Not everyone knows this but I am a certified dog trainer. While I am not actively seeking new business, I have many satisfied clients. Not many things bothered me before I became a dog trainer, I thought dogs were dogs, and the things they did was simply the nature of the beast. It turns out that is
not true. Most of the bad behaviors associated with dogs can be traced back to
their owners.
Now don’t get me wrong I am not saying every dog owner is bad, I am just saying that the majority of them are uneducated when it comes to having well rounded dogs. I was just as uneducated when it came to the many dogs I have had over the years, blaming the dog for behavior I now know was mostly produced by what I did, or did not do.
I thought I would take the opportunity over the next few weeks and discuss some of the training issues people have with their k-9’s, and see if we can fix some of these things that need fixing. So please feel free to send me an e-mail if you are having a specific issue and I will see if I have a solution for you.
In the mean time I want to address something that is high on my list of my dog owner concerns. Dogs riding in the front seat of the cars, or worse yet in their owners lap. It should never be allowed. There I said it. But I assure you I have a good reason. This is something that usually causes a heated debate, but please hear me out on this.
There you are riding along enjoying the feel of your beloved little French bulldog, Tippy, when out of no-where a car swerves into your lane, and Tippy sails out the window. Poor Tippy either face plants into the asphalt and becomes French toast, or worse yet gets run over by the SUV behind you. Leaving you with nothing more than a collar attached to a crepe. The debaters usually argue,
“My window is not all the way down so Tippy cannot fit outside.”
Okay so Tippy only gets his face slammed into the window. Really? Isn’t Tippy’s nose flat enough as it is?
Then they will say…
“I would never let that happen. I always have my hand on him to keep him safe.”
My response. “None of us know what we are going to do in an emergency situation, but as a responsible driver you need to have both hands available to save yourself and others.
So let’s talk about the REAL danger of letting little Tippy ride in your lap. God forbid you are in an accident, and your airbag were to deploy. Tippy would end up dead by the impact of the airbag slamming into his tiny little body. Worse yet he would most likely kill you in the process. Ah at least then the two of you would get to ride all you want in the afterlife. I guess at that point Tippy could hang his head out the window all he wants, as I hear those clouds are pretty darn fluffy.
Okay so let’s move Tippy to the passenger side seat. That would be better right? Only if you can turn off the passenger side airbag and have Tippy restrained in some kind of doggy harness, or specially made puppy seat. Yes they make them. But make sure if you get one it has a seatbelt or is fully enclosed. If Tippy is not restrained he can still get hurt or hurt someone else by flying through the air upon impact, hitting you or someone else in the car.
Bottom line…either leave Tippy at home, or insure the safety of all, by seeing that
he’s properly secured. Buckle him up! The life you save just may just be your own...
not true. Most of the bad behaviors associated with dogs can be traced back to
their owners.
Now don’t get me wrong I am not saying every dog owner is bad, I am just saying that the majority of them are uneducated when it comes to having well rounded dogs. I was just as uneducated when it came to the many dogs I have had over the years, blaming the dog for behavior I now know was mostly produced by what I did, or did not do.
I thought I would take the opportunity over the next few weeks and discuss some of the training issues people have with their k-9’s, and see if we can fix some of these things that need fixing. So please feel free to send me an e-mail if you are having a specific issue and I will see if I have a solution for you.
In the mean time I want to address something that is high on my list of my dog owner concerns. Dogs riding in the front seat of the cars, or worse yet in their owners lap. It should never be allowed. There I said it. But I assure you I have a good reason. This is something that usually causes a heated debate, but please hear me out on this.
There you are riding along enjoying the feel of your beloved little French bulldog, Tippy, when out of no-where a car swerves into your lane, and Tippy sails out the window. Poor Tippy either face plants into the asphalt and becomes French toast, or worse yet gets run over by the SUV behind you. Leaving you with nothing more than a collar attached to a crepe. The debaters usually argue,
“My window is not all the way down so Tippy cannot fit outside.”
Okay so Tippy only gets his face slammed into the window. Really? Isn’t Tippy’s nose flat enough as it is?
Then they will say…
“I would never let that happen. I always have my hand on him to keep him safe.”
My response. “None of us know what we are going to do in an emergency situation, but as a responsible driver you need to have both hands available to save yourself and others.
So let’s talk about the REAL danger of letting little Tippy ride in your lap. God forbid you are in an accident, and your airbag were to deploy. Tippy would end up dead by the impact of the airbag slamming into his tiny little body. Worse yet he would most likely kill you in the process. Ah at least then the two of you would get to ride all you want in the afterlife. I guess at that point Tippy could hang his head out the window all he wants, as I hear those clouds are pretty darn fluffy.
Okay so let’s move Tippy to the passenger side seat. That would be better right? Only if you can turn off the passenger side airbag and have Tippy restrained in some kind of doggy harness, or specially made puppy seat. Yes they make them. But make sure if you get one it has a seatbelt or is fully enclosed. If Tippy is not restrained he can still get hurt or hurt someone else by flying through the air upon impact, hitting you or someone else in the car.
Bottom line…either leave Tippy at home, or insure the safety of all, by seeing that
he’s properly secured. Buckle him up! The life you save just may just be your own...
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