Even Bad Dogs Have Good Qualities

When I began my business I watched a very well presented video from a dog bite law specialist (attorney) who advised "mean dogs have to go". Being involved for years with litigation regarding dog bites, he saw a clear line between friendly dogs and those that are not friendly. As a trainer with some years of experience, I concur. I would offer, however, that mean dogs can have friendly and engaging moments. Because of this, owners often become attached quickly to these sketchy dogs. There are news stories every day of dogs that have attacked people, other dogs, or even their owners. Sometimes the owners defend the pet, and some even garner mass support through social media. Remarkable.

The problem is, these dogs DO have a mean streak, and that behavior has no place in a home, community, or pet in my opinion. I read accounts from other trainers where huge amounts of time, effort, and resources are being poured into dogs that will never be reliable around people or other pets. The vast majority of dogs will never bite, a few will only do so if severely provoked, Dogs with short or unpredictable fuses, or those that actually use their teeth to control their environment, are in my observation a statistical anomaly,

The point of writing today is to offer some points for consideration...

1) Many problem behaviors start early. While I believe most severely problematic dogs have a genetic component driving their behavior, there are MANY "bratty" teen dogs that are learning a variety of poor social skills. In these cases, early intervention by a trainer who offers effective solutions is paramount. Ignoring or redirecting problem behaviors (biting, jumping, reactivity, etc.) is not an effective solution, or a path to success!

2) Shelters and rescues need to do a good job screening their dogs, and not allow emotion to over-rule common sense. I understand rescues have a tremendously difficult job, one that never ends and can seem overwhelming. But spending time and resources on those dogs that have great dispositions should be a top priority. There are more and more rescues popping up every year, and it's clear from news reports that some believe every dog is an angel. This thinking requires a reality check. Even if poor human interactions are at fault for producing a problem dog, it doesn't negate the reality that the dog is now a problem.

3) Breeders need to develop litters that excel in temperament and health. Breeding, when done properly, is time consuming and hard work. Good breeders will be proud of their litters, want any dogs that aren't fitting well into a home back, and produce limited numbers of pups annually. I've seen some really problem pedigree dogs where mom or dad had clear behavioral issues. Those dogs should never have been bred. Problem offspring should be no surprise when profits, not love of the breed, are driving breeding practices.

4) To those trainers willing to take on extremely dangerous dogs, I'd like to see some concrete numbers on overall success rates, and exactly what you consider a success. And while I do believe that almost any dog can be made better, I'm a realist. When you're starting with a severe problem or bad genetics, "better" isn't enough. As a trainer, I don't expect any client to live with a dog I would not live with. As a client, I would want a trainer who can be objective and professional about a dog, not emotional and telling an owner things they want to hear. Living life with a dog you don't trust is no way to spend 10 or more years of your life.

Enjoying life with a dog is one of the best parts of life. Bad dogs can have some good qualities, and good dogs can have some problems. Objectively weighing and assessing those points is needed on an individual bases, as every dog is unique. The sooner problems are addressed, the greater the likelihood things can be put back on track. But denial, or lack of objectivity, can lead to some very bad places when living with dogs.