29/11/2025
For a very long time, I’ve wanted to write this article about how important it is for dogs to understand that they are, in fact, dogs. I’ve worked with dogs for many years, and the biggest problem I see is that their owners treat their pets like children — or even worse — completely forgetting that a dog is an animal, with an animal’s instincts and an animal’s psychology.
People often fail to realise that a dog’s psychology is dramatically different from that of a human. A dog does not respect sweet talk, babying or constant pampering. A dog respects strength, calm confidence and clear leadership — nothing else. This is how their minds work, whether we like it or not.
They also forget that constant spoiling leads to chaos, lack of control, and situations in which both the dog and the owners suffer. And people genuinely don’t understand why their dog doesn’t listen.
First of all, it’s essential and absolutely vital to recognise that a dog is a pack animal, and it lives according to pack laws. In a pack, there is a leader. The leader is obeyed unconditionally. If a dog in the pack doesn’t follow the hierarchy and breaks the rules, it is punished. Harshly — with a bite to the neck. This is standard practice used by pack leaders, and they don’t let go until the offender completely submits.
What I see among my clients is that they simply don’t understand this. They believe that punishing a dog is cruel, that using a training collar is cruel. But is it not cruel to watch your dog choke itself on every walk, injuring its own throat — something that could potentially end in death? Is it not cruel to hand a dog over to a shelter or, even worse, euthanasia because it bit your child? And in such cases, it’s not the dog that is at fault — it’s the owner.
There are no bad or aggressive dogs. There are irresponsible and short-sighted owners who cannot raise their dog properly or provide what it truly needs. A dog needs boundaries, discipline and a leader who sets the rules — not endless treats and cuddles. A dog without leadership feels insecure, overwhelmed and confused.
And here is the truth many people do not want to hear:
Every behavioural issue in a dog is a direct result of the owner’s incompetence. Always.
The only exceptions are rare cases of severe chronic illness or genetic neurological disorders — but these are extremely uncommon.
Your dog is a reflection of you, whether you like it or not. Its behaviour is the direct mirror of your ability — or inability — to provide proper training, structure and leadership.
A person who is not capable of becoming a pack leader for their dog should not own a dog at all. A dog is not a cute fluffy toy you give your child for their birthday. An animal must never be given as a gift under any circumstances. It’s not an object. It’s a living being, and it comes with enormous responsibility for many years.
It fills me with rage when I hear stories of animals being given as presents. And then these “gifts” end up unwanted, because many people are simply incapable of raising a dog and giving it the necessary care and training.
So please remember: a dog is an animal, and you must treat it as an animal. Treats and cuddles are wonderful, but proper training, rules, discipline and leadership are far more important if you want your beloved pet to be a loyal companion who brings love and joy into your home, rather than chaos and destruction.
