Originally Posted by
Steve Wishart
And yet the discussions evolved from the topic have all been about pedantic details based on an owners own perceived ideas, not mine,
Its the `pedantic` details which are absolutely vital, otherwise its nothing but a `one size fits all` ethos - regardless of breed traits, every dog is an individual and should be treated as one, one dog, one dogs specific needs to suit that one dog.
such as dogs are carnivorous, not omnivorous, a dog doesn't conform to the pack mentality as that idea was de-bunked several thousand years ago (that's an exaggeration)
Its a shame the de-bunking was`nt included in your coursework, if it were perhaps you would believe it like the other `one size` stuff these on-paper courses, [ which are not hands-on taught], infer
and some dogs need more exercise than others?
Of course some dogs need more exercise than others !
Even between my four BCs, [ yes four- what did you say about someone having three ?
], they have different levels of physical requirement, one being a tripod with a lactic acid problem in his remaining rear leg he simply can`t do a regimented x number of minutes at a time, his exercise is specific to what he can do on a walk to walk basis and he being a stoic so and so I have to regulate that because he would just keep going til he literally can`t stand for one more step.
All my collies are also different sizes, builds, ages, and
personalities, so those aspects come into it as well.
My other two are a Lurcher, [ BC x Saluki ], who is a typical pointy build and therefore built for short bursts, not a trek
My other is a Collie x Jack Russell and she will also keep going until she drops given the chance. She is
fantastically fit and incredibly fast considering her build - not from x number of minutes walk a day but because she plays tag with my Lurcher and tries to keep up with him, her physical and much of her mental fitness comes directly from doing that, if I tried to achieve her condition from just walks, well, it just would`nt happen. She gets more physical
and mental exercise from ten minutes of tag with him in my agility area than she would on a two hour walk so if someone said I had to choose between one or other it would be the ten minute tag bursts every time.
No offence guys, but a lot of the 'disagreement' posts in here were based on very loose seperate arguments and were only created for arguments sake. Yet it seems that the
general approach of my first post and the majority of it, despite a bit here and there, is all agreeable, yet I'm still under the impression that my view is totally wrong?
Not for arguments sake - for
dogs sakes.
I never said in the initial post that they were the causes of ALL problems, just the majority that
I deal with on a daily basis. I didn't mention vet exams and thus, I must have clearly overlooked that (despite thinking it was universally known enough to not warrant a mention), lol,
No its not universally well known enough to not warrant a mention, its something which sadly all too many
never think of, including many behaviourists. [ Cesar Milan being one of the most prominent and worst examples of not taking it into account
].
I get condemned and judged for apparently using the Flooding technique all the time,
yes because flooding can be incredibly harmful with very permanent results - which can be fatal for a dog as they are taken off to a vet to be destroyed for not being able to cope with a situation they have been forced into, often because some behaviourist has done it without knowing enough of the dogs background, [ rescues of unknown history especially being dogs which should
never be flooded because anything could trigger a severe fear response ].
Flooding is not about curing a dogs fear, its about putting them in a state of learned helplessness, they shut down, so when they don`t fight it any more its not because they are `cured` its because they can`t mentally cope with trying to fight it any more, [ or the person forcing them into situations which are too much for them ], that just hides one fear by glossing over it by creating another stronger fear.
and it just generally feels like I am having to constantly defend my views on things that weren't even mentioned in the first post,
Well, people are expected to be able to back up/expand on any claims / statements they make - its called debate and discussion
simply because some members are being extremely pedantic about some issues.
Sorry but many of us have a heck of a lot of hands on experience, that`s not us being pedantic, its us bringing up vitally important points - a lot of people read this forum so when something has been posted which someone might `try this at home` which could be harmful, it has to be explained as to why this or that should
not be tried or why something `blanket stated` is just not appropriate for their own dog.
Christ, I feel like I'm the one going through a vetinary examination!
Ah well, this is a forum where people discuss things, you can`t just post something and expect everyone to read and accept things without question, Dogsey is a far too intelligent collection of people to try that on
Seriously, I only bothered writing the first post to try and underline the importance of some areas that would help maintain a happy healthy dog, it was essentially put out there as advice and instead, I'm having to defend the bloody thing as if it was some sort of statement, lol.
Is`nt that a bit like saying one Haynes Manual is suitable for all vehicles ?
Sure there are some basic things like keeping oil topped up and checking tyre pressures but there are many things which are not suitable from vehicle to vehicle.
Drive a Beetle across a pond and it will float.
Do it in a transit van and you`d need a tow truck to haul it out again when its sunk.
Put a newly qualified driver in a Ferrari then in a Mini - tell them to drive both the same way.
Then call an ambulance for them
Dogs are every bit as individual, there are some basic similarities but basic similarities is all, otherwise they would be called clones and one little pamphlet would cover everything an owner needs to know.
I needn't have bothered my bum.
What`s that saying about kitchens and heat ?
Definitely won't be creating another thread for honest intentions without evaluating the potential car crash it may turn into, that's for sure!
I am all for a good argument, but this has gotten a bit silly.
It`s a shame you feel that way but the thread has brought up very good points for other readers, to discuss, to question, and to expand knowledge.
Just as humans are not dogs and dogs know it, Dogsey members are not sheep either