It’s not mean

Author: Denise Partlow

Instagram: @modernk9 Carolinas

I get concerns from dog owners like this all the time:
my dog growls at me
my dog doesn’t listen
my dog barks at me
My dog bites me.

And my response is usually the same:
It’s not mean to tell your dog what to do!

I’m going to repeat that.
It’s not mean to tell your dog what to do, as long as you are being fair.

Dogs are apex predators, they’re going to take over if you let them, they are going to fight for what they think is theirs if we don’t show them we are fair and predictable resource providers.

It’s not about being bossy, or dominant or the ruler- it’s about providing a dog with clarity. Allowing them to do whatever they want all day long just means we are asking them to make decisions they shouldn’t be making. We’re putting the responsibility back on them to make good decisions and they just aren’t able to do that without our guidance. Remember they’re living in our human world, a world they were not really designed to understand-this can put a lot of anxiety on a dog because our world is confusing-so we must show them how to do this; by guiding what they do throughout the day in a predictable manner.

It’s not mean to hold strict boundaries for your dog. It is far kinder to be strict in the beginning & to ease up along the way than to give all the freedom in the beginning only to have to revoke those freedoms because problems are arising.

And it may sound like a lot of work but being strict, consistent & fair is much easier (for both you and the dog) than spending the next decade with an out of control dog.

You are not being mean, you are being kind to your dog when you take that weight off their shoulders. They will gladly give you that responsibility back as you ease their anxiety of having to figure things out on their own.

It is not mean to tell your dog what to do.

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