16/01/2023
I will never forgive myself for allowing a gundog trainer to hit Jasper round the face twice in succession, with an arm raised for a third attempt, to get my beautiful, trusting animal to drop what he had so cleverly retrieved. I had no idea this was going to happen and had no warning and no conversation happened.
By their own admission they were not ā100% positive' with their training, but at my first lesson I had no idea what this meant. What did my dog think of me, standing there, letting this happen? How could he forgive me for not speaking up, saying it was unacceptable, staying until the end of the lesson? I can't imagine sitting next to my granddaughter in her piano lessons and allowing the teacher to smack her hands for being in the wrong position, never mind continuing to the end of the session!
After I'd cried all the way home, I wised up, got myself educated and qualified in canine behaviour, and never went near anyone after that who said they were anything other than force-free in their training.
In some circumstances, my dogs, with whom I have built a cooperative and trusting relationship, may need to be leashed and told we are walking the other way, and they may not want to play that game. Yes I've had to drag my dog away sometimes - but on a harness, not on a collar and lead, so they are not strangled - to keep them safe when they don't understand the danger (busy road/field of sheep) but I am still advocating for my animals.
Sadly, humans, canines and equines often get treated this way because they are the most forgiving species and always come back. (I can't imagine a cat returning for a dose of the same treatment!)
Dogs are not 'dumb animals'. They just don't speak with words - it's all in their body language. Thank goodness I learnt to listen.
Hereās a picture to make you laugh - a fully paid-up card-carrying member of the adult Labrador community having a puppy moment - all tail, toes and teefs!