Why do we expect so little from our dogs?

In modern day society we’ve been conditioned to accept very little, in every aspect of our lives. When it comes to dog training and dog behavior, we are no different. Low expectations will always set us up for failure and unfortunately our dogs will become a big part of that frustration. Because we are constantly being bombarded with information that discourages us from expecting more, we tend to get less and less but living with that, years on end, can be consuming, frustrating and deeply disappointing.

Every time our dog makes a mistake or behaves in a way that disrupts our lives we get hit with more frustration. We question whether the option of getting the dog was right and if we can live that way. Barking, lunging, counter surfing, pulling on the leash, destroying the house, attacking other dogs, running away among other things can absolutely make our day feel draining and disappointing to say the least. But why do people endure all that without taking proper action? Let’s dive in.

Correcting bad behavior and resetting the habits of dogs is not a difficult task, but it requires a mindset of logic and objectivity.

1. Define what you want your life with a dog to be. That includes habits inside and outside of the house.

2. Analyze the level of structure you have in place and adjust accordingly to avoid future mistakes.

3. Implement practices for training that fit into your everyday life with your dog. Be consistent and apply reward and punishment to mark behaviors and establish a clear communication.

4. Learn how to always advocate for your dog inside and outside of the house.

5. Never allow strangers to dictate how you should train or guide your dog. This is your responsibility and no one else so learn how to take charge.

6. Never allow bad behavior to go unnoticed. Lack of correction is a reward or a validation of the act, so when we fail to correct, we become part of the problem.

Those are just some of the first things we must keep in mind when we’re willing to change the course of a frustrating life with our dogs. Sounds simple because it is, but the question is why so many people avoid this route? That is where the psychological influence of ideology comes into play. Most people don’t understand how propaganda in the dog training world plays a role in influencing people. They hear stories and dramatic tales about dogs being abused, the narrative correlates to their emotions and they immediately conclude that all disciplinary acts equal bad therefore hesitation kicks in and no action is taken.

Today, like never before, the biggest part of a dog trainer’s job is to clarify information to owners in order to get them to understand clearly what training is and how it can help them and their dogs throughout their lives. Because propaganda and dramatic stories are so present in media in general, finding the right information requires effort from owners, and most people really won’t go that far to find the truth. Due to that, expectations are low simply because people don’t understand they can expect more and much better behavior from their dogs, simply by using a balanced approach and practices that involve rewards and punishment. It’s all about perception and understanding that practicality and objectivity can make anyone break free from the endless influence of propaganda that only serves to weaken owners and jeopardize the lives of many dogs.