BY FRAN JEWELL
True story: I was having a wonderful Sunday morning brunch with some friends at a local restaurant. About halfway through our meal, a young boy about 6 or 7 ran down the aisle between the booths – not once, but several times. While absorbed in conversation, I watched the boy. All of a sudden, he stopped and spit on my breakfast! The owner saw what happened, came running over, grabbed the boy by the arm and took him back to his parents. Quickly, they stood up from their booth about five booths away and said, “He was just being friendly!” Then they went about their business. The boy was not made to come over and apologize to me, nor did the parents, nor did they offer to buy me another meal. I was absolutely horrified and shocked sitting there with a ruined breakfast.
Okay, what part isn’t true? The parents never said, “He was just being friendly!” But, the rest is.
I imagined how this child’s teachers dealt with him. I also imagined how he was going to function in society when he grew up.
Now imagine yourself in the veterinarian’s office. Your dog is sick with a high temperature, vomiting, and you are waiting for a room. Someone opens the door and lets their one-year-old OFF-LEASH chocolate Labrador retriever come running over and jump on your sick dog. Quickly, they reply, “Oh, he’s friendly!”
Or, you are walking up to a cross-country ski trail with new skis, boots, and new pants. A giant mixed-breed dog comes running over and jumps on you, tearing your pants, and breaks a ski. The owner says…..
You got it.
Now, let’s ask the question: Does your dog respect you or others, or is life just a happy game doing whatever they want regardless of how it affects others?
This is NOT fa riendly greeting. Does the OWNER respect you and other dogs? Does the owner have “voice” control of their dog? This is obnoxious, dangerous and absolutely disrespectful to everyone.
Max von Stephanitz’ famous words are, “A dog is a reflection of its owner.” Who is Max? He is founder of the German shepherd breed. There has never a more profound statement about owning a dog.
The new rave about being a dog “parent,” instead of a dog “owner,” is dramatized in this entire story. If you are going to see yourself as a pet “parent,” then you must teach your dog right and wrong, and respect for others. Expecting others to put up with an ill-behaved dog (or child) is not what a good “parent” does.
So many times I am out with the dogs I am training – either service dogs or client dogs – and people wonder why the dog is so calm, yet happy, thinking it is the nature of the dog. Not often is it just the nature of the dog. Dogs that are a joy to be around have had training and leadership.
If you yearn for a dog you are proud of and enjoy, take the time to train, teach manners and respect. Everyone will adore your dog, too!
Fran Jewell is an IAABC-certified dog behavior consultant, NADOI-certified instructor #1096 and the owner of Positive Puppy Dog Training, LLC, in Sun Valley. For more information, visit www.positivepuppy.com or call (208) 578-1565.
