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And that is the inherent problem with “dog training”.

I can’t even number the books I own...and probably not one of them truly agrees with any other one.

I have them running the spectrum of the outdated brutality of Koehler to the too-warm-and-fuzzy “not even any stern looks allowed” new-agey crap.

The truth is somewhere in the middle.

They have recently shown that dogs are not as closely related to wolves as once thought, therefore, *some* of the training based on “pack mentality” may no longer be entirely relevant.

Alpha-rolling is passe’ but often, in its place, almost *too* much ‘sensitivity’ has arisen.

Dogs need structure and a leader.

If they do not feel they have a leader, they will become very stressed and attempt to lead, themselves.

I do not agree with the crucifixion of Millan.

Most of the dogs he deals with have only two choices left in life.
Be worked by him or be put down.

I read an excerpt of one of your book recommendations but bailed as soon as the term “strangle collar” was used.

That, along with “electrocution” when speaking of e-collars is, to me, bargain basement histrionics founded in nothing but irrational emotionalism.

My two main rescue breeds are Ibizan Hounds and Dobermanns.

Dobermanns were always pretty easy to rehabilitate, no matter what past horrors they’d seen.

Ibizans, however, are so primitive and just barely “domesticated” that rehabbing them was much harder.
Their primitive survival instincts imprint bad experiences on their brains much more indelibly.
They feel as though they cannot afford to ever forget a past danger.
This is a really great quality for a wild dog but a bit of a glitch for a pet.
Add to that the classic sight hound personality, which makes “normal training” a real challenge and you have to totally rethink your whole paradigm.

Most Ibizans who die unnatural deaths do so under a car.
An e-collar is literally a lifesaver.
Who would not prefer to zap their beloved but run-amok dog rather than scrape it off the highway?

The collars do not “electrocute” dogs.
Not even close.
I have tested them on my bare leg and if I can stand it at 10 with no ‘protective fur’, it’s not ‘electrocuting’ any dogs.

Above all things, I despise intellectual dishonesty.

Calling some necessary training aids by medieval, fear-inducing names is intellectually dishonest and panders to the pETA mindset.

I’m sure you’ve heard of Leerburg.
They get results and some of their advice is sound.
They also jerk their dogs off their feet when teaching to heel.
I am not a fan.

Slip collars have their place.
Muzzles have their place.
E-collars have their place.
Prong collars have their place.

Any one of the above can literally mean the difference between life and death for some dogs.

I am a huge advocate of saving seemingly hopeless dogs and often, people simply give up because they ‘can’t bear’ to use the tools they need to because they look so “cruel”.

No.
“Cruel” is being shot by a cop for running amok.
“Cruel” is being killed with a needle because your owner gave up.

I think that the tension here was caused by stating absolutes.

ALL dogs...etc etc.

Yes.

All dogs could bite given the right/wrong situation.
Most dogs do not.
Ironically, I’m the one constantly warning that even the smallest Chihuahua is *still* a dog with dangerous teeth.

I have posted the collage of people letting kids crush dogs to themselves for ‘cute hits’ on the internet.

I do not let kids hug my dogs, even *if* my dogs are okay with it.
Things can suddenly go wrong.
It teaches kids that it’s safe to do so with my dogs, so why shouldn’t it be safe to do so with somebody else’s dog.

I do not want to be responsible for some little kid getting bit because I ‘taught’ them that all strange dogs are fun.

As with every other living thing, all dogs are singular entities.

A “method” can address and even somewhat predict how a particular dog *may* act/react but no one method has every answer.

Every dog needs customized training, usually drawing from many different training disciplines.

I ~wish~ there was One Book or One Method that was absolutely always right for every dog on earth.

But there is not.

I really like Turid and do not feel she goes too far.

Our clouded eyes only pick up dog signals that are almost too blatant to ignore, and often, dogs seem to know that we’re linguistically impaired and compensate by amplifying the signals into what is, for them, a screaming fit.

Tiny movements our eyes miss are, to other dogs, virtual semaphore performances.

If anybody thinks dogs are a complex proposition, try dealing with an 8’ very hungry Boa who has virtually no ‘body language’ to speak of and can’t even hear a ‘command’, let alone be bothered to heed it.

You learn the meaning of “subtlety” really fast.

I wish Turid would write a book about snakes.