08/17/2022
I see so many owners get things backwards. Shooting for “happy” as the primary goal, rather than “good” and well balanced. Nothing wrong with happy of course, but it’s not an effective place to start when working with dogs.
If a happy dog is your overriding and all-consuming priority from the start, you will have a lot of problems. Leadership first, then friend!
Dogs who are fearful, bullying, entitled, possessive, disrespectful, dog and human aggressive, or just plain disobedient dogs, need different initial priorities.
You don’t solve negative behaviors by making dogs happy or loving them better, you solve them by addressing them. And by doing so, this might create a period of discomfort, uncertainty, adjustment and overwhelming, but we get out of things what we put into them….
Dogs who are given proper, healthy and calm leadership from the get go can fight or challenge this transitioning phase, but the important word here is transitioning. They’re changing and you are showing them what is expected of them. A dog who knows what is expected of him and has consistent leadership, is happier and better balanced, yet not always “visible” at first. Change doesn’t always create happiness out of the gate, but consistency will reveal itself….
I continue to see many owners viewing happy dogs as the main priority and giving love and affection first. As if somehow happy dogs magically equaled good dogs. For instance, take a dog park for example, just full of happy dogs bullying and brawling, or happy dogs jumping on guests, bad house manners and respect to others, both humans and dogs.
Happiness will come, but it needs to be put in its proper place at first and foremost. Get your “good” dog well-behaved, polite, obedient, safe, then the joy, freedom and comfort will naturally come. Follow this order….. exercise, discipline then love and affection, best equation to a well balanced and truly happy dog, owner too! 😉
If you only focus on having a happy dog, you’ll likely never have a good one…..
