Women Who Own Dogs

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