05/14/2026
Tamarack (equestrian page) reviewed a recent magazine article about extreme wealth and the equine sports community.
This quote caught my eye, because you could substitute dog for horse and still cook up the same dish.
"A horse is not a speculative object whose value can be separated from its body, mind, soundness, fear, trust, appetite, history, and willingness to keep showing up for us."
Speculative often also means status symbol, so we might also say this: everybody's dog is an extension of their ego. And the more someone might deny this, the more it is true.
It strikes me then that the goal is to find ways to indulge your ego that are not at your dog's expense. i.e., through training.
I would be lying if I didn't say that having attentive, responsive, trusting and trust-worthy dogs isn't an ego boost. Of course it is, and when the dogs' behavior draws compliments from family, friends, a veterinary team, an obedience judge, or fellow exhibitors it is very gratifying.
Corresponding goal: training methods that are effective, cooperative, and clear. i.e., not done at the dog's expense, or at the expense of the relationship itself. Not speculative, in the sense that training separates the dog from its body, mind, soundness, fear, trust, appetite, history, and willingness to keep showing up for us.
Thanks for coming to my TED talk. ;)
