08/07/2022
Copied with permission from a post by Anne Rogers:
"It is perfectly acceptable, normal and ok for a pet owner to want a family dog, who is safe, fun and can be brought places without that requiring military standard operations and arrangements.
It is perfectly acceptable, normal and ok for a pet owner to not want to or need to become a dog trainer or behaviour expert. To just be a dog owner.
It is perfectly acceptable, normal and ok for pet owners to not want project dogs, who take over their lives, require complete changes to their lifestyle, and mean that, for the remainder of their dog's life, everything must be micro-managed because just one human mistake can mean serious compromises to safety and welfare.
Human welfare is important too, not least because that helps to ensure canine welfare too. We need both.
Dogs wouldn't choose this either.
It's not welfare if we are just keeping them alive under conditions that limit that dog's needs being met.
We're not rescuing them if their lives aren't getting better.
Picture of this beach boy because many years ago, an online/social media bullying campaign was instigated against me by, among others, "force-free" or whatever trainers (I have the screen shots, IPs and all sorts of info) because I decided to choose an impeccably produced, reared and cared for dog so that I could have a fun, safe, nutty companion who challenges me in all the right ways, whose needs I can meet pretty easily and whose welfare I can maintain without massive lifestyle overhauls for either of us.
Been there, done that, and will never do it again, and nor will the countless pet owners who didn't know how to make those choices, and are now stuck and overwhelmed with a dog they love but whose needs are so difficult, and sometimes, impossible, to meet.
I'm tired."
[Photo: Ann Rogers]
