This is the first photo ever taken of Bud sitting down. It is a triumph of love, patience, and positive reinforcement training. He only sat this morning, but he stayed for a minute or two.

This was not possible until this week.

It took three years to get Bud to sit. For him, he was sitting in a vulnerable position. He was savagely and brutally mistreated for the first two years of his life and nearly died. We rescued him roughly three years ago.

He was terrified of me and anyone who approached him directly or loudly. I started training him outside where he could have some safe distance, and he learned to come unless he saw a mouse or chipmunk.

Until this year, he was too frightened of me to sit in my lap. We worked with him with treats, and we didn’t push him. A few months ago, he started jumping up in my lap to sleep when it was cold, a sign he was finally trusting me.

He was willing to come close to me and not run when I reached out. I gently pushed his butt down and then quickly rewarded him for sitting with a treat. He loves his treats.

This week, Maria got him to sit on command. I followed through by asking him to stay for two or three minutes, which he was doing.

Boston Terriers can be affectionate, but they also are stubborn and reluctant to be subordinate to anything. This was a significant milestone for a dog so terrified of people he couldn’t be touched.

Today I just held out a treat, and he sat. I opened my hand and said, “stay,” and he did for the longest time.

This is an excellent lesson for me in patience and in permitting the dog to feel safe, secure, and trusting. I was never sure that would happen with Bud, but he did. He also loves and trusts Maria.

Congratulations, Bud; you are now officially safe and a family member.

Photo by Maria Wulf

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If you are having any problems with your dog, or have questions about raising them, I am now offering Dog Support for $50 a half hour. If you’re interested, e-mail me, at [email protected]