10/30/2021
Wait, wait, wait!!!
Hear me out, by now we are all aware of the fallout caused by training with aversive tools. That’s not what this post is about.
I just wanted to share some key takeaways from the “Aggression in Dogs” conference last weekend. This one seemed to be a recurring theme. CHOICE!
How impactful it really is on the well being of our dogs. We know very well since the pandemic started just how much freedom matters, and we still had exponentially more freedoms than most dogs get.
I’m challenging you to really consider how much choice your dogs are getting.
We control EVERYTHING! Food/water, bathroom, exercise, playtime allotment, sleep arrangements, the list goes on!
So why aren’t we being more considerate of our loved ones? Why can’t they say NO? Be able to express their discomforts to us, without reprimand. For us to use the expressions simply as information to better the relationship. So we can manage the environments where necessary, but also to just allow the room for them to get comfortable at their own pace and with our support.
Coercion by definition is the use of power to impose ones will on another. My thought is this, that doesn’t only mean physically. We control everything for our dogs. Let’s allow them to have their own personality and differences. They are another species after all!! We push them to exist in a tiny box of what is acceptable behaviour within our realm, with little to no regard for what their needs are. Including, most importantly, their happiness. And when we look beyond ourselves enough, we can see that is often overlooked.
