Judgment Day: Elitism in the Dog World Helps No One

We all judge others. It’s impossible to control our thoughts that much. Some judge silently, some judge out loud. Sometimes judgment is a necessity for the sake of the dog’s safety but most times, it’s simply a matter of opinion. In many cases, it is a matter of less knowledge. So while judging with regards to training methods is rampant, I will not be discussing that particular subject here. If you want more about that, read here. It’s an entire subject of it’s own.  Because science supports the efficacy of modern methods, it’s truly not worth our time to reinvent that wheel again.

Instead, I am going to cover some other facets of dog care and management such as feeding choices, harnesses, spaying and neutering, and a whole host of other subjects. I am sure that there are already eyes rolling so get comfortable. I am going try and cover my own pet peeves, as well as other’s whom I polled on this subject.

Harnesses: It is currently a thing among some people, whether they are trainers or savvy dog parents, to complain about other dog parents who are using front-clip harnesses because of all of the ‘damage’ that they can do to dogs structurally. This info is based on very limited studies and is mostly opinion on how they are used, with little attention paid to the real life needs of dog parents. It’s alarmist at best. Even the worst of the front-clip harnesses would need to be worn pretty much 24/7 to cause that kind of damage and that is simply not their typical use. I am not going to call out that harness by name, because it’s still helpful to plenty of dog parents. And it will ALWAYS be a better option than tension applied directly to a dog’s neck by a leash on a collar, ANY kind of collar, especially those of the punitive variety. The simple way to solve what is mainly fit problems, is to have these harnesses sold by dog professionals only. Harnesses like the Freedom harness  are not like all the other (potentially) more restrictive front-clip harnesses. Fitted properly, they not only provide control for the dog parents, so that they don’t face plant, but they miss restricting the shoulder blade area entirely. This seems to the primary complaint of the detractors. And quite frankly, I fit them a bit differently than the manufacturer suggests, creating an inverted V over the shoulders, so that there is no restriction, yet they retain their control for the handler. I LOVE these harnesses. They are a gift to the dog loving community. Now don’t get me wrong, the harnesses that the front-clip detractors  prefer are also great harnesses. They are well made and comfortable for the dog. However, they offer NO CONTROL for the dog parent. Here is a good article on that subject. Professionals telling a client to purchase these harnesses only are basically sending that dog parent right back to that prong collar that they previously relied upon. I know that, because I got that client after that happened. I’m sure that wasn’t the goal of the great trainer who suggested the harness. It certainly wasn’t helpful to the clients in question.   And of course, there will  be those who follow this paragraph with “well, just teach the dog how to walk nicely on a leash”. So now we get to the next subject….

Photo courtesy of Claire Staines

Loose Leash Walking: It’s not easy nor is it quick to teach a dog this skill to the degree needed, for the typical dog parent who has other things going on in their life. For the dog savvy dog parents and dog pro crowd, yes, we get it and we know what is involved. But please understand that most people don’t want to have to be that knowledgeable about dog behavior and training in order to safely walk their dogs. Their goal is to not suffer any shoulder injuries and foremost, no face planting. We need to respect a dog parent’s goals. Failing to do so is what causes dogs to simply not get walked. Or even worse, they get walked on punitive devices that many of us would like to see disappear. If you are a dog professional getting paid to help a dog parent with their dog, cultivating empathy towards THEIR goals rather than your own ideals, is super important. Accept that there are plenty of dog parents who are happy to simply remain upright on a walk and have their dog occasionally acknowledge their existence whilst walking. It’s okay if this is their goal, really it is. I have personally solidly taught amazing loose leash walking skills to my previous crew of dogs but to only one of my current crew. The other two are mostly good in a group setting and great one on one and I am okay with that. It’s no one else’s’ job to care about that with my own dogs but mine.

Feeding: This is a category that EVERYONE has an opinion about. There are those who think that raw feeders are the devil as well as those who have that same opinion about dog parents who dare to feed kibble, and every category in between. Just stop. As quality dog behavior professionals and loving dog parents, it is important that we understand that nutrition *can* be related to behavior. If the food that a dog is getting fed is the bottom shelf nonsense that no dog should have to be subjected to, then by all means, a conversation can take place in order to educate on how to look for quality dog food ingredients. This can be followed by a polite suggestion to upgrade to the best quality food that someone can afford. But that is where it should end. A dog without behavior issues eating a medium quality kibble is not going to suffer dire consequences from such unless they happen to be allergic to an ingredient in said food. And if that is the case, it’s not anyone’s call to make other than the attending veterinarian. Refer them to quality MEDICAL sources so that they can help their dog but stop there. Nice dog behavior pros or savvy dog parents don’t bully others for feeding raw when they prefer home cooked or for feeding home cooked when they feed raw. And kibble is NOT the devil’s dog food, despite what several alarmist websites and books are trying to convince us of. There are literally hundreds of quality kibbles available out there. Most dog parents have a lot on their plate. They are not looking to spend hours on a weekly basis, home prepping food. Respect for them simply choosing to feed a quality kibble over a lower quality one is what we need to offer instead of a judgment on such. I personally feed a raw diet and have done so since 2001 but it rarely comes up unless someone specifically asks me. I certainly don’t preach this to clients as a must do. That would be unethical at best. The only area of feeding that warrants concern is when someone is forcing their own ethical choices on to their dog by insisting their carnivore eat vegan food. While still not our place to force a change, this does warrant some polite education information on the nutritional needs of dogs as well as respecting their nature and who they are.

Crates: The opinion on this subject ranges from one extreme (never crate your dog) to another (crates are required for all dogs). Neither is accurate. Plenty of dogs do just fine without crates. Some do better with crates when home alone. Some do better with restricted access to open areas without a crate. Some do better in one room with a gate and a dog proofed room. There is no one right way to do this. Some countries have laws with regards to how long a dog can be crated. That is a good thing, as some people who use crates absolutely do crate their dogs for longer than is appropriate. But that doesn’t mean using a crate is in of itself inappropriate. Puppies are kept infinitely safer because of crates. Many dogs in multiple dog households are kept from making poor choices when unsupervised because of crates. Some dogs are kept safer when traveling because of crates. Neither judging those who use them appropriately or those who don’t use them, because they are not needed for their situation, is helpful. I personally crate train all of my dogs because it’s a good skill for them to have if an emergency arises. But my dogs are transitioned out of crates when trustworthy. If the situation calls for it, they have different parts of the house, separated by gates when I am gone. Different strokes for different folks is not a bad thing!

Dog parents who work: Shocking, I know. But seriously, someone has to pay for that kibble and those toys. While I agree that there needs to be some attention paid to the dog after a day at work, don’t assume that people who work outside of the home aren’t doing this as a default. Dogs are not accessories and those that live with people who work normal workweeks very much anticipate their person’s arrival home. Their needs should be met as well as those of the person(s). Teaching dog parents how to meet those needs is far more important than judging them for not knowing that their dog needs enrichment as a part of their daily life. This is why so many doggy day care facilities exist. Some dogs do just fine at these establishments, especially when they are responsibly run. Doggy day cares as well as dog walkers are an important part of so many dog’s lives. Give kudos to those who utilize such options, as well as those who have relatives or friends who assist with mid-day potty breaks. There is no shame in being a working parent of any species.

Spaying and neutering: And here we have the dog world equivalent of conservatives versus liberals. Don’t be surprised at the vehemence of the discussion on this subject. I expect that this will be the hot button of even this entire hot button article. Lest I get too far and not make my own opinion on this subject known, I am all for altering. I support pediatric altering when needed, by rescues and shelters, though I certainly don’t prefer it. If the world was a perfect place for dogs and everyone in it took personal responsibility for the care and management and training of their animals, ideally altering would take place after the age of one year or even after growth plates close, which is somewhere after about 18 months of age for most dogs. But the world isn’t a perfect place and sadly, personal responsibility, especially in the United States, is at an all time low. We have many animals being euthanized daily for lack of appropriate homes. Let’s not place intact dogs into the hands of the general dog parenting public and expect them to make sure those dogs don’t reproduce until their ideal altering time arrives. That is folly at best. This creates more dogs that need homes. Additionally, dogs are often surrendered to shelters and rescues for behavioral reasons. Forcing dog parents to become behavior experts is not the best way to keep dogs out of shelters. And make no mistake, in THIS country, responsibility lacking, no typical dog parent wants to learn, for example, how neutered males can seem to feel threatened by an intact male and act like a bully towards them. You can read more about that here. Repetition of that will create a defensive response in said intact male. That’s a nice recipe for impending dog reactivity, all because of a lack of understanding on the intricacies of dog behavior. It’s typically not the fault of the intact male but that doesn’t change the fact that MOST dogs in this country are indeed already altered. What is the alternative? One can move to Europe, where responsibility is more typical overall. But that seems a bit extreme, right? The other part of the spaying/neutering argument is that dogs are imminently healthier when kept intact.  This compilation of multiple studies seems to say otherwise. What does seem most probable is that altering after the age of one is best for large and giant breeds as well as for *possibly* preventing *some* issues but again, weak info. That said, there are thousands of dogs that fit outside of those perimeters who live long and healthy lives having been altered prior to that age. Here is my favorite part of the article linked to above.

Photo Courtesy Christine Collins

“Unfortunately, there is no clear answer when deciding whether one should spay or neuter an individual dog. While there is minimal to no strong evidence clearly linking gonadectomy to various diseases, owners of at-risk breeds should consider all factors. Given the potential for an increased lifespan, many owners may wish to accept the potential for cancers often associated with geriatric age to avoid nuisance behaviors associated with an intact animal and diseases such as pyometra or BPH.

Evidence for a link between gonadectomy and increased risk of the neoplastic, behavioral, immunologic, or orthopedic diseases mentioned in this article is weak and needs to be further explored with appropriately designed research studies. These risks may also be breed specific. The decision to spay or neuter a pet should be an individual one with a thorough discussion between the owner and the veterinarian about what risks are present and how they may affect the particular patient.”

Dogs and kids: There are some trainers as well as rescue and shelter workers who believe that kids and dogs should never mix. Nonsense! How does one become acquainted with caring properly for a dog if one is denied that opportunity just because one is a child? There are parents who properly manage kids and dogs together and there are parents who don’t. Don’t penalize the former because of the latter. It can be done and it can be done well. Parents who manage and educate both sides of the species equation do it best. Advocate for them instead of discriminating.

Dog doors: This is a mixed subject. They can be wonderful and they can be horrible. Every situation is individual. It’s important to take into consideration the individual dynamics of the household, the environment surrounding the home, the yard itself and the temperament(s) of the dog(s) in question. It’s also important to understand how the dog door is being used, such as it is locked at night, when home alone, etc. There is no need to judge a situation that you don’t have all of the facts about. Generalizations on any subject are rarely accurate.

Invisible Fences: This one is likely to get me ostracized by many other modern methodology trainers but I am saying it anyway. I don’t advise all of my clients to stop using an electronic fencing system. I don’t prefer them but I definitely think that they can be used ether irresponsibly or responsibly and many ranges in between. When used as a back up with a barrier fence for diggers, this is never going to be a situation that I object to. Immediately judging a client who has one, just for having one, shuts down communication. That means that you can no longer educate on the responsible use of such, which would be much more helpful to the dog in question. I won’t help clients perimeter train a “fence” like this but I will make suggestions on a more humane use of them, as well as to tell them when they are getting inaccurate and/or potentially harmful information from their electronic fence “trainer”, which could then place their dog either at physical or emotional risk or both. With the right environmental set up such as in a rural or semi-rural area, with a natural landscaping perimeter, they can be used quite responsibly. On the corner of a busy suburban street plan or worse, in a town-home type community, they are usually a nightmare.  Supervision is also a key component to using these responsibly. The temperament of the dog in question also plays part. Stop judging and start educating instead.

Car travel: This one can also rile up the masses! The stories of ill fated car trips abound for both sides of this equation. Crates in cars can harm the dog! Not crating dogs in cars can harm the dog! What’s a giant dog dog parent to do when they would have to buy an RV to safely and spatially crate their dogs? My dogs span the range of sizes from 185#, 63#, to 44#. In my current vehicle, I could fit a crate for the two smaller dogs. That’s it. I could never fit a crate that would be large enough for my 185# dog. Am I supposed to never travel with him? What are the alternatives? Don’t get a giant breed? That’s rather a harsh option, I think. After all, I have already based the size of my vehicle on whether it fits all of my dogs comfortably. I am not ready to drive an RV just yet.  My solution has and always will be, to secure them with a leash attached to back of their their front clip harness and one of the handy straps inside that allow one to haul themselves into an SUV more easily. Should I do this with each trip? Probably but it seems excessive for the ¼ of a mile trip to one walking location and the ½ a mile trip to another walking location, when the fastest anyone could drive on those trips is 25 miles an hour. So I save that for longer trips. My dogs are relaxed in my vehicle. They are primarily in the back of my SUV and never interfere with my driving.  Just like anyone else, I object when I see dogs on the laps of drivers. That is unsafe for everyone. But as long as your dog is secured in your vehicle and not interfering with your driving process, then that should allow you to be safe from other’s perceptions of what is best, but sadly, that isn’t the case.

I am sure that I am missing someone’s pet peeve but this could be an entire book if I kept going. The moral of the story is to determine whether the situation is life or death. Then live and let live. No judgment, no finger pointing and no admonitions. If you are a dog professional, your obligation goes even deeper. Respect your client’s goals rather than pushing your own goals onto them. It is not the end of the world as we know it if a dog is walked daily on a front clip harness, I can assure you. The dog will be happy for the walk. Take a deep breathe and let it go.