04/19/2025
Why is It Only Dogs?
The Myth of "Corrections cause trauma"
Force-free trainers love to claim that any correctionāno matter how mildāwill *traumatize* a dog. Meanwhile, in the real world, animals correct each other *all the time*.
Somehow, every species on Earth can handle corrections, but dogs? Nope. They're apparently fragile, emotional wrecks who will need therapy if they experience a single boundary.
Letās take a look at how corrections happen *naturally* in the animal kingdom:
šŗ Wolves & Wild Dogsā If a young wolf oversteps, an older wolf may growl, snap, or pin them down to enforce boundaries. Somehow, this doesnāt shatter their psyche.
š Dogs ā Watch any well-socialized dog group. A dog that plays too rough might get a snarl, a snap, or even a full-body check from another dog. They learn quickly whatās okay and whatās not.
š± Cats & Dogs ā Cats have *zero tolerance* for nonsense. A dog who gets too close or plays too rough will get a swift paw to the faceāno hesitation, no emotional hand-wringing.
š¦ Big Cats ā A lion cub biting too hard during play will get a swift correction from its mother, often with a firm swat or a growl. This is crucial for learning limits.
š Elephants ā Matriarchs will physically push or shove younger elephants who are acting inappropriately. These corrections are key for survival.
š“ Horses ā Step out of line? A dominant horse will bite, kick, or chase off a rude herd member. No endless "redirection"ājust a clear consequence.
š¦ Birds ā Ever seen a parrot correct another? A beak peck is a clear message: "Back off." Even in flocks, birds establish pecking orders with physical corrections.
š¬ Dolphins ā These social animals use body slams, jaw snaps, and fin slaps to enforce social rules and discipline younger pod members.
So why is it that in the entire natural world, corrections are *normal*ābut dogs, according to force-free trainers, must be wrapped in bubble wrap?
The truth? Dogs, like every other species, thrive on clear communication, including corrections. They donāt need endless treats or baby talk when they misbehave. They need guidance, structure, andāyesāappropriate corrections.
And with appropriate I do NOT mean - now start body slamming your dog, or biting their ear and become super physical. A correction can be as simple as using your leash to move the dog away or using spatial pressure.
Because, letās be honestā¦ If a dogās own *mother* can correct them without causing lifelong trauma, you correcting a KNOWN behavior isnāt going to break them either.
Letās stop pretending dogs are delicate flowers and start treating them like the capable, intelligent animals they are. šŖš¶
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