Having a different perspective on and belief about canine
training/handling than most other people around you can be tough. In fact it can be downright stressful if and
when one chooses to state one’s perspective or beliefs honestly and
clearly. The very same people who
fiercely deny that dogs today are pack oriented or are effected at all by any
kind of left over pack instincts from their distant ancestors, wolves, will
join up as a pack on social media and will aggressively verbally jump on anyone
suggesting that dogs are anything different or can be handled any differently
than how have learned and therefore how they believe. The differences between both professional and
hobby/novice dog handler’s opinions and preferences are wide ranging and at
times can be an obstacle to people working together for the sake of dogs when
the people involved can’t overlook the other person’s preferences. The professionals cite their education and
‘science’ as proof that their methods/beliefs are not only best but are really
the only
way a dog should be trained/handled while the hobby/novice dog handler’s cite
their personal experience with dogs as proof that there is more than one way,
one method, to help dogs work through their behavioral issues that is humane,
safe and effective.
It seems to be an age old argument that is typically fueled
by high emotions and the frustration that common ground just can’t seem to be
found in those discussions about canine behavior, canine psychology and how to
train and handle dogs in the most effective and humane way possible. In other words some discussions on this
issue, depending on the participants, can end up as an all-out war between two
vastly opposed factions. One faction
insists that their way is the best way, that science proves it and that anyone
who doesn’t do it their way is harming dogs.
The other faction insists that while what the other side chooses is very
useful in most situations with most dogs that all dogs are different and
therefore often require a different approach.
Both sides lose because they have dug their heels in and will not budge;
they can’t learn anything from one another due to the animosity that exists
between the two. But in the end it is
the dogs that lose because one person who has one view won’t partner with
another person who has another view and in the meantime dogs are not being
helped.
Having been descended on by a ‘pack’ of proponents for one
side of the ongoing argument so many times in the past I have learned over time
to keep my opinions on this issue to myself since it doesn’t seem possible to
share information that may be beneficial to dogs. Especially with people who
feel that they already know everything that they need to know and that what you
are going to tell them would require them to be hard-hearted, mean-spirited,
rough, abusive and cruel should they choose to try it. One side acknowledges that the other side has
many, many excellent points and practices but
is not what they choose and can’t help all dogs. While the other side
vehemently disagrees with anything and everything having to do with any points
or practices they may choose because it’s deemed as harmful and inhumane to the
dogs. It can be very ugly, it’s a
standoff in most cases and sadly it’s not helping any dogs anywhere with their
behavioral issues; so this is why I no longer take part in discussions about
canine behavior, canine psychology or ‘other’ ways to train and/or handle dogs
besides what seems to be the current belief/practice.
There are times when one’s perspective and beliefs are
validated and sometimes from the least expected places. Keeping an open mind is always helpful in
life but at times when it comes to this issue an open mind is the last thing
you will find however I have done my very best to always keep an open mind so
that I can learn from every possible method and practice. After all isn’t the end goal to be to help a
dog become calm, confident and stable enough to live in a home environment in
harmony with all other living things? I often wish that if nothing else those
who oppose methods/approaches that were not a part of their education and
perhaps isn’t the latest and greatest according to their ‘science’ could just
understand that most dogs can be helped but not all of them who need help can
be helped solely by the one method that they embrace. If only it could appeal to them that at times
in order to help someone you must push them beyond limits that they may not
want to be pushed beyond and that in the end when all is done the gift of
challenging them to face whatever they fear in order to let go of the
fear/anxiety/frustration and move forward can save their life; and more often
than not will likely result in a happy, calm and fairly well-adjusted dog now
free of its anxieties and fears.
So here’s an apology to all of the dogs that never had the
chance to be gently guided through their fears/anxieties and frustrations so
that they could learn that no one and nothing is going to harm them and who
were euthanized because of experts who couldn’t see any other possibilities for
the dog than what they had in their own bag of tricks:
“We are sorry that we humans damaged you so much that you could not live
safely among other living things and we are also sorry that we could not gently
and with love help you overcome the fears and anxieties that caused you so much
pain. May you rest in peace to run free and happy over the rainbow bridge.”
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