Dog Training And . . .

Just last week I featured a post about a 2 month old lab puppy that attacked and killed an infant in a home. Today's video mentions that tragedy as a reason for their news story on how to keep kids safe around dogs. While the video has a few useful pointers, it focuses mostly on the need to train your dog. I'm certainly 100% in favor of owners training their dogs, but this story falls a bit short of being a complete solution for having a good and trustworthy pet.

Regarding training, teaching a dog the meaning of various commands is only a beginning! All dogs need to learn that their owner may require a command at any time, in various environments, and particularly around various distractions (including other dogs, children, guests, etc.). Real training should be an ongoing education for every dog. Just as for children, making learning a life-long process reaps continued rewards. Commands and communication should be a part of daily life with your dog if you desire trust, respect, and understanding. Too many owners see training as a 3 week course with a beginning and an ending. This short-sighted view can lead to many disappointments in the life of a dog.

In addition to training, supervision is necessary for a healthy relationship with your pet. A common theme seen when dogs do something wrong is that they are often on their own. Even good dogs can make poor decisions when left alone. Real problems arise should a dog be faced with a situation that heightens any inherent prey drive or defense instincts. If no responsible human direction is available, chances are high you could see the results on the evening news.

And contrary to statements on many newscasts that a dog showed no previous propensities toward violence, in many cases there is some history that should have raised concerns. This can be anything from a dog with prey kills (squirrels, rabbits, etc.), to resource guarding (growling over its food, toys, etc.), to an actual history of biting (person dog, etc.). The larger and more powerful a dog, the more important the need for responsible and experienced owners who recognize such warning signs, and the need for continued supervision and remediation.

While everyone wants a perfect dog - dog's often need our help. There are simply too many cases of dogs failing. IMO, many of these cases involve owners who fail to train, fail to supervise, and/or fail to recognize potential warning signs.