Do We put too much emphasis on Our Dogs Past?
Last updated on November 17, 2016 By Puppy Leaks 14 comments
This is an open letter to certain pet dog owners that obsess over their dog’s past. You’ll often see them on forums, complaining about their dog’s behavior but unwilling to take advice.
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How much do you know about your dog’s past? If you’re like me it’s probably pretty sketchy, but it hasn’t stopped your imagination from running wild. For lots of of us our dogs past is just a guess, but our assumptions can end up making it their story.
Laika is fearful, and although I’ll never know what the first 6 months of her life were like I’m ready to take some of the blame. regardless of her past I know I could have done more. I could have socialized her more, I could have taken her to a lot more training sessions, I could have introduced her to people wearing hats at a younger age.
But I didn’t. I did a lot, but there’s always a lot more that we could have done.
When it pertains to pet dog behavior we tend to make some pretty big generalizations. things like ‘all fearful dogs were abused,’ or ‘she doesn’t like females because she got into a fight with one as a puppy.’ could it be true? Definitely. Does that indicate we must keep using it to describe away problem behaviors?
Do we often end up with a pet dog that’s tough for us to train? Definitely.
One of the issues I’ve struggled with the most is Laika’s resource guarding. Canine cognitive science has yet to make a determination on whether there’s a genetic component to it or not. Nature vs nurture leaves us with a lot of unknowns, and a lot of grey area.
When I come across people ready blame everything on a dog’s past I get irritated.
How much do we know about our dog’s past? Does our tendency to blame something impede our ability to step forward? Does the blame game help describe why so lots of millenials see shelter dogs as ‘damaged goods?’ (those sappy commercials that show nothing but shelter animals shaking in their cages doesn’t help either)
Instead of saying that behavioral issues normally develop from a lack of socialization, attention, training, or exercise some tend to focus on abuse and neglect. “Sparky bit the mailman, but it’s only because he was abused as a pup.”
Adopting a pet dog from the shelter does not indicate you’re adopting a pet dog that has been abused.
Dogs are surrendered for so lots of different reasons; allergies, affordability, moving to another state, don’t have enough time for him. Some dogs have been abused, and some have been neglected, and some end up in a shelter because their owner just got worn out of them.
Behavior problems were not on the top of the list of reasons for relinquishment. issues such as access to budget-friendly pet-friendly housing, momentary life issues with the pet owner, and health issues with the pet were all drivers. local ordinances and insurance restrictions often led to relinquishment of large and bully-type dogs. – Unmasking the shelter pet dog AVMA
When we assume our dog’s issues all stem from abuse it’s no wonder people have started to see shelter dogs as ‘damaged goods.’
Making assumptions about abuse bothers me; in my mind it’s not a word that must be thrown around lightly. could your fearful pet dog have been abused or neglected? Sure. but some fearful dogs had a normal upbringing. a lot of of us will never know all the details of what went on in our dogs life before they met us.
According to a survey conducted by the best friends animal society of Kanab, Utah, a national leader in the no-kill movement, younger adults (ages 18 to 34) are a lot more likely to purchase a pet from a breeder or pet store than adopt a homeless pet from a shelter or rescue organization. Incredibly, nearly half (46 percent) of young adults view shelter animals as less desirable than those from breeders. – shelter animals Are Not “Damaged Goods” Mercola
Do we put too much blame on our dog’s past?
It’s not fair to judge a dog’s potential based on assumptions about their past. Every one of us can look back and say there’s always a lot more that could have been done. We could have socialized more, we could have gone to a lot more training sessions, and we could have introduced our pet dog to a lot more people wearing hats.
Why are we so quick to blame our dog’s past? Are we making their past a lot more complicated than it might actually be? It’s natural to wonder about the lives they’ve had, but it’s nearly impossible to really know what it was like.
Don’t let your assumptions about your dog’s past become their whole story, and don’t let it block your ability to step forward. Dogs are ready to learn if you’re available to teach.
It’s hard letting go of the past, but for your dog’s sake you need to try. Don’t get stuck in the mindset that he’ll ‘never improve.’ Take the time to try, make thnull