| Re: Shock collar concerns
Truthfully I'd have to say that they like her because my stepmother, with whom I unfortunately have never gotten on well, likes her. My stepmother, who has no children and has never liked animals other than cats, has got hooked on the idea that you have to 'show' the dog you're the 'alpha dog.'
On the alpha thing - like the phrase survival of the fittest - it has been misused so many times for so long that people fundamentally misunderstand the idea and it fosters the notion, in my opinion, that one must dominate one's animals. I think it is more accurate and more sensible to refer to leader/follower or active/reactive relationships. But that's just me.
I'm heartbroken over this. I've always been really close to my dad and now I don't even speak to him. I love the dog, I want to help her. Obviously it's complicated because of the family thing. I'm speaking to the vet about it again tonight.
I'm glad though that I wasn't way off the mark throwing my ideas about dog training out there when I know almost nothing about it ... The honey and vinegar analogy works for training too I think.  |