12/17/2021
Know this is my practice with my own dogs... AND this is what I train humans to do.
Force free, science based training only.
FYI... know this... Lainey Wolff
https://www.facebook.com/1809931469310673/posts/2706333989670412/
Dogs are not "it," they are "he," "she" or "they." They are not objects.
I don't want an "obedient" dog, I want a dog who has learned cues and follows through because she chooses options that are rewarding and beneficial.
I don't want a "submissive" dog, I want a friend. One with the ability to choose and to have the freedom to say "yes" and "no."
I don't want a "well-behaved" dog, I want a dog who has fully learned social skills in order to respond to her environment in ways that make her feel safe, comfortable and happy. I want her to be free to be in control of herself and her environment.
I don't "command" my dog. I ask. We have a partnership not a dictatorship. I make sure our interactions are consensual. If asking isn't an option, I make sure that I provide her with information in a consistent and meaningful way and teach her to feel okay with those situations when they arise.
I don't need to "fix" my dog. She's not broken. I do want to help her better cope with her challenges and learn new strategies that will help her navigate this human-centred society she lives in.
Language matters in the way we construct dogs and the way it shapes our own behaviour and attitudes.