Oh, I totally hear you about trying to train not to pull. One of the things you do with Aussies to ramp them up and increase their drive for agility is to pull back on their collar. An Aussie that pulls is an Aussie that has drive, which you TOTALLY want if you're going to do agility. It's a hard balance to strike, and sometimes Darwin gets a little more leeway when it comes to pulling -- but he generally only needs the occasional reminder. It's like he just... forgets sometimes.
And I also acknowledge that sometimes even well-trained dogs forget themselves. Darwin's manners are GOOD, but far from perfect (he still barks like Cujo when someone's at the door, and has definite issues with people coming into HIS house -- but we're working on those issues).
But that level of utter cluelessness just... makes my soul weep sometimes, because it's not THAT hard to teach a dog to understand the ... I hate this term, but I'm using it anyway: the pack order. They obviously knew who they could push around, and who they couldn't push around.
I really don't get those people. Is it really that hard to do a gnat's ass worth of research on a breed? If you're a lazy bastard, then get a lazy dog. There is a dog breed for everyone, I'm sure of it! People just have to engage their brains a little and not get a dog because it's pretty.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2008-12-07 07:02 am (UTC)And I also acknowledge that sometimes even well-trained dogs forget themselves. Darwin's manners are GOOD, but far from perfect (he still barks like Cujo when someone's at the door, and has definite issues with people coming into HIS house -- but we're working on those issues).
But that level of utter cluelessness just... makes my soul weep sometimes, because it's not THAT hard to teach a dog to understand the ... I hate this term, but I'm using it anyway: the pack order. They obviously knew who they could push around, and who they couldn't push around.
I really don't get those people. Is it really that hard to do a gnat's ass worth of research on a breed? If you're a lazy bastard, then get a lazy dog. There is a dog breed for everyone, I'm sure of it! People just have to engage their brains a little and not get a dog because it's pretty.