Leadership & Assertiveness, nor the Rules & Accountability that accompany these traits, cannot be outsourced. It is the one aspect of the training journey that is not transferable.
Dogs are way too smart for that.
The idea that trainers can “train out” unhealthy behavioral tendencies and desire, to then return a dog to an environment that neglects to uphold the same standards, and the dog magically remains “good”... is a delusion.
Dogs don’t want to be a good. As a matter of fact, they don’t even know what “good” is. They simply know what FEELS good if whatever it is they’re doing in the moment brings them pleasure, or alleviates discomfort. Chewing a hole in your carpet may seem like a good idea if it momentarily relieves Fluffy of the stress of your absence.
Here’s the thing… WE are in charge of teaching our dogs the difference between good and bad. We must be willing to follow through and maintain a certain standard for right and wrong. Whatever that standard and way of living is, is entirely up to US. Or, we can simply live with the set of standards our dogs selfishly design themselves.
Dogs only change when their person does as well. And they will only rise to the set of standards that their person is WILLING to uphold.
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Live🖤PAWSitively CALM
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