10/19/2026
Be careful who you trust!
I’ve been working really hard lately to avoid a huge rant about the pet dog industry, including rescues, breeders and, most of all, people calling themselves trainers while not teaching the most basic of topics.
I’ve had a rash of terrible placements, follow-ups on other trainers’ work and various other infuriating circumstances as of late.
Of course, no shade thrown at these awesome owners who are just trying to do the right thing and have no idea what is and isn’t “right.”
First one: a local rescue that specializes in breeds that are pretty much always going to grow up to be strong, energetic dogs placed a large puppy with an owner in her mid-sixties who’s not in the greatest physical shape. That puppy grew up to be a 95 lb adult dog with lots of pulling power. Then move on to the puppy class this owner took. To their credit, the instructor did fit the dog with a prong collar. That is a good safety measure considering the physical mismatch in this case (regardless of what you personally think of the device). That collar, with proper training for the owner, could have saved her the broken wrist and torn rotator cuff she ultimately suffered. But the training she received was shoddy, and she wasn’t even taught how to properly hold a leash (so it can be released in an emergency). Next thing you know, she’s in the hospital. Good for her for keeping the dog, knowing it wasn’t the pup’s fault, calling me and getting the right training and equipment in place. Pup is only 3 years old and has a good life ahead now that her owner has the right tools and she’s been taught some self-control. We’ll be staying in touch in case of future training needs.
Second one, and this one really makes me angry: a female pup, desexed at 10 weeks of age by the rescue. Question for anyone still reading: would you have your 10-year-old son or daughter desexed? No, of course you wouldn’t. So now, at 8 months old, the pup is physically deformed because she grew up without the hormones she needed. We’ll see where that leads longer term, but let’s move on to the trainer they hired and spent $1,000 with. This pup showed some resource guarding early on, in a home with two young children. They spent $1,000 with someone who did nothing to address it at all, nor the leash pulling, counter surfing, excessive barking or any of the other objectionable behaviors. So before they got rid of the dog, they called me. In one session, I showed them how to eliminate fully 90% of the problems with just a few weeks of focused work. We’ll rehab the resource guarding too, but that will take a little longer. But again, here we have a clueless trainer on a mission to promote an ideology, not solve people’s problems.
Third one: a young bully who has trouble greeting strangers simply because he’s unsure. He can’t walk without pulling, and the family can’t really have guests over without undue risk. He nipped a relative recently, so I get a call. Then I find out a trainer was hired here who recommended the owner throw treats around the house while the dog is blowing up at a visitor. More incompetent people out there taking money to give useless, and in some cases harmful, advice.
Fourth one: went to a group puppy class and listened to internet advice. Had all the normal issues: jumping, pulling, counter surfing. I’ll have this fixed in three sessions or so, where these folks have been struggling for months.
Now let me say one thing. There are trainers out there with a lot more experience than me who are very, very good at resolving issues I won’t even touch. I’m NOT a high-level competitor or some other kind of dog guru.
But I at least know and teach proper leash grip.
And I focus on getting the owner’s issues resolved as efficiently as possible so their dog can stay in their home.
To me, what most “trainers” call advanced obedience is really the basics, like your dog coming when you call.
So while I might not be the very best in the world at this, it’s obvious there are an awful lot of charlatans in the dog training world, not to mention unscrupulous breeders and rescues more worried about adoption fees than good placements.
Let’s not forget people willing to physically butcher a puppy in the name of virtue signaling their lack of faith in humanity.
If you’re considering adding a dog to your home, please call me.
It’s FREE. I’d rather help you sort through breed choices, acquisition and basic training, even if you use someone else for that part.
Really, folks, don’t go into dog ownership blind. There are too many people out there who can’t be trusted to help you make the right choices.
Picture is of Zelle, a 4 yo Beligan Mal who's owner I coached in the puppy stage. Zel can go anywhere and do pretty much anything you like, and she's begging you, call me BEFORE you get a new dog. I'll be coaching Mom and Dad through raising her new baby brother, just to make sure they remember all their lessons from 4 years ago, and to learn all the new things I've learned in that time (which is a substantial body of knowledge and experience).
