Some dog training ideas that aren’t mutually exclusive
Featured photo credit to the very talented Saint Paisley Photography
The dog training and ownership world can get heated. Everyone has an opinion… and those opinions sometimes appear to directly contradict each other.
But life is full of nuance, and there is often room for more than one thing to be true at the same time. Here are a few ideas that don’t have to be mutually exclusive!
Being very proud of all you’ve accomplished & knowing you have a lot of improvements to make
Thinking your dog is the best creature in the whole world & understanding she is poorly bred
Using a retractable leash & being respectful of other people / dogs in public
Giving your dog freedom & providing her with clarity
Believing dogs can thrive in apartment situations & being excited about having a yard
Prioritizing biological fulfillment & believing leash laws are important
(Really, using pretty much any tool & using pretty much any other tool — sometimes in <24 hours we use a slip, a prong, a flat collar, a harness, a flexi, food, toys…)
Advocating for your dog & pushing her out of her comfort zone
Understanding the role of luck in your life & knowing you’ve worked hard to get where you are
Supporting someone you care about & setting healthy boundaries
Acknowledging your mistakes & thinking you’re a good person
Acknowledging your wins & knowing you’re not invincible
Thinking a certain training approach can be great & choosing to do something different in your own situation
Sometimes letting your dog down & still being a good owner
Thinking we need to let dogs be dogs & believing we need to teach them to cope in our human world
Being obsessed with your dog & having a life outside of her
And more. Nothing is black and white.
