Dogs vs. People
Dogs have always been thought of as the social, loving animals that Hollywood portrays them as. It’s one of the reasons many people adopt or buy dogs. Dogs can in fact be very social! The one thing, however, I want you to be aware of is that dogs also like their space. Sometimes dogs just don’t want to say hi. Sometimes dogs just don’t want hugs or to play horse for your young children’s amusement. Remember, we’re talking about a live animal with desires and choices of its own.
“Not my Fido; he loves everyone and always wants a hug.” Trust me! After doing this for over a decade, I have seen many dogs bite or growl “out of nowhere.” I have seen dogs getting put down because after months of being ridden like a horse, they finally decided to say “No.” I have also seen the headlines of children being the victim of severe and at times fatal bites by the family dog and the owners simply saying “I don’t know what happened; they were best friends.”
Please let me remind you of a simple fact: You don’t speak dog, and your dog doesn’t speak English. I will now attempt to speak on your dog’s behalf: “I appreciate everything you do for me, and I do in fact like spending time with you, your family and friends. But please understand that sometimes I don’t know how to tell you I’m uncomfortable. I put my ears back, but you just think I’m being cute. I turn over in submission, but you simply assume I always just want you to rub my belly. Please don’t let little Johnny lay on top of me…”
This may not be the best feel good story about dogs, but one of my responsibilities as a dog trainer is to tell people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear.