StairStep Dog Training

07/06/2025

This is the truth.

No, your Temu Malinois is no more a 'working dog' than you are a 'working dog' handler. Just because you bought a dog breed made popular for its working attributes, those working attributes are not automatically bestowed on every member of that breed, nor does simple ownership convey the title 'working dog handler' just because you own that breed. The work defines the dog, not the pedigree. You earn that s**t.

Get over yourself. Just because you went out and spent foolish money on a dog that is clearly out of your capability doesn't give you the right to call yourself anything but foolish.

You are not pursuing criminals with your dog. You may have occasionally gone to a training day with a sport club and may or may not have allowed your dog to bite a rag or a sleeve, but the commitment for such an endeavor is steep, and the hours are long. I don't see you committing to that kind of effort. Yay if you do, S**U if you don't.

It's easier for you to say things that you do not have to prove. After all, your dog's a 'working' breed. According to *you*, that should be good enough, right?

Your dog isn't searching for contraband on a border, or WMDs in a war zone. "Nosework" is Not. The. Same. Neither is Barn-hunt.

No offense, but a better test of olfaction-based work ethic is the urban ratters; they eliminate pests, and they are actually testing their dogs' authentic hunting ability. The funny thing is, you don't need to have a specific breed of dog to excel at this, and it provides a public service. There are dogs better suited to the task, but there are a lot of dogs that meet the primary criteria.

And, it tests everything necessary to make a candidate a good working dog. For urban ratting. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, here.

Too bad the humaniacs freak the hell out at the mere thought of bloodshed. I blame them for the demise of the working dog just as much as the wannabes that breed but don't test, or the pretenders that pursue soft sports thinking they can replace actual work as a breeding worthiness test.

They can't.

Anything that gives dogs opportunities to fulfill their instinctual drives is fine by me, just don't call it "work'. It's recreational. It isn't looking for bodies in a rubble pile. It isn't searching for lost children in the wilderness. It isn't a live apprehension with a real combatant.

The absolute hubris that these people use to create a niche for themselves in a market clotted with frauds and poseurs is sad.

Owning a dog of a certain breed in no way confers any knowledge or skill regarding that breed's true purpose, or that individual's function. You actually have to *do* these things, in order to be able to teach these things, or brag about being a part of a culture that you wish to be a part of. Being unwilling to make the effort to be subjected to the rigorous testing that separates the wheat from the chaff, keeps you on the periphery. You are not a member. You are a pretender.

Because it's easier to say, with false pride, "my working dog", when in fact, your dog is a nuisance that you have grown to fear and couch that as bravado.

We are not fooled.

Don't. Just don't. You can own any breed of dog you want because you think they are 'cool' and you believe they elevate your stature because of their reputation. But don't call it a working dog, you are not a working dog handler. You are not a working dog trainer.

You may be a dog owner with aspirations, but until you and your dog meet the criterion to be called those things, you are just a person with a power breed that has not humbled you yet.

Really.

I would judge you less, if you came out and admitted that you wanted one because all the cool kids are doing it, but you find yourself terribly over-dogged. The pathway to a solution starts with admitting you have a problem.

Honesty is a great policy.

Especially when it comes to something you are going to have to live with... oh wait, I guess not, really... you can always pawn it off on some other unsuspecting dupe or disappear it because the dog had achieved a level of aggression and 'unpredictability' through no conscious effort of yours... if it ends up in 'rescue' or in the landfill, your hands will be clean. You're guilt free. Your convenient narrative will read that it was the dog that was defective, not the fact that you chose poorly, and had no business with a dog like that.

And I say that with all sincerity...

But seriously. If you are going to make the effort to sway a breeder of a 'working' caliber dog to sell you one, you better have a plan.

There are precious few breeders I would buy a dog from. The reason I chose those breeders is because I know the type of dogs they produce, and they support the dogs they sell, mentally, physically and by providing networking opportunities with like-minded people that have the same interests.

I am adult enough to know that I do not need a dog that has more energy than I have to commit to it. I do not seek the approval of others, nor do I need to deceive myself into thinking that the dogs I own are some sort of talisman for my ego.

I came to the conclusion long ago that if Suburban Sally didn't need that Boerboel or Corso, Nosework Nancy doesn't need the DDR Shepherd or KNVP Dutch Shepherd/Malinois either, but here we are.

Your dog, your business, I guess, but when push comes to shove, and you're facing the same decisions again and again because YOU NEVER LEARN, at what point to you share any culpability for your poor choices.

A line from the Serenity Prayer, which was written by Lutheran theologian Reinhold Niebuhr around 1934 states:

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”

At one point, I hope, folks develop the wisdom to know the difference.

If you see yourself in these words, allow the guilt to wash over you and move on. Do better. Make an effort, at least.

If you are one of those resentful little scrits that want to make this about you, don't. There are too many of you for this to be singling out any one individual. Lately you have been legion, so, there's that.

Rant Over.

23/05/2025

13/05/2025

All of this. What you allow is what you get.

We see mismatches every day. Owners with dogs well beyond their scope to manage safely and effectively due to size or ambition, or who have become so aggressive through bad management that there are few remaining options for them.

Human behavior dictates animal behavior. Every thing we do becomes a cue for your dog. Every thing we *don't* do becomes an endorsement.

Your dog doesn't understand your emotional state, he simply responds to it. If you are of a kind to blame your dog for your failure to provide clear, concise guidance, that's on you. Your dog is a product of your efforts. If he is a fearful, neurotic shrinking violet or a domineering, violently aggressive brute that you have to lock away because of the risk he poses to those around him- take a look at what you did to make him that way.

Your ego needs to step aside to make room for your common sense.

07/05/2025

How does your dog exit the vehicle and come inside? Mallory has learned to be calm and steady.

07/05/2025

Mallory was a good girl at Tractor Supply.

07/05/2025

Mallory got to go to Tractor Supply today.

04/05/2025

Heads up to everyone in Saint Lucie County. Keep an eye on your local wildlife. If you see a wild animal acting odd, stay away.

DOH-St. Lucie Issues Rabies Advisory

01/05/2025

Trimming nails shouldn't be a fight. Start training early so you and your dog can be cool like Fonzie during nail trims

25/04/2025

https://www.snakebitefoundation.org/blog/2023/6/13/veterinary-experts-do-not-recommend-the-rattlesnake-vaccine?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR5GhCqUNhQXXuluqP4_iXkJOqxgVPqg-gu0rauf_x42shXGCUuB22o24Vk1Kg_aem_51fggBe5_NsK_zOBG-HlBg

Unfortunately, some vets will recommend the rattlesnake vaccine. Touted to “buy time” getting to an emergency clinic or even to ward off the envenomation, the rattlesnake vaccine is an often used but poorly supported treatment for dogs. There is no evidence to support the vaccine being effective...

24/04/2025

This is as true in dog training as it is in horses.

Fantasy Horsemanship: Where ‘Doing Nothing’ is Marketed as Mastery 💸

“A safe space for humans. A weird time for horses.”

Once upon a time in a paddock not-so-far away, a horse dragged its owner across the arena to a hay bag.
And lo, the guru said:
“Did you see that? He’s finally feeling safe enough… to express his autonomy.”

And the crowd nodded.
For they were moved.
And the horse, dear reader, was not. 🙄

Welcome to Fantasy Horsemanship — where dragging, balking, spooking, and shutting down are framed as spiritual breakthroughs.
Where confusion is revered, clarity is oppressive, and stillness is sold as “deep integration.”
Where your horse is not trained — but interpreted. 🎭

Let’s take a closer look…

1. The Guru Speaks (And You Stop Thinking)
In this world, the guru is your translator.
You don’t learn to read your horse — you learn to believe his reading of your horse.

A tail swish becomes trauma. A head toss? “Reclaiming boundaries.”
And a shut-down horse staring into space?
That’s “sacred integration through parasympathetic recalibration.” ✨

It’s not horsemanship.
It’s interpretive spirituality with a rope halter. 🧘‍♀️🐴

Sprinkle in some polyvagal jargon, somatic buzzwords, and vaguely-academic pseudoscience, and suddenly everything makes sense… except your horse.

2. Feeling > Function
“I feel more connected.”
“My horse gave me a soft eye.”
“We just stood together and cried.” 😭

Lovely.

But did your horse stop spooking at the mounting block?
Can he walk forward when asked?
Did you learn anything… practical?

Of course not.
Because in Fantasy Horsemanship, progress is an emotional experience, not a behavioural outcome.

If you cried, it counted.
Even if your horse is still stuck, shut down, or silently screaming for guidance. 🐎💤

3. No Tools, No Plan, No Problem
“I could use a tool… but that would betray the trust.”
Translation:
I don’t know what to do, and I’ve built a philosophy around that.

No leadership? Enlightened.
No aids? Ethical restraint.
No plan? A bold rejection of the patriarchy. ✊

Doing nothing is rebranded as depth.
The guru has no method, no map, and no measurable outcomes — and that’s exactly how he likes it.

Where there’s no criteria, there’s no failure.
Only more feelings. 😌

4. The Guru Believes His Own Bull$h!t
And here’s the real kicker:
The guru isn’t running a con — he’s running a one-man theatre production he believes in deeply. 🎤🎭

You’ll see a horse lurching, lame, shut down, clearly miserable —
and he’ll whisper, misty-eyed:

“Wow. That was amazing.” 😍
He’s not evaluating the horse.
He’s performing a show.

And he’s too high on his own narrative to notice the horse is tragically unsound and about to file for emotional leave. 📋

5. Your Horse Is Not Your Life Coach
“I’m forever changed.”
“He unlocked something in me.”
“We breathed together under the stars.” 🌌

Lovely.
But your horse still won’t load on the float.

He’s not your therapist.
He’s not your mirror.
He’s not your trauma doula.

He’s just a horse — trying to survive a training session that’s turned into a TED Talk narrated by someone who’s read one too many somatic healing blogs. 💻🐴

He doesn’t want to co-regulate.
He wants clarity.
And maybe a carrot that doesn’t come with a full emotional disclosure. 🥕

6. Bonus Truth: When Fantasy Replaces Vet Checks
Here’s what Fantasy Horsemanship won’t tell you:

The only time horses aren’t easy… is when they’re unsound. 🚫🏇

Pain changes behaviour.
Discomfort makes horses emotional, evasive, or disengaged.

But instead of checking for pain, lameness, or imbalance, the fantasy reframes it all as “emotional blocks.”

And for women — especially those not feeling strong in their own bodies — this becomes a trap.
When movement feels hard, stillness feels safe.
When strength feels distant, softness becomes the story. 🧘‍♀️🕯️

And suddenly, both human and horse are stuck.
One in pain.
One in fear.
Both being told they’re “healing” — when really, they’re just avoiding.

7. And Still, the Horse Pays the Price
Behind the hashtags and healing mantras is a horse who didn’t ask for this.

He doesn’t get trained.
He doesn’t get listened to.
He gets filmed mid-meltdown while someone whispers,

“This… is integration.” 🎥😬
He’s confused.
He’s burdened.
He’s trying.

But nobody notices.
Because everyone’s too busy being deep.

8. Epilogue: The W**d That’s Spreading
This isn’t just one guru.
Fantasy Horsemanship is everywhere. 🌱🔥

It spreads through spiritual marketing, emotional manipulation, and the promise of transformation without accountability.

It appeals to those who want connection but fear discomfort.
It flatters women conditioned to be agreeable, self-doubting, and endlessly apologetic —
those trying to people-please their horse into loving them,
dreaming of a ba****ck beach ride with wind-blown hair and 100% safety. 🐎🌊💨

But your horse isn’t looking for magic.
He’s looking for someone who knows what they’re doing.
Not someone side-tracked down a rabbit hole to nowhere.

Final Thought
Horses are beautifully simple.
They don’t need make-believe — they need meaning.
They don’t want therapy — they want to be understood as horses, not projected humans.
They don’t care about your journey — they care if you can help them feel safe. 🧠❤️🐴

They are easy to train.
Easy to make feel secure.
Unless they’re unsound — or the human is untethered.

So if the fantasy is fading… if your horse is still wary, still stuck, still waiting…

That’s not failure.
That’s reality knocking. 🚪

Answer it.

Find someone who teaches real horse training and treats you with respect.
Learn to understand horses — and build the skills to influence them.

Because when the fog lifts and the narrative dies…

It won’t be the guru standing with you.

It’ll be your horse.
Still confused.
Still waiting.
Still hoping you’ve finally shown up —
not with a story…
but with a plan. 🐴✔️

If you’ve climbed out of the fantasy rabbit hole — or realised your horse biting you wasn’t over zealous engagement but frustration — you’re not alone. Tell your story. Let’s talk about it.❤

If this said what you’ve been thinking — share it. If it said what you wish you wrote, still… share it. With credit. You’re welcome. 🐴😉

11/04/2025

Remember what your dog was selectively breed for.

I am a 21st century dog….
-I'm a Malinois.
Overskilled among dogs, I excel in all disciplines and I'm always ready to work: I NEED to work.
But nowadays I get asked to chill on the couch all day everyday.

-I am an Akita Inu.
My ancestors were selected for fighting bears.
Today I get asked to be tolerant and I get scolded for my reactivity when another approaches me.

-I am a Beagle.
When I chase my prey, I raise my voice so the hunters could follow.
Today they put an electric collar on me to shut up, and you make me come back to you - no running - with a snap of your fingers.

-I am a Yorkshire Terrier.
I was a terrifying rat hunter in English mines.
Today they think I can't use my legs and they always hold me in their arms.

-I'm a Labrador Retriever.
My vision of happiness is a dive into a pond to bring back the duck he shot to my master.
Today you forget I'm a walking, running, swimming dog; as a result I'm fat, made to stay indoors, and to babysit.

-I am a Jack Russell.
I can take on a fox, a mean badger, and a rat bigger than me in his den.
Today I get scolded for my character and high energy, and forced to turn into a quiet living room dog.

-I am a Siberian Husky.
Experienced the great, wide open spaces of Northern Europe, where I could drag sleds for long distances at impressive speeds.
Today I only have the walls of the house or small garden as a horizon, and the holes I dig in the ground just to release energy and frustration, trying to stay sane.

-I am a border collie
I was made to work hours a day in partnershipwith my master, and I am an unmistakable artist of working with the herd.
Today they are mad at me because, for lack of sheep, I try to check bikes, cars, children in the house and everything in motion.
I am ...
I am a 21st century dog.

I'm pretty, I'm alert, I'm obedient, I stay in a bag...but I'm also an individual who, from centuries of training, needs to express my instincts, and I am *not* suited for the sedentary life you'd want me to lead.

Spending eight hours a day alone in the house or in the garden - with no work and no one to play or run with, seeing you for a short time in the evening when you get home, and only getting a small toilet walk will make me deeply unhappy.

I'll express it by barking all day, turning your yard into a minefield, doing my needs indoors, being unmanageable the rare times I'll find myself outside, and sometimes spending my days sunk, sad, lonely, and depressed, on my pillow.

You may think that I should be happy to be able to enjoy all this comfort while you go to work, but actually I’ll be exhausted and frustrated, because this is absolutely NOT what I'm meant to do, or what I need to be doing.
If you love me, if you've always dreamed of me, if my beautiful blue eyes or my athletic look make you want me, but you can't give me a real dog's life, a life that's really worth living according to my breed, and if you can't offer me the job that my genes are asking, DO NOT buy or adopt me!

If you like the way I look but aren't willing to accept my temperament, gifts, and traits derived from long genetic selection, and you think you can change them with only your good will, then DO NOT BUY OR ADOPT ME.

I’m a dog from the 21st century, yes, but deep inside me, the one who fought, the one who hunted, the one who pulled sleds, the one who guided and protected a herd still lives within.

So think **very** carefully before you choose your dog. And think about getting two, rather than one, so I won't be so very lonely waiting for you all day. Eight or ten hours is just a workday to you, but it's an eternity for me to be alone.

Written by *unknown*