Responsible Dog Ownership

If you are like most dog owners, there is no doubt your dog feels loved. If you're like most owners, in spite of all this love you're struggling with a lack of control, inappropriate manners and ongoing behavioral problems.

Showering your dog with love is wonderful. No need to stop. What so often happens is we are lenient, out of love. While leniency may feel like love, it’s usually the opposite. When you choose leniency, it feels good but causes chaos and dysfunction. Imagine if Helen Keller’s caretaker rearranged the furniture every time she stepped out of the house. There would be no way for Helen to ever make sense of her world because it keeps changing. That’s the chaos that dog’s experience with our leniency. What your dog desperately needs is for you to act with love by making responsible decisions and being consistent.

What is Responsible Dog Ownership?

Making responsible decisions does NOT require you to stop treating your dog like they’re human. It DOES require you to stop treating your dog like a human all of the time. It means being a leader by helping your dog have a world that makes sense. That includes learning to relate to your dog in a way that he or she can clearly understand. Thereby creating a world where he or she can thrive.

This responsible relationship means a life with structure, and freedom. That structure includes obedience essentials like an off-leash recall anywhere, anytime, regardless of the situation. It also includes walking on a slack leash, no aggression towards people or dogs, a rock-solid down and immediately stopping when told “no”. Finally, balanced structure requires manners that make life inside your home enjoyable for everyone, including your dog.

Remember, if you have a choice, choose to do what “is good for your dog” over what “feels good”. This is responsible dog ownership.

Lasting Benefits

We are told again and again by owners that being responsible is what actually feels good, just not right away. A lot of owners need to see the positive changes that begin to take place once the responsible decision making is done consistently. Anxious dogs often become calmer, aggressive dogs become peaceful, and dogs who previously acted like bulls-in-a-China-shop become gentlemen.

All you have to do is just stay the course. Each lesson lays a foundation for the next one. Ultimately, we want to help owners to seldom ever need to use a command. Their dog's everyday behavior is guided by long-term rules that are non-verbal and in effect 24/7 and quickly become habit. In time those habits become second nature.

Even maintaining long-term performance at the highest level possible is easily accomplished with minimal effort. This is accomplished by using just one isolated command, every once in a while, when your dog least expects it. And doing so with very casual physiology so he or she doesn't see it as training or some kind of test. If he or she obeys instantly shower them with love and affection. Of course if your dog chooses not to obey be responsible by backing that choice up with a correction. That correction being followed by the love and affection once your dog corrects their behavior.

For many owners this effort maybe once every few weeks. So very little effort, for lasting results.

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