I spend a lot of time, when not training dogs, reading, playing an instrument, writing, doing photography, hiking or traveling (to natural areas). Those are my recreational hobbies, as well as contributing to my profession.
Even now, I’ve got a science book to the left of me. I’m puzzling out a dog behavior concept. I’ve read this book before but I’m going back over a chapter regarding the finer points discovered in animal experiments.
I also have ordered a new book online, “Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning” on Amazon. I would rather be able to recall this information rather than having to dig through some dusty books to refresh what I have already read. (Disclosure: Affiliate Link)
The study of nature takes me to a variety of places, physically and intellectually. All the above is part of my quest to continue resolving dog behavior problems. I currently have a few student dogs with similar problems, so the commonality is what I’m trying to figure out.
I hate the way most trainers deal with dog problems. I want to be smarter than that.
On one side are the trainers who present a picture of a well-trained dog, but the dog lives in a gilded cage. The dog is taken out to train and then put back in a kennel. For its entire life. Many competition dog trainers do this. For the ribbons. For their own recognition by others. I hate that kind of thing. Even if you can get a perfect score in a competition, but the dog can’t live a normal life, then I don’t think you are a very good dog trainer.
Look around, and you will see that is what some trainers recommend you do with your dog. It isn’t a good life for your dog.
On the other side are those who also present the picture of a well-trained dog, but the dog lives in terror. These trainers teach that all dogs are to worship their masters, submit to every demand, and must do it all for no rewards in life whatsoever. Many of these dogs either break down into mush or fight back. Some of these trainers are afraid of the dogs they acquire, so they put adult level demands on young puppies. The more the dogs balk, the tougher they are on them: Alpha rolls, compulsion, demands, no pleasure, no games, less freedom, enslaved and given no ability to get joy out of anything. They think they are presenting the picture of a well-trained dog, when instead they are presenting the picture of a dog that can never be a dog or a companion.
I see way too much of this approach. Every problem becomes an excuse to hammer on the dog even more.
No good trainer does either of these approaches.
My approach has always been: can you have a well-mannered, happy, affectionate, motivated dog that can also perform high level tasks? And do all that with the dog without turning the dog into a doll on a shelf or crushing the dog? To me, that is talent. So, I use all the above to expand my mind and try to finesse problems instead of making dogs live artificially controlled lives.
What do you choose to do with your dog?
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