11/10/2025
Our dogs are capable of way more than we think they are. Please set them up for success by providing them structure and boundaries, they will thank you later❤️
I feel for owners.
The current training landscape has done an exceptional job of “packaging” dogs as ONLY insecure, unsure, fearful victims.
And when the perception of our dogs is that of a one-dimensional fear-filled victim, the only thoughtful, kind, and appropriate approach would be to share soft, sweet assurances to help them feel safe and secure.
The thing is, anyone who’s been around many dogs, who’s not been completely brainwashed, and who’s willing to be honest in a time where honesty comes with a rather hefty price tag… will tell you that dogs come in all “flavors.” And many of those “flavors” aren’t the least bit insecure, unsure, or afraid.
It’s truly wild that we’ve managed to convince an entire dog owning population — millions of people who have their own eyes and brains and boots on the ground with their own dogs — that dogs are ONLY made up of shy, unsure victims, and should be trained and lived with as such.
Are there unsure, insecure, fear-filled dogs out there? You bet. Lots of them, and they absolutely should be met where they’re at and helped to find more trust, confidence, and security.
But what the world is absolutely committed to ignoring or dismissing is that there are also many, many dogs who are confident opportunists that have astutely analyzed the social landscape and come to the very correct conclusion that their owners are indeed doormats, and that walking all over them in order to get whatever it is they desire or enjoy… is absolutely on the menu.
And these dogs, like the unsure and fearful ones, should also, if the goal is to truly help them (and their owners), be met where they’re at. Unlike the others, these guys need help learning how to be polite, deferential, respectful.
It’s simple stuff. When you are soft, sweet, and permissive with a pushy, confident, “what’s up for grabs?” type of dog, you and that dog are going to struggle, terribly. And when you’re firm, no-nonsense, and come on strong with a soft, unsure dog, you and that dog are going to struggle, terribly.
The issue is that you’re being told one of these dogs exists, and is everywhere, and the other is made up nonsense from the past.
PS, I’ve framed this as black and white for the simplicity needed for the length restrictions on posts, and attention spans. The reality is far more complex. The majority of dogs are challenging, nuanced mixtures of insecurity and confidence, or fear and brattiness, depending on circumstances. It takes a trainer or owner to remove themselves from the black and white causes (programming) and to respond appropriately in the moment to whatever is being offered, in a fashion that is most likely to help the dog. The upshot? Dogs, like us, are a messy collection of personality, attitude, and demeanor qualities. Just like you aren’t one thing, neither is your dog. Approach accordingly.
