We are the problem…
We, as humans, are sometimes the reason why our dog struggles. We get so caught up in our emotions and what others think of us that we forget about any consideration of the dog in front of us. Let me tell you something, after working with dogs, both feral and domesticated, as well as socialized wild canines (wolves, coyotes, and foxes) for the last 10 years, I can assure you the animal in front of you does not care about what others think. It only cares about what’s in its world NOW; this may or may not include you depending on how active you are in the relationship with the dog.
The dog we share our life with is a living being that requires care. Care comes in the form of safety, food, water, housing, etc. Safety in our world this day and age means guiding and teaching our dog how to not only survive our society but to be a functioning member of it as well. Sometimes a hard feat when even we humans struggle with such a task.
For example, on a local Facebook page, someone was asking for suggestions on how to get their high-energy pit mix to stop being destructive in the house and that the crate is not an option as they don’t believe in it. Which is totally fine, but you better be prepared to helicopter mom that dog to not only stop the habit of your dog destroying items but to also guide your dog to better behavior when they do start to destroy an item. The dog will not learn to stop destroying things through osmosis, and the dog for sure will continue to destroy things if the owner doesn’t take any ownership of the dog’s problem. But because crating a dog can be viewed as cruel by some weirdo from across the world who we have no idea who they are behind closed doors will think lesser of us. Honestly, who cares. Because when you surrender that dog or have to euthanize that dog because of a blockage, they’re still going to think you’re cruel. So why not crate the dog when unattended to keep your dog safe and happy as well as you safe and happy who still gets to enjoy the companionship of your dog when you can focus on him.
Like, good grief.
I could go on forever with stories of such. Like a bulldog who literally wanted to eat a family member and made the owner’s world not only stressful but small. Refused training away from the home because the thought of separating from them was unbearable… that owner may have been the problem. Or the husky mix who kept running away and was eventually hit and killed by a car because the thought of training the dog to come and using an electronic device was torturous. Etc. etc.
It's truly disheartening that we humans are so heavily influenced by people we don't even know, to the extent that our concerns about appearances can negatively impact our dogs. Dog training is a controversial field, lacking regulation, with its share of both commendable and unscrupulous practitioners. This spectrum includes those who adhere strictly to positive reinforcement, as well as those who practice rigid obedience training. Both approaches boast skilled and dedicated individuals, while others are merely motivated by financial gain. That's why I strongly advocate for personally meeting your trainer, inspecting the training facility, and reviewing their past videos and achievements. It's surprising how many establishments maintain a subpar environment or conceal their reviews and comments, yet continue to attract clients. However, that's a topic for another discussion.
Essentially what I’m trying to say is don’t worry about other people or their thoughts on how to raise YOUR dog. Your life is different, your threshold is different, and there ARE people out there that can help you if you are open-minded and take a chance. Through clarity of expectations, teaching of cooperation, and the feeling of security (safety, trust, needs, and control) you can take that “bad dog” in front of you and have the dream dog you always wanted. There's beauty in effort and freedom when we focus on what’s best for you and your dog.