Copper City K9

02/23/2024

07/21/2023

11/15/2022

Messenger is messed up! If you need to contact me please message my main page. Freddie Yerman.

06/03/2022

Everyone has been so deeply brainwashed that common sense, and the obvious, are exceptionally hard to find…while nonsense is plentiful.

I see posts like this, am tagged in posts like this, and have comments asking for help framed like this—daily. Everyone has been so completely, thoroughly, comprehensively programmed what is and isn’t acceptable/cutting-edge/scientific/humane—and are acutely aware of the social fallout if one deviates from the accepted (allowed) narrative—that it seems no one is able to think anymore. They simply follow the thought police, and they and their dog(s) suffer the consequences.

Today I was tagged in a post where a young GSD is disrespecting, bullying, and biting his owners, and they’re asking for advice and bringing a trainer on board. But nowhere in the long list of comments (from well-intentioned friends and the owners as well) did anyone mention simply punishing the behavior which is so problematic. And also mentioned in the comments: if the behavior doesn’t improve, the dog will be returned to the pound and put down. (Relaying the owner’s words.)

Folks, all the suggestions listed in the original graphic are perfectly solid additions, and could be extremely helpful AFTER first punishing the unwanted behavior. Then, and only then can you build/share all the other great stuff on top of the new foundation without negative fallout, or lack of success. But the “P” word is simply too in unacceptable, and so, the simple answers for this owner, and so many others will likely remain elusive and hidden. And the behavior will likely remain intact—and only worsen. And the outcome will likely be unpleasant.

PS, for all those who will reflexively respond that all the things mentioned in the original graphic could help take the edge off and make success more possible/more plausible, if you’re not going to acknowledge the sequence of how to properly deal with unwanted behavior—first stop it, and then build from there—and instead try to support the milder, kinder workaround so as to avoid discussing/using punishment, I’m sorry, but you’re part of the problem. This is the common dance of “enlightened” responses/thinkers. Ask yourself why stopping the behavior, resetting the relationship dynamics and creating a more healthy social dynamic FIRST isn’t your go-to. It’s telling. And what it’s telling isn’t good, nor healthy, nor helpful.

03/31/2022

03/15/2022

03/14/2022

Yes to this.

02/03/2022

I've been there. lol

It’s good to be home! 🏠 I am blessed 😇

**rs

01/15/2022

Due to unfortunate messaging over the years, coupled with a lack of knowledge, and compounded by the human tendency for denial/delusion, what should be obvious and commonly accepted is anything but.

A few of the messages:
-There are no bad dogs, only bad owners. Wrong.
-Any dog can be “fixed” if you’ll get your energy right. Wrong.
-Every dog should be saved. Wrong.

The knowledge gap:
-We have a chaotic house, with lots of kids running all over, and we adopted a highly nervous but “sweet” herding breed. Bad.
-My dog challenges everyone in our family, and has bitten us all, but is great with my trainer. Bad.
-We got a guarding/working breed so it can protect the family, even though we’ve never had a dog before. Bad.

A bit of denial:
-He only bites us when we kiss/dance/move too fast/leave the house/vacuum because he had a traumatic early life. Delusion.
-She’s guards her spot on the couch, her toys, and her food, and will bite us if we get too close, but it’s only because she never had things of her own before. Delusion.
-He always growls at or bites my husband, but I’m sure he was abused by a man before I adopted him. Delusion.

Can people improve? Absolutely. Can dogs improve? Almost always. Does that mean that all fits can be made healthy and happy, or are wise? Nope. People and dogs come in many flavors, and many of these flavors work wonderfully well together, some work with certain other flavors, and some (human and dog) don’t work well at all. It’s a sad reality, but a reality nonetheless. We should be choosing the dogs we share our lives with based on an honest and informed assessment of who we are, what our lives look like, and what dog—both breed and individual personality—fits that reality best.

Ignore the silly messages, do your homework, and lose the denial.

Fairytales in dog land often end up as nightmares.