The
great diversity of opinions available on the Internet makes it a valuable tool
for learning, just as the vast array of products available online has made
great bargains available to consumers. But
often a thing’s greatest strength is its greatest weakness. When it comes to
training your dog, the variety and volume of online information might sometimes help dog
owners solve common behavior problems, but it often does more harm than good.
It is risky to rely on what you learn
online when it comes to things like dog behavior, because all dogs are
different. Your dog is not “typical” - so
odds are that general advice will do more than good. I know
what you’re thinking – “his business
is in-home dog training – he wants you to hire a
professional dog trainer.” I’ll admit that - but I will still defend the
notion that you’re better off hiring
someone to help you train your dog than doing it yourself .
My experience has convinced me that
that the average dog owner is better served by having a good trainer work hands-on with their dog, instead
of surfing the web in search of answers, especially when it comes to
critical behavior issues like fear and aggression.
Over the years I have come to accept
the proposition that there are many
ways to train a dog. There is no perfect formula for every dog, and there is value
to be found in most methods if you look deep enough. But a lot of what you read
in books and online is “junk science.” When it comes to someone as important as
your dog – who is after all a member of your family –choosing the right method
is a serious matter that requires an investment in time and money. There are no
shortcuts.
