It finally happened

Dog Folks wrote:
4X4Doger: Now there is some information we can agree upon!!!

Dog "experts" are measured by experience and results only. There are not many "degrees" because there not many mainstream colleges offering them. A degree has no indication of every day skills. I have a college degree that is mostly worthless in today's society.

There are some "certification" programs for dog trainers, mostly offered on line or by for profit "schools." I doubt their real value.

4X4Dodger said: "So I find it a bit curious that some have the attitude that somehow one persons ideas on dog behavior (sic) are automatically superior to mine or anyone elses(sic) for that matter."

Wow can't agree more, but that statement is true with many people, everywhere. It is very common on forums. "It is my way or you are wrong" seems to be a common attitude.

4X4Dodger said: "Don't we have enough DNA level experience by now and enough Common knowledge..lore (sic) if you like to suffice for managing this relationship?

Again, we agree IF there is common sense being used. Unfortunately common sense is not so common.

Dog trainers, house cleaners, and most service companies, exist not because people do not have the basic, or instinctive skills to complete the task at hand or the desire to gain the information needed. Rather, people choose, for whatever reason, to pay someone else to complete the task. And thankfully these people exist because that is how I made a very comfortable living my entire life. (Service businesses.)

Now don't get too comfortable. There are many other areas we still strongly disagree. :B :B That is O.K. and keeps life interesting.

Best of Luck to you.

We do agree on much for sure and I would like you and some of the others to consider this: There are literally hundreds of books on the market as well as TV shows that purport to have the "ONE SURFIRE" way to train your dog or break them of bad habits. Could many of those people with badly behaving dogs be reading and applying bad information to their relationship with their pets? And as I am sure you are aware things things seem to go in Fad cycles.

And to some others who questioned my assertion that we have a built in level of understanding with dogs. There are always exceptions and there will always be people who should not have a dog. But Dogs have been mistreated and mishandled by man through the ages and yet the relationship is still strong and THE most popular one when it comes to the choice for a pet WORLDWIDE. There is no doubt that there is a strong almost primal urge to this relationship.

I am not against the idea of Dog experts at all I just really question the need for them. If we all took the time to try to think like a dog and see the world thru their eyes we would be able to train them much more effectively.

And I do agree with some who criticized me up thread; Some people should just NOT have a dog, but there are many more I see that shouldnt have kids either. My heart breaks for both when I see these situations.