[lovemypuppies]

Thank you so much. That was wonderfully written, urgently needed information. You sound like you could and should write a book. In spite of the fact that I love my dogs with a crazy passion---I don't ROMANTICISE or SENTIMENTALIZE their behavior. I am more than content to be the one who loves and don't expect or want them to be anything but dogs. We may occasionally write or speak casually ("my baby") about our dogs in the generally accepted cliches of dog lovers everywhere but we do know better. I would imagine that this casual use of language truly grates on the nerves of people who have been fighting for our dogs for many years. Who can blame them or be offended? While WE are home tickling our dogs THEY are fighting BSL and abuse. Teetering on the edge of controversy yet again, may i say that some popular trainers would have us believe that a well trained dog would not DARE to reject our physical affection. Add to this the fact that many people suffer from even the slightest sense that they are being rejected and you have an unhappy situation. I can be as insecure as the next guy (not really!) but i don't wince in pain over every disagreement. Something else disturbs me and I do not know how to express it. I sense in some posts a very thinly veiled contempt for dogs. They use language that traditionally has been reserved for expressing contempt for what they consider to be lesser human beings. This rankles. I don't think we have a shot at educating these types. But i admire you guys for trying! I know you do it for the breed. Thanks again.