Why do people assume if someone asks for advice on here they have not trained their dog?

Question

I asked a question referencing the prong collar, as my lab/staffy mix is bullheaded and will not catch on to walking nicely on any training leash. I received quite a few answers telling me to get my dog in obedience school and I need to train my dog. We have invested a lot in our dog. She has been to an obedience class and we have had an in home trainer. I am not offended at all by those comments because I know how diligent we are on a daily basis with her. Do people just assume that all dogs are easy? She is very very stubborn and has a mind of her own. Anyways, I am writing this to say don't assume people haven't trained their dogs if they need help with a training issue. Thanks! Have a lovely day!!!

Answer 1

It's because many people on Yahoo want a quick fix and haven't even considered dog training as a first step.

I'm glad you are a responsible dog guardian and your dog has been to training. It's a lot of work to train a dog and stubborn dogs are even more work.

Unfortunately you are in the minority. Just look at how many 1 and 2 year old dogs that are dumped at the pound because they didn't magically train themselves.

Purrs and wags,
The Cat Lady

Answer 2

Hi Kelly ...

I didn't see your original question, but did you put in that post the extent of training that you have done with your dog?? As you know I'm sure, training is an ongoing thing from the day you bring your puppy/dog home to the day that he/she goes to the rainbow bridge .. however, no matter where you go; you ARE going to find the holier than thou people that think they know everything .... and you're also going to find that the people that "think" they know everything; seem to be more brunt about it ..

You have a mix of 2 very sweet dogs .. labs don't realize that their body has grown into a dog; and their brains still stay as puppies until about 5 years old .. I've have many many labrador owners tell me that .. I'm active in a dog training club; and trust me .. after 30 years of dogs, I'm still learning. Staff'ers are just as loveable, and all of the ones that I know; want to be EVERYONE's friend but do seem to have a rep of being strong willed, so you do have your handful with the mix ...

I have never used a prong collar, I did use a choke collar on my Golden retriever about 25 years ago; but with that it was just a shake of the leash .. it was more the sound of it that got his attention ...now, I have small dogs ... but I have seen them misused, and it more breaks the will of the dog .. I have watched it be used properly, and the dog worked beautifully .. and enjoyably .. So if you learn how to use the collar .. it can be a proper training tool ... but like any other training technique; used inproperly -- can cause damage to your progress ..

Good luck, and I'm sorry that you got the responses that you say you did ... but you're going to find that anywhere .. even talking face to face to people that don't know you ...

Sally

Answer 3

I agree with you. Some people have a nasty way of assuming things about people without knowing much about their situation. Like it was advised above me, sometimes you just have to weed out through all the mess and focus on the helpful answers.

I hope you will start using the prong collar, which is an absolutely wonderful training tool when used correctly.

I have a stubborn puller as well. My APBT who has just turned a year old gets overly excited when she sees people and will pull as hard as physically possible in order to say hi to strangers. No training has been able to fix this problem and it's not like she isn't obedient and submissive in all other aspects (because she is)... so, the choke collar has definitely been a great help -- now I can take her out without getting dragged or choking her.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Because the way in which you discuss it, it is obvious you don't know. I have trained just about every breed or mix of dogs and while some are more stuborn than others, someone who knows what they are doing trianing-wise would not be silly enough to blame their lack of training skills on that. Being to AN obedience class and certainly having some 'in home trainer' doesn't equal a trained dog. Dogs take more than that to be trained because YOU take more than that. Most of the 'training' is you not the dog -- dogs pick up, even stubborn ones, on body language primarily and need consistency in their training. I have actually trained retarded dogs -- yes, brain damaged dogs that are a bit more than 'stubborn' so while training isn't rocket science, if you are not adept at it then the dog will not learn well -- You are not adept at it - it is the rare person that has A dog and takes it through even a couple of obedience classes and actually picks up well on training techiniques. It is still YOU tht nees to be trained. You keep saying 'we' which indicates that you are not the only one doing the training on the dog which, again, indicates you don't know what you are doing -- until a dog IS trained well, as in will do what you ask every time you ask without fail in various situations that are highly distracting, it should not be being trained by more than one person - again, dogs pick up a lot on body language for cues and no two people have the same body language - and even one person will be extreemly inconcenstent with their body language cues until THEY (the person) is trained properly. Go back to obedience class - it isn't to train the dog but to train YOU to train the dog and you need more training. Good luck.

PS - if the dog cannot walk properly on lead, a basic, then the dog is not at all trained and you have allowed it to learn to walk the way it does on lead. You haven't trained your dog - not an assumption but a fact you yourself are evidencing.

Answer 5

dogs are not easy but you have to start from square one and perhaps you didn't have the right trainer; most dogs aim to please and I know for myself you get more with honey than you do vinegar, a prong collar; it is easier as a puppy but everyday is a new day for opportunities , time, praise , repetition, time , repetition can overcome almost anything; start out small and work your way up; Cesar Milan is a great trainer; you can find him on National Geographic channel ; a stubborn dog just hasn't had the right trainer; start at square one ; today is a new day; people who believe in these collars and tactics of spraying, holding mouth, punishment are lousy, lazy trainers ; really not trainers at all , abusers mainly; if you have to use these aids, tactics and tricks , the dog is not trained

Answer 6

Unfortunately some people are full of themselves and think they are above everyone. Just weed through the nonsense people that are AVOIDING the question and keep on reading there is a lot of good advice on here its sad people feel attacking other people is helpful. Hope you got your answer about the prong collar

Answer 7

Well I have a lab/staf/Italian mastiff mix with the same problem, and i totally understand what your getting at, people are quick to judge. I was watching the dog whisper and he used the prong collar and used it in a quick upward pull to bring the dog back to your side but he also said you have to keep moving and almost pretend the incident didn't happen. good luck! (I've also thought of just letting him do this and investing in a pair of skates, lol)

Answer 8

The prong collar is very good for strong dogs who need extra correction. It simulates the corrective nip of the mother dog, and used properly, is not the least bit cruel or inappropriate. I used it with one of my pit bulls, who is very gentle but was at one time a strong puller on the leash. And lots of people on this site are plain rude. Don't worry about it!

Answer 9

I'm with you. Someone nastily told me that I had failed as a dog owner because I had sought professional help for my dog - who was abused and has extreme anxiety. WTF?? It's not relevant to give every last detail of your dog (not you personally, I mean *anyone*), and although it's reasonable for ppl to make certain assumptions I also think that giving someone the benefit of the doubt is important.

(BTW, I haven't read your other question, but try a Gentle Leader head collar if you haven't already. I, too, have a stubborn large breed dog, and it worked for us. Might work for you too?)

Answer 10

there is a lot you're able to do at living house your self with going to costly education classes. as an occasion, the internet is loaded with loose suggestions on suggestion and tricks. additionally, you may make investments somewhat funds ($20-40) in paying for ebooks, DVDs, or a no longer person-friendly reproduction of a e book. adult men like Cesar Millan have lots of large components available for people who're seeking to coach (or as he says "rehabilitate") their canines. in the journey that your dad isn't prepared to pay for classes, he could be prepared to pay for some canine education cloth.