This wonderful article on the dog trainer’s dogs came out recently by Paws Abilities called “What’s Important to You?” The article covers reasons you might think the dog trainer’s dogs are not well trained.
“Here’s the thing: we each train what’s important to us. What I find important with my pets and what you feel are a priority may be very different, and that’s okay.” – Sara Reusche
Truth is, most people don’t want a robot. We want to enjoy our dog’s quirks and personality. All we need is for them to integrate well into our lifestyles and activities. If we have people over often, we need a dog that can handle the sights, sounds, and social interactions. I don’t have many people over so I don’t expect, nor have I made an effort to, teach my dog to be social with visitors (strangers to him). Other than family he already knows, he is very insecure around new people and animals. Maybe one day I will change that, but for now we have enough to work on (Rally cues and reactivity on leash). In social family, he would not do well. I call him my “socially awkward nerd” because he is brilliant but gets super nervous when it comes to interacting socially. When I have do friends over, he is put up in another room where he happily chews on a rawhide or Kong toy.
Be Your Dog’s Advocate
Recently, I had a small gathering at my place where friends, who see the pictures I post of my dog on Facebook, desired to meet him. In his best interest, I declined the request because I knew meeting so many people at once on his territory would not bring out his best behavior. My friends were disappointed but soon forgot he was even there and went on to have a great night. This is exactly why you should always have your dog’s best interest at heart and in mind. You are your dog’s advocate. You know what they can handle and what you need to work on before they are ready for a situation. “Hoping for the best” just won’t cut it and will damage your relationship with your dog in the future.
It’s all about priorities when it comes to training your dog. Don’t worry about what others think and do what works for you.
