something that me and daddy have to work out. I will definitely keep you posted on our progress.

I post this today because with the good you also need to see the bad little piggy in me. It helps with keeping me straight in my behavior. See, I’m growing up with that admission.

But you have to tell me my four legged friends out there – I’m not the only one that has or is going through this process, right? Please assure me.

XOXO – Bacon