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
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