Things My Dog Taught Me: Part I (Reflections of a Rescuer)

Earlier this year I stumbled across a list that I treasure. Like so many lists on the internet I have no idea where it originated nor even whether it has a single author. Like so many lists that exist in the virtual world it has taken on a life of its own. 

Without any more ado here are the first 25:

• Leadership is about being someone worth following.
• Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should.
• Dogs have deadly weapons in their mouths. Most will go their entire lives without using them. Don’t take this for granted.
• You have a lot of power over your dog. With great power…
• Picking up after your dog in public is sexy.
• Stand up for your dog.
• It’s OK to tell people to leave your dog alone.
• Don’t let anyone bully your dog, not even a professional trainer.
• Stay humble.

  

  Tank Girl and Shenan on top of Mt. Charleston, outside Las Vegas Nevada.

• It’s good to have a dog who asks, “why should I?”
• There is no way to know for sure why a dog does something. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.
• Any dog can bite.
• Head halters may not cause pain, but that death glare your dog shoots you when you make him wear one is not in your imagination.
• Aggression is usually fear-based.
• Don’t take anything personally.
• Judging a shelter dog by the way she acts in her kennel is like judging a person based on their Facebook page: you never get the whole picture and what you do see is often misleading.
• Newly-adopted dogs may need time to grieve for their previous families.
• Bonding with a new dog takes work; relationships are something you earn, not something you’re entitled to.

  

  Tank Girl and Shenan at ease on the trail; Bristlecone Forest CA.

  
  

• As the owners of “broken” rescued dogs, our job is to help them move on.
• Hand-feeding solves a lot of problems.
• Distractions make great training rewards.
• Show me a dog surrendered to a shelter for destructive behavior and I’ll show you a really smart dog.
• Boredom is the leading cause of behavior problems.
• Smart dogs do not make good house pets.
• Stockholm Syndrome looks a lot like unconditional love.