21/04/2023
Have empathy for reactive dogs. They're living in a human's world and doing the best with what they understand.
It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks or says about your reactive dog’s behaviour because it’s completely acceptable, justified and even necessary for them to communicate when they are uncomfortable.
And your doing your damn best to help them feel safe and heard so keep it up!
Most people do not understand dog behaviour, even people with well trained obedient dogs, so honestly their opinion doesn’t matter.
Society really needs to be educated and start seeing dog behaviour on the same level as human behaviour because it’s honestly no different and stop judging dog owners and telling them what to do or how their dog should behave because it’s all bu****it and incorrect and not helping anyone.
When we see two freinds at a cafe and one of them is crying, we wouldn’t judge them and say that is a bad freind she’s not doing her job or that girl who’s crying is badly behaved, she shouldn’t be out in public.
We would feel empathy and understand that girl is having a hard time.
But when we see dogs acting out in a big way or even a small way, accusations and judgments are thrown around left right and centre about the dog being disobedient, disrespectful, needs more training, unruly, that person doesn’t know what they are doing etc
Now if we the dog mom or dad, let those judgments effect us, we’re likely to take it personally and effect our own confidence and feel ashamed, like it’s our fault and yet, it’s not our fault that our dog is having a hard time and their behaviour is not a reflection of who we are or our ability’s. It also effects our ability to be present and connected to our dogs when they need us most.
Acceptance of our dog’s communication as being valid and supporting them through tough moments is the key to real transformation ✨
