I was honored to have a story about my dog training services in The Charlotte Observer, August 12, 2012


http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/08/22/3470410/this-dog-trainer-will-bike-to.html

Affirmations

1.     What happened today that delighted you?

2.    How did you get closer to your goals?

3.    What struck you as particularly beautiful?

4.    What act of kindness did you do?

5.    What act of kindness did you witness?

6.    What did you learn today?

7.    Who did you thank today?

8.    Who did you help today?

9.    How did you avoid getting angry or passing judgment?

10.   What did you take special note to listen to while living your life today?

11.    What did you feel thankful about?

12.   What happened today that struck you as spiritual?

13.  Which “force within the universe” made its presents known or caught your attention if only for a moment? Example: wind, water, fire, the smell of earth, gravity, a bee collecting pollen, a esoteric awareness

14.  Did you present someone with a compliment?

15.   Did you receive a compliment today and accept it without denigrating or dismissing it?

16.  What message or instructions did you receive today? Example: a saying, a proverb, or words repeated by more than one person during the day.

17.  Did you receive an unexpected surprise?

18.  What “free-bee” did you receive?

19.  What request did you make and did it come to fruition?

20. Do you feel you are going in the right direction and not compromising your purpose for living?

Despite the numerous books on dog training and behavior, the almost mushroom-like growth of national pet supply stores, veterinarians, groomers, kennel operators and doggie daycare centers offering dog obedience training courses; and the increased number of celebrity canine trainers on radio and television, I continue to receive questions from clients that reflect a profound lack of knowledge or naiveté regarding canine behavior. The truth is: Perhaps, you first began reading about Dick, Jane and their dog Spot in first grade, but the information you’ve gleaned since that time regarding dogs and their role in our lives and society, has been minimal, based on conjecture, or completely false.  1000 falsehoods does not make anything more true. – Chinese proverb

I am also concerned with many dog training professionals who are being supported and financially rewarded for disenfranchising women who own dogs. Do these trainers who conduct group training classes or the one-size-fits-all approach really believe that women and men acquire, interact and then train their dogs the same? Why are women being instructed to act like an alpha dog or leader of their pack – both phrases are not only antithetical to the way women create, maintain and then nurture relationships, they simply have no foundation in scientific fact. Dogs are scavengers not wolves and have never needed an alpha dog or a pack to survive… and dare I say, never needed a prong collar, e-collar or treat to facilitate learning.          Roger Alan Bernard        www.savvycaninetraining.com

Despite the numerous books on dog training and behavior, the almost mushroom-like growth of national pet supply stores, veterinarians, groomers, kennel operators and doggie daycare centers offering dog obedience training courses; and the increased number of celebrity canine trainers on radio and television, I continue to receive questions from clients that reflect a profound lack of knowledge or naiveté regarding canine behavior. The truth is: When you first began reading about Dick, Jane and their dog Spot in first grade, the information you’ve gleaned since that time regarding dogs and their role in our lives and society, has been minimal, based on conjecture, or completely false.

I am also concerned with many dog training professionals who are being supported and financially rewarded for disenfranchising women who own dogs. Do these trainers who conduct group training classes or the one-size-fits-all approach really believe that women and men acquire, interact and then train their dogs the same? Why are women being instructed to act like an alpha dog or leader of their pack – both phrases are not only antithetical to the way women create, maintain and then nurture relationships, they simply have no foundation in scientific fact. Dogs are scavengers not wolves and have never needed an alpha dog or a pack to survive… and dare I say, never needed a prong collar, e-collar or treat to facilitate learning.

Roger Alan Bernard

www.savvycaninetraining.com

Child/Dog Safety Tip

Parents should periodically test their dog’s ability to withstand being inappropriately handled. Pull gently but firmly on the dog’s ears, check its mouth with probing fingers, take away a treat or toy and grab a lock of fur from the dog’s neck, back or hindquarters. Do not physically hurt the dog during the exercise but make each step moderately uncomfortable because a child might not be so judicious or gentle. The objective of the exercise is to ascertain whether or not the dog can tolerate being handled roughly. If the dog shows concern, growls or attempts to snap during such an encounter then consider this a warning. Contact a canine behaviorist or trainer immediately and then determine a course of action to get your dog acclimated to being handled, especially by children.