It's been a while...

I have an apology. It’s been quite a while since I wrote on here. Largely because I just didn’t feel that I had anything that profound to write.

So this is just a collection of my recent thoughts.

When is your dog healthy enough?

I have recently become so disheartened with the industry I work in. That is the best way to describe it. I no longer feel a part of it. When did looking after a dog become so difficult? When did feeding a dog need some sort of degree? The industry seems to have capitalised on how much owners care and created new problems for us to worry about.

I’m reminded of destination happiness, except this is now destination healthiness. The industry has told us to pursue this concept of health for our dogs, without actually defining it. How do we know we have gotten there? That’s the point. We don’t and so we’ll keep spending on the pursuit. Forgive me, but I just want my dogs to do the things they enjoy doing, and I want to enjoy my doggos!

What do you feed your dog? I quite frankly do not care. Feed them whatever they need to enjoy the life you have built for them. Feed them something that gives them solid poos. Feed them something they look forward to eating. Feed them something they wag their tail for. I will, of course speak with anyone about making the most optimal choices when feeding their dog, but these decisions should not be a source of stress or worry in your life. No matter how many instagram influencers make you think differently.

Does your dog need a cupboard full of supplements? Probably not. But if they have specific health needs, then a few carefully selected products will probably help.

Dog Training

What a minefield. I could write for days on the state of the dog training industry. I don’t have the answers. But I would say I don’t see a huge difference from my time working with families. I don’t have to be politically correct any more, so I can be a little clearer with my points. Problematic child behaviours could usually be mapped across to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

At the base we of course have the basic needs; so abused and neglected children often didn’t have these needs met. The same goes for our abused and neglected dogs. That’s why we’re not making progress with these kids or dogs until those needs are met.

Above that we have safety and security. This of course covers having a home, parents having employment etc. But it also encompasses feeling safe and secure within relationships. Are there clear boundaries? Is there a routine? Is there predictability? Even if mistakes are made, the relationship is still secure.

We then have the higher layers, like love and belonging. For humans, it’s all of those relationships we hold, it’s also the identities we form; clubs we belong to, hobbies we have, memberships we hold, roles we assign ourselves. This sense of belonging is crucial to us reaching our full potential.

For our dogs, they need their basic needs met. They also need safety and security. But those relationships with their owners are just as important. They need to be taught how to function within safe boundaries, they function well in a routine and predictability is built into their training. When they reliably recall, they get a treat. When they ignore you, they swiftly get placed back on a long line.

When you cover the lower bases, you build a resilient dog, who develops confidence and self-esteem. They can then manage novel experiences.

If a dog trainer doesn’t understand basic psychology, they probably won’t be that useful for you or your dog.

I am a firm believer that if you cover the lower bases, do more breed specific activities with your dog and focus on your relationship, many perceived problems would dramatically change. Much like when I worked with families and solely focussed on the parent-child relationship.

Final thought…

Just go and enjoy spending time with your doggos. Their lives are so short. Turn off the instagram influencers. If your dog is generally healthy, carry on. If you’re managing something a little complex, ask for help. From someone you trust.