03/12/2025
Dog training and dogs are not fun for a lot of people to put it mildly. They are in distress because its having a huge impact on their lives and relationships.
I would like you to imagine how Joanne feels. Joanne rescued a young dog from an awful situation. A situation in which the dog was part of dozens of dogs being bred for profit and in an abusive situation. As the dog began to grow the dog started to display behaviours of agression. Barking at people, dogs, and even cars. Everything. The dog would spin around on the lead in a frenzy refusing to take reward and refusing to listen. Joanne then took the dog to vets who recommended an expensive behaviourist. The behaviourist couldn't get to the route of the problem.
Joanne couldn't do this, by now she had had the dog 6 months and had a strong bond with the dog. She went to a string of dog trainers but nothing made any difference. By now the dog had gone through puberty and the problems were becoming worse. Fear of noises and fireworks - nuisance barking and destruction in the house too. Off to the vets again who recommended neutering.
This was done, because who wouldnt follow their vets advice? Only there was an issue. Within months the dogs aggression spiralled. Where once it was predictable it became totally unpredictable and there was a serious worsening. The dog now began redirecting onto Joanne and anyone who was near. Joanne was hospitalised on a couple of occasions and one friend was bitten giving her blood poisoning (sepsis).
People call it reactivity because it sounds nice. Its aggression. By now Joanne stopped walking the dog because of the judgement of others and because she was scared the dog would attack her when seeing someone or something.
5 years on she finally plucks up the courage again to see a trainer. This time a true balanced trainer and finally there is someone who is listening.
What people dont realise is that when people own a dog like this, its very similar to a toxic relationship with a partner. There is love, but they are almost held captive. This above is fictional but is also what I discuss with clients on a daily basis who come to me. Indeed these are the experiences of multiple clients yesterday alone blended into one.
So if youre going to judge someone who has a reactive dog saying that they should train the dog not to be reactive or not take the dog out - have some empathy. You have no idea why that dog is reactive or what they are doing to resolve it. How about we support other dog owners, how about the mask wearing judgemental folk take time to have love for other people and dogs.
If you love dogs, then you should love them all. Not just your own. I enjoy training my dogs, and I even enjoy training dogs and helping people in the situations like above. Why? Because to me its a problem to solve for the owner and the dog and I am good at and revel in problem solving. If youre not part of the solution youre part of the problem. Be kind and remember if youre judging dogs or owners and not helping - then youre a POS. Dont be a POS.
You only have to read the hundreds of comments on some of my recent posts about keeping "friendly" dogs on a lead who can't recall to see just how many people have no empathy?
Have you got empathy for dogs and owner - maybe this situation is familiar to you?
