Letter - dog walking and respect for others

dog walking and respect for others

Why do dogs behave the way they do
Firstly, a dog behaves the way it does because it’s a dog! Dogs don’t actually behave badly; it’s just dog behaviour is often considered inappropriate in a human world.
It’s very noble to want to afford dogs every freedom in society. The issue here is that the world is controlled by humans. Humans drive cars, use trains, and perform all other manner of activities that are hazardous to our canine friends. This is the reason that dogs cannot be allowed to do as they please and roam as they desire. This is why many attitudes and methods of training are lacking when it comes to dogs. I use all and any method to condition a dog in its behaviour. Many of these methods, such as clicker etc are brilliant in this regards. Many of the techniques can be used very successfully with any intelligent creature to shape behaviour. The difference between a dog and any other living creature sharing this planet with humans is, all other animals are controlled in some way by fencing, crating, tethering etc. The cat is allowed freedom but then generally humans don’t expect too much from a cat. A dog is allowed nearly as much freedom as a human. Out of everything else, even the horse, the dog is the only animal taken with its human owner to nearly every venue they travel to and allowed freedom. This is fine so long as the dog is safe to be this free. Many are not and this is directly down to lack of appropriate training.
I am sad to say that nearly all the haunts I frequented from being a boy where one could enjoy a long country walk with ones dog; one can no longer take a dog to. This is not where conditions are imposed such as dogs on a leash only. It is often no dogs. This is because authorities have to act on pressure from the public and the general public are sick and tired of people with dogs that are a menace. Some dog owners forget that there are people allergic to dogs, people that are terrified of them. There are actually dogs that have been traumatised by other dogs that don’t want a strange dog running up to them. If all dog owners would act responsibly and give their dog basic necessary training, particularly in the come back and stay commands. If they would only call their dog in close and put it on leash when meeting walkers, cyclists and people with other dogs. If they would respect wild life and stock and clean up after their dogs, NONE of these conditions would be imposed on us all!
I urge that all owners of dogs consider this. All professionals from dog carers to trainers think about their influence upon pet dog owners, act responsibly, and be good role models. It’s wonderful that there are so many well-informed dog trainers and behaviour advisers that teach positive reinforcement and dislike anything negative. I agree whole-heartedly with this. However, don’t be blinkered when it comes to teaching control exercises. Yes, there is no need to shout at a dog but if a dog can’t hear a direction from its owner at a distance and can’t see clearly the non-verbal signals then it isn’t able to comply. This is then a dog out of control. If a dog never hears a command used with volume then it wont understand it when it is applied.
It would be nice and beneficial to see a return to sensible dog training and a respect to fellow users of our lanes, countryside and parks by those whom I am sure consider themselves to be dog lovers.
Ask yourself these simple questions and be honest in your answers.
 Can I leave my dog in a position and walk away from it without it moving?
 Can I leave my dog in a position and have someone else call it or throw a ball for it and the dog remain in position or be able to reinforce the position should the dog move?
 Can I call my dog away from ANY distraction?
If the answer to all of the above is not a confident YES and your dog is adult and you have owned it a few months, then you don’t have adequate control over your dog and it should not be off leash in a public open environment.
David Davies
www.happydogsnortheast.co.uk