Why Do Dog Trainers Exist?
Why do dog trainers exist?
Have you ever thought about that?
Apart from the ‘obvious’ reason: Training a dog to perform certain skills and helping dogs and humans live harmoniously together - as you will hear from most trainers.
Wikipedia defines dog training as:
“Dog training is the act of teaching a dog particular skills or behaviors. Dog training includes teaching a dog to react to particular commands and cues as well as to act independently by deliberately changing their natural behavior.”
I don’t know about you - but I have a problem with that last sentence, “by deliberately changing their natural behavior.”. This is why I have become a Certified Family Dog Mediator and refer to myself as such, rather than a ‘trainer’
The Real Truth: Why We Are Seeing A 'Pandemic' Of Aggression, Fear, And Anxiety In Dogs.
Too many of our dogs are suffering ! That is a fact we can no longer ignore. Covid-19 is only part of the story. Yes, we dog trainers are seeing a rise in reactivity, aggression, fear of going outside, and all kinds of anxiety since the pandemic hit us all in 2020. But the truth is, behavior problems were already growing before then and have been on a steady rise for the past many decades.
“Covid Puppies”
More and more people have chosen and are choosing to share their lives with a ‘pet’….this of course exploded during Covid-19. “Covid puppies” are now having a whole range of problems due to lack of socialization. Many dogs can’t be left alone for even 5 minutes without crying, whining, barking, screaming. A vast majority of dogs are reacting to everything and anything: Barking, lunging, growling, etc. What is most disturbing are the dogs who now have an extreme fear of the outside world. Some are to the point of being paralyzed at even taking a step out the door!
That is both heartbreaking and alarming and we should….we MUST take action to address the REAL underlying issue at blame for our dogs’ suffering!! Are WE HUMANS to blame? If not, WHO, or WHAT is?