Why don't you train your dog?

[Anonymous]

I'm genuinely confused by the number of posters in this forum who seem unaware that dogs can be trained. This is the best characteristic of dogs: you can train them to do all kinds of neat things! Is the lack of training linked to a lack of know-how? Ignorance about the nature of dogs as trainable companions? Laziness? The assumption that all dogs are self-taught, probably because you had one growing up and your parents trained it for you so you don't know how to do that work? Did you mean well and then run out of time/money/fscks to give?

Why would you even want to have a poorly-trained animal in your space, scratching your walls/screens, barking at servicepeople, lunging at random animals (or, god forbid, people)? If you wanted a pet you could mostly ignore, why not get a cat?

[Anonymous]

what is it I'm suppose to want my dog to do?

[Anonymous]

My dog is not a problem

[Anonymous]

We always rescue, and 2 of the last 3 were “damaged.” We even hired a pet behaviorist for one when training went nowhere - it did nothing. The other has a huge head scar - I think he had massive head trauma that rendered him…stupid.

I love my dogs, and will try to train them, but if it isn’t working I’m just going to deal with their crazy behavior and love them anyway.

[Anonymous]

I got to the point where my dog is manageable for me. He won’t be perfect (still reactive to other dogs, bikes, motorcycles), but he’s alright with the leash and inside the house, and is good at the boarding when I have to be out of town. More training just won’t improve things any further. It’s been a plateau

[Anonymous]

To those saying you're okay with your dog's half-trained behavior(s): Do you keep them away from other people, or do you expect other people to accept mediocrity from you/your animal(s)?

[Anonymous]

I’ve trained my dog to hunt/chase squirrels while we bike around the neighborhood at dawn. The rest of the day he sleeps. Why should I train him to do the things you think are important?

[Anonymous]

When I was a kid I trained my dog to sneeze on command.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve trained my dog to hunt/chase squirrels while we bike around the neighborhood at dawn. The rest of the day he sleeps. Why should I train him to do the things you think are important?

The only things I'd ask owners to prioritize are the things that protect other people's right to shared spaces. So keeping your dog from lunging at me, barking at me, biting me, etc.

You know, the sort of stuff reasonable people shouldn't have to be asked to do. And yet...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was a kid I trained my dog to sneeze on command.

Aww, cute! I had a chi mix who would "fnuff" if you fnuffed at her. Wasn't really a sneeze, and she very rarely barked, but it was her little communication noise.

[Anonymous]

I have found that there is a correlation between how someone's dog behaves and how their children behave... lazy people are lazy in all aspects of their lives.

Now I do understand that some dog have certain things you can't train out of them, but there are some people who don't even try to reduce certain behaviors.

[Anonymous]

Because it sounds easier than it actually is. Our dog is a good dog but she has a mind of her own. We've spent many hours trying to traind. Instead she trained my spouse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To those saying you're okay with your dog's half-trained behavior(s): Do you keep them away from other people, or do you expect other people to accept mediocrity from you/your animal(s)?

I hope you stay away from other people and animals because yikes! you like awareness

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To those saying you're okay with your dog's half-trained behavior(s): Do you keep them away from other people, or do you expect other people to accept mediocrity from you/your animal(s)?

I hope you stay away from other people and animals because yikes! you lack awareness

[Anonymous]

dog from lunging at me, barking at me, biting me.

That's not an ordinary dog. That's not an ordinary dog owner.