28 Čvn You are Responsible for Your Dog

Two weeks ago, we discussed our responsibilities tied to our dogs as well as their positions on our priority lists. But let’s not limit ourselves to determining our responsibilities and their importance solely in such significant and hopefully rare events when we have to be weighing our dogs against other responsibilities or the importance of other people in our lives. I see time and time again people failing to act on the responsibility they have for their dog in pretty common, everyday situations.

Can you look after your dog even when it’s awkward?

For example, many dogs don’t really like it when other dogs come too close to sniff them. Archer is one of them. He doesn’t really care for other dogs. He isn’t aggressive per se, but he takes his time getting to know other dogs and doesn’t really like to play with strange dogs. I always jokingly say that he is so full of himself and considers the others not worthy of his attention.

I know this about him, of course, and I make sure to always walk him on a leash when there is the possibility of other dogs being in the area. When I see other dogs I try to make sure we give them a wide berth unless I know it’s a dog Archer likes and would maybe like to meet and greet.

So far, so good; but every once in a while, you get those people with aggressive or simply out-of-control dogs who will just come out of nowhere, and this is the situation where I see many handlers fail.

Remember, your highest responsibility is your own dog. So, if a simple “Please recall your dog” won’t help, you have to do more. I know I have to make sure this dog doesn’t come anywhere near Archer at all costs. If I fail to do that, the strange dog might get hurt, Arch might get hurt, and I would even probably get hurt breaking apart a totally pointless, preventable fight.

My go-to is shouting expletives at the other owner and his dog at the top of my lungs, walking threateningly towards them, fully prepared to kick, shove, and do whatever to protect my dog. Being polite in such a situation and letting it escalate is failing to fulfill your responsibility towards your dog in my point of view.

Is your dog obliged to endure everything?

A similar situation is petting. Archer does not like to be touched by strangers. Well, male strangers to be exact. He loves women, especially blonde ones—I wonder who he takes that after… I never make him endure any unwanted attention from strangers, though. I don’t see the point in allowing anyone to touch my dog when he doesn’t like it.

Archer can behave himself at the vet and at trials when he gets his chip scanned, and that’s more or less all I need. I am not really a fan of over-socializing your dog for unnecessary things he doesn’t like. Why would I force him to learn to endure what he doesn’t like? Would that be responsible?

Many dogs are like my Archer. Then, someone comes with “What a cute doggie!” and rushes over to pet him. I see many handlers go, “Oh, he doesn’t like to…” and then they just trail off because the other person is already all over their dog, totally ignoring him being completely nervous about it.

No. Something like that can never happen. It’s your responsibility. Your dog counts on you to take care of such situations for him because, if you don’t, he might choose to take care of it himself, and you might not like his solution. The person petting him who gets some brand new holes in their sleeve or, god forbid, in their hand will certainly not like his solution either.

So, it’s up to you to ensure that this doesn’t happen. This means no trailing off. No giving up when the other one insists. Just a firm “No, he doesn’t like that” or some more shouting and expletives, if need be, but this situation rarely requires that.

You just need to stand up for your dog. You know he would defend you from all the mailmen in the world until his last breath, so do the same for him.

Can an authority figure make you forget your responsibilities?

Another situation I encounter far too often when working with clients is perhaps much more serious than this. Time and time again, a new client comes in, usually saying they have some problems with obedience. They will tell me their dog has insufficient motivation or that he is low drive or that he is stupid or something.

I tell them to bring him out in the field to show me, and that’s usually where the problem starts. I have seen dogs who didn’t even want to come out on the field once they realized it was obedience time.

I have seen happy dogs jumping out of their crate in the car, instantly changing their demeanor when they realize they have to go do obedience. Sometimes, the handlers have to drag them onto the field. I have seen dogs cower in fear upon hearing the command “heel”.

Now, sometimes, this is the fault of the handler. They might be old school. They might not know better. They also might be willing to learn. I appreciate that very much. I have the utmost respect for people willing to abandon their old ways and learn something new. That, I feel, is a manifestation of their responsibility to their dog. They have made mistakes in the past but are willing to fix them now. Thank you for that!

However, more often than not, I get a young girl (dog handlers are usually girls nowadays, I wonder why?) with her pampered first dog that she loves to the moon and back. He has his very own Instagram account with hundreds of pics. She offers him doggie treats that cost fifty bucks a package, and he looks like he would rather run away than go work with her on the field.

Joyless heeling, slow positions, fearful reactions… How is that even possible? After some careful probing, the scenario is always the same. She has been going to some trainer who gave her advice like yanking the leash while heeling, hitting her dog on the head for down, and similar bullshit.

I am standing there baffled, looking at a girl who would give her kidney to her beloved fur baby telling me how she was kicking her dog just because some trainer told her to do that! How is that even possible?!

Now, don’t get me wrong, the blame is obviously on the trainer, and it is my dearest hope that people like this will sometime soon finally stop being able to call themselves dog trainers. But goddammit, how could you allow anyone to treat you and your dog like that?

Just because someone is a dog trainer or a vet or more experienced than you and tells you to do something to your dog that you don’t like doesn’t mean you have to do it!

This is the moment you have to show you are responsible for your dog even though it’s hard! The moment you have to stand up for him and say: “Thanks for your advice, trainer, but I don’t think I want to do that to my dog. Is there any other solution?”

You can be damned sure there is always another solution that doesn’t involve pointlessly abusing your dog. I sometimes have to recommend some, let’s say, “firmer” methods for some dogs, and that happens only when I am convinced it is the best solution for that particular dog. But I always respect the handler when they say they don’t want to do that. I will offer a different solution and explain why I think it might be less effective.

So, please think about this. You are responsible for your dog. He doesn’t have anyone other than you. You can never let anything bad happen to him. Even if it will make you feel awkward. Even if it means saying “no” to people you love. Even if it means looking like a raging lunatic shouting at someone. Even if it means standing up to some kind of authority.

Think about this, please.

Be mindful of any dangers—small or big—that your dog might encounter, and make sure you prevent those things from hurting him. You know your dog does the same for you from the very first moment he realizes you are his buddy for life.