I think many times we bring dogs into our homes thinking if we just put them together, they will get along just fine. Sometimes this can be true. Other times, this can be a disaster, especially if either dogs is a herding dog or herding dog mix.
These days, if you do an internet search about dog training, you will find extremes from one end of the spectrum to the other. I read an article the other day that talked about “the state of your dog’s mind” in how it relates to the dog responding to a simple command like “sit.” It was encouraging that we consider what the dog was feeling before we ask a dog to do something.
As our love for dogs and these incredible natural surroundings grow, so does the pressure on our dogs and the environment. Sadly, many popular places where we walk our dogs are becoming filled with trash – dog trash, as in poop. The risk of disease comes along with that, especially for younger puppies. Pressure mounts on our dogs in terms of having to deal with other dogs that are true bullies. Bullies are dogs that disrespect another dog’s personal space by rushing up to them, barking and flagging with a stiff tail. The owners gleefully yell, “He’s friendly!” when other dogs know in an instant this is not friendly behavior, but intimidation.
This is an incredibly sensitive subject for so many. In general, I think the dog-owning public does not want to even talk about dog aggression. This summer, I received more dog bites in my business than I have in the past 20 years all together. Thankfully, none of the bites required medical attention. Now, I find myself asking the question, “What is going on?” Is it because I see more people and dogs than I ever have? Or is it for other reasons? Am I doing something differently? I have considered this long and hard. Here are some of my observations.
Most of us are so enamored with a new puppy that we get on the floor, roll around, play rough house, among a myriad of other things when trying to bond with our new family member. What is critical to remember is that what we teach our dogs as a puppy is what they will do when they mature. I hear excuses all the time that the mouthing and biting is, “soft” and just because they are a puppy, “It’s okay.” NO! It is NOT!
Just what is anthropomorphism? It is humanizing dogs. The media and pet suppliers, the dog training community and dog care specialist have begun to refer to dogs as “fur babies”, or “fur children”. Not a day goes by that we don’t see dogs in clothes that make them look like little children. I posted a photo on the Positive Puppy FaceBook page that had a Weimaraner with painted toenails and a bracelet on her leg. A Weimeraner is a hunting dog with huge energy and the need to run, and hunt.
Quite honestly, dog “pack” behaviors and “social rank” have become a politically incorrect topic to even discuss. There are many people that believe that dogs are no longer “pack animals” because of domestication. Dogs DO understand “social rank”. ALL mammals understand social rank, meaning that there are those higher in social rank than others. Our human gut reaction is to discredit social rank because we want our dogs to be equals or more human like.
I am called so many times being asked to help a family save their dog once it has bitten. There are so many things that go into making a decision about how to handle a dog that has bitten, and there is no easy solution. What I think, however, is very rarely addressed are the liability issues involved once a dog bites.
Over the past 18 years, I have worked with a countless dogs with fear issues that have resulted in separation anxiety, fear aggression and biting, lack of ability to trust people or other dogs, and even a form of dog PTSD. This dog always seems to tug at our heartstrings. So, what I am about to say, may seem a bit controversial because it is so close to our hearts.
Powerful words. “Master” surely strikes a cord with many of us. OUCH! This is a quote from Max von Stephanitz spoken over 100 years ago. If you own a German Shepherd, you probably have heard this before because Captain von Stephanitz founded the German Shepherd Dog (GSD).
AFTER AN EXTENDED MEDICAL LEAVE, I WILL BE RETURNING TO WORK MARCH 1st!
