Labels: How they’ve both helped and hindered my growth

Oh, labels. What a huge topic in the dog-training community (and life in general).

While I don’t think the language we use completely defines how we think about the world, I do think certain terms can shape our thought processes. Because of that, labels can push us to take things seriously. They can help us find community. They can make us feel empowered!

But they can also cause us to fixate—often unproductively—on small facets of a much bigger picture. I have mixed feelings about latching onto specific terms.

Here’s an attempt to organize some reflections on using labels in my life as a dog owner and human being overall.