I know I am ignorant and uneducated about many things that don’t come up in my life or that I am not interested in knowing about, but I know a whole lot about dogs. I hope this inside (from a trainer) perspective helps to educate you too.

I have been a trainer for 10 years. I work about 60 hours a week with dogs of all shapes, sizes and behavioral issues. When I am called in to help, I assume the family wants my advice, opinion and a plan for training, so it always shocks me when they argue with me about what the dogs knows and doesn’t know and how I’d like to address the problem. The following are things people say that need to be checked at the door.

My dog knows he is wrong.

Oh really? Wrong and right involve some sort of moral code, of which a dog does not have. If he knows he is wrong, why does he keep doing the wrong thing? How does he know?

He does it to show me he is mad at me.

Oh really? So when you leave for work, the dog comes up with a premeditated plan to express his dissatisfaction about being left home? He plans? He shows you?

My dog understand what I say to him.

Oh really? Then why are you saying sit 5 times and he is still standing? oh right, to spite you.

My dog doesn’t listen to me.

Oh really? Have you taught him your language? Are you listening to him?

My dog is Alpha.

Oh really? I feel like a broken record here -read my other blogs…

My dog bit me but it was an accident.

Oh really? Dogs are masterful with their mouths and bodies. They can barely swipe your face with their teeth if they want to warn you, but if they bite, it was on purpose or it would not have happened.

I want my dog to be friendly to everyone.

Oh really? How much money and time are you willing to put in to make that happen? Is that realistic?? Please stop getting me all excited about your dog’s potential with your grandiose lies. If you really only want to spend 15 minutes a day with your dog, tell me so I can make a plan for that!

My dog is stupid or stubborn.

Oh really? It may be you. If you haven’t taught him anything, he can’t respond to you. Who is stupid?

My dog doesn’t have a good appetite.

Oh really? Maybe you are feeding him in such a way that he is bored. Dogs like work, not a free meal.

My dog loves the dog park or daycare.

Oh really? How do you know? Does he come home and rave about his day and his friends?

Please ask yourself what is true about dogs . People are highly influenced by television -which has nothing to do with real life - they believe what they read no matter the source. They see what they want to see. They absorb opinions from all over and form their own not based on fact, but often on frequency. Myths are heard to make go away.

Dogs do what works. Dog function in a world of safe or dangerous. Dogs express their emotions, thoughts and everything else through their bodies. They do not speak English or any other verbal language. It is a lot easier for YOU to learn your dog’s language than for him to understand yours. Dogs behave like animals -they scratch, jump, growl, bite, roll in dirt, dig holes, grab unattended food, pull the leash to get to stuff, kill small animals, and react one of three ways to almost everything -they fight it, play with it or avoid it.

Stop putting your human junk on your dog! If you don’t enjoy dog behavior, don’t get a dog. I cannot turn your dog into a furry human or a furry statue. If you take the time to understand the dog you have, you will be a lot happier than fighting nature.

So if you call me to your house, please listen to me. You are only wasting your own money by arguing with me on your dime. Tell me your issue and I will help you and I will show you the results, not talk about them.