Uncomfortable truths about the dog training and breeding business?

What are some uncomfortable truths about the dog training and/or breeding business? #puppytraining #dogtraining #labrador #labradorretriever

[annettiare]

A dog is not a machine you can fix and forget. Training is really for life. But on the flip side, it's never too late to start.

[OffGridDogs]

The humans need the training much more than the dogs do.

[unzips]

Sometimes a dog learns best from another dog.

[kristinamachlab]

Genetics matter. Also, dogs don’t become aggressive or have other problem behaviors just because they were abused or not loved enough. The reasons dogs have “problems” is very nuanced. Another also, you can’t usually take a dog that was actually abused and fix it by just giving it enough love and making sure you’re always nice to it.

People need to stop anthropomorphizing dogs and stop thinking of them like people, and remember that they are a separate species. They are amazing in that their social structure and learning capabilities align so well with our own, however, people often have very unrealistic expectations in terms of training and behavior.

Finally, humans would have major problems, too, if they were kept in a box most of the time, taken outside rarely, and then asked not to look at, touch, or smell anything while they are outside for their ten minutes a day allotment.

[gemini]

Dogs are like raising kids. You must be consistent with them if you want a well mannered, well socialized dog.

[shaunar]

The expectation that you train a dog once and they will always be “perfect” no matter what.

[stevel]

Before any training occurs, the owner/handler “Must” Learn patience; it’s the key to dog training 🐾

[pattiphillips]

If you don't want to do a lot of exercise, a dog from the sporting, working, hound, herding or terrier groups is not for you.

[JandFKennels]

An uncomfortable truth is the shame people try to throw on you as a breeder. You can be as ethical and kind as can be and there is always that group of frowny face people that put you down.

[nicklas]

If your dog is not learning good behaviors and seems to be untrainable, It's not the dog, it's you.
Dogs are eager to learn, and a lazy owner is the worst thing for them behaviorally.

[jedisith]

My grandfather had a dog. Raised it and trained it as a boy just 8 yrs old. When he was a teen and had words with his dad he was told to think about how he trained his dog to behave and learn what wasn't ok. My grandpa said that dog taught him why and how his father corrected and punished him.

We no longer train a team of oxen to plow, no team of horses to travel and no protection dogs to watch the garden for vermin.

Instead society chooses to have animals without any understanding or resources or willingness to learn. If the owner cannot learn how will they ever teach the pet to learn?

[DaMelloKittyy]

Puzzles and toys cannot (and should not) replace walking your dog.

[froast]

If you want a good dog, you have to put in the work! There's no secret- just good effort!

[vikingdogmanship]

The choice of breed and how you raise them will deeply impact how comfortable or stressfull your life will get for the rest of that dogs life. How much work will someone put in to have a balanced well behaved dog. It looks like fun and games from others on social media until they are stuck with a dog that hates people, other dogs or anything else it's not comfortable with.

[nealesmith]

It seems that some trainers keep their dogs in crates all day. This is unacceptable in my opinion.

[rpodadventure]

Your dog needs opportunities to do what hundreds of generations of genetic manipulation compel him to do. A dog isn't a teddy bear, a decoration or a fashion statement. For instance, if you get a German Shorthaired Pointer and don't take him hunting or give him alternative outlets for his intelligence, curiosity and athletic abilities, you and the dog will both be very unhappy.

[sarastrohmeyer]

That you can fix genetics with punishment versus working hard. We have a mini Aussie and she’s naturally more reactive, anxious and shy. A lot like the German shepherd videos a while back. We had a trainer tell us to punish her for the behavior and it would be fixed in one time. We quit the trainer and started putting in the work like shown on previous videos with scared dogs. Her confidence is starting to blossom leaps and bounds as she is getting closer to a year old. Day by day, we have worked with her and showed her the world is a fun and happy place that we don’t need her to protect us from perceived threats. She is less and less reactive as time goes on, but it’s all about learning by doing and building confidence, not forcing compliance.

[margaretfleming]

That reactivity can be cured after a couple of lessons.

[Senza.archive]

People who oppose breed prejudices and advocate for the positive qualities of certain dog breeds tend to overlook the original purpose these breeds were developed for. It’s important to recognise that breed prejudices usually have historical and practical origins, even if they are now exaggerated.

[nicolesweeney]

The idea that everything in training must be 100% positive. Like us, dogs will face negative things in life no matter how hard we try to protect them. If they have no experience dealing with challenges, they are hindered overall as a result. I, too, want my training to be primarily positive and enjoyable for all involved, but I can't separate my dog from reality. My dog's safety and the public's safety are more important than feeling like my dog had a choice. Meeting my dog's exercise requirements and mental stimulation requirements are more important than feeling like my dog had a choice. I recognize that my dog literally can't make appropriate choices without having his basic needs met first, so yes, he must do them. You HAVE TO put in the work, and sometimes that sucks, like at 6 AM or in the pouring rain. You still have to do it, and you and your dog are better for having done it.