When did either starving, beating or choking... - Page 7

You're quite welcome.

I suspect many people who train that harshly do so because the dog does not respect them which could be for several reasons. One being they obtained the dog already mature and it does not accept them as the leader or for whatever reason. Second they may not know what they are doing and get frustrated. Lastly they likely just don't spend enough time training and/or have trained to fast and neglected training in several areas before moving on to the next.....

I am feeling very humbled right now. I received a few emails from friends on this board, so I came back to look. And I find this. I wasn't expecting that. I'm having trouble reconciling the conflict between staying involved in the world of sport dogs and trying to make a positive contribution or turning the page for the next chapter. I want to relay to you how I came about this not for my own sake but to attempt to illustrate how at least one sort of newcomer sees the current situation. I started training dogs back in 1969 as part of the USAF security dog training program at Lackland AFB. I was sent to Vietnam shortly after the Tet offensive (which was in 1968) while tensions were still very high. We would have to occasionally go out on patrol with our dogs at night to make sure the area around the base was as secure as it could be to stop the Vietcong from shelling the base. While on patrol one night a friend's dog got the top of his head blown off by a heavy round right next to me.. I lasted a while longer before I decided to do everything I could to get away from a situation where people were using dogs to protect humans' interests and harm was coming to the dogs. I was 19 years old at the time. I did find a way to transfer to another career field. After I was discharged a few years later I moonlighted with several firms that would do Personal Protection Dog training for Diplomats, the mega-rich and corporations. I would always speak up if I thought the training methods were unnecessarily harsh. For years I did not participate in the schutzhund ring although I did train with Phil Hoelcher back in the "80s. After a hiatus of a few years beginning a few years ago I decided to enter the world of sport dogs. I do not like what I see. The stupidity that has blossomed in the training of these animals is hard to take for an old timer like me. I attribute a major part of this to the fact that back in my day (yeah I know) there were far fewer Dog Trainers. Now as the sport has grown and there is a schutzhund club almost wherever there is a gas station, there are thousands of people out there who think they are dog trainers. Most are not. In the testosterone filled chase for a top competitor a lot of things are happening that were not there years ago and are not pretty. I have been pondering wether I really want to associate with that crowd, which by necessity you have to if you want to compete. I think my present dogs are going to go in a different direction. I have not checked out PSA yet, I'm keeping that option open. Also ring-sport is another possibility but first I have to get a handle on whether the same thing that's happening in schutzhund is also occurring in these other venues. Due to the amazingly kind gestures on your part I will hang around and try to learn more from you all and will try to do my best to put the assholians in the perspective in which they belong Thank you.

Welcome back. For a moment there you forgot you're the spokesperson for alot of non-posters whose values mimic yours.........................................

Thanks coach!

Welcome back ONG

Like me! I love my dogs as if they were my fuzzy 4-footed kids....I would like to title them, because they both have such intense desires to play...if it wasn't fun for them as well as me, why do it? Sure they need corrections at times, but sometimes I think the dogs catch on quicker than my kids did!LOL..And they love me like I love them...don't care what the tough guys say...they know who's alpha because they watch me get the dog food, they watch me, learn from me, and watch over me & mine; and still lean in for a hug several times a day. That's the way I always want it to be.jo

autobahn I have a 6 yr old male that I purchased when he was 2. he had a bh wheb I got him. I put the 1,2, and 3 on him. I also have a 7 yr old female that I've had since she was 8 wks and I did thr bh thru sch.3 on her.

Thanks OGN for the message. Hope all heard it and most get it.---Bob

If you don't like what you see in the sports (and I'm in that camp often) get involved in one of the organizations and try to make a difference. And of course, keep up the good posts too!