I recently read an article about a major airline choosing to ban certain breeds from flying or being transported. I agree with refusing an obviously aggressive dog, regardless of breed, or a dog that appears ill. I think it’s ridiculous to refuse a dog simply because of their breed.

This policy is a huge inconvenience to many travelers and people that want to buy dogs from another state or country. Dog owners that are moving long distances should not have to leave their pets behind due to a flawed policy.  People that buy a dog from another state or country may not be able to afford to drive to, or afford to arrange another method of transportation that is reliable and safe as air travel is.

A particular airline has decided to move from the business of transporting into governing what is an acceptable breed that is allowed to travel. Safety comes first in air travel, but it shouldn’t be related to specific breeds of dogs. It is related to the behavior of all dogs. Don’t punish me because of misconceptions in the media and other dog owners that don’t know how to handle and train their dogs.

The so called PetSafe program does nothing other than further taint the image of perfectly good dogs that happen to be of a certain breed and owned by caring and responsible dog owners.

No dog owner wants to see their pet get ill or suffer, but pet insurance is not worth the money you pay for it. Chemotherapy, dialysis and any other invasive treatment for any pet is cruel simply delays their inevitable death. The expense of monthly premiums and deductibles can be very expensive and most plans have a lifetime limit on what is paid out. Take the premium and deductible amounts and set that money aside for basic and necessary care for your dog.

It’s critical to maintain good health in your pet through regular veterinary visits, vaccinations, flea and heartworm treatments, but it is selfish to put your dog through invasive and difficult treatments just because you want more time with them. Dogs are noble and deserve to be treated humanely. You can love your dog but know when it is time to let them go.

This distortion of the truth distracts from the real problem – dogs are not the problem. Their owners are the problem. These dogs have inappropriate and uncontrollable behavior and it is entirely the owner’s fault. Take responsibility and train your dog and care for it properly. Caring for your dog does not mean that you leave them tied up in the back yard 24 hours a day or running freely around the neighborhood. It is your responsibility to make sure that your dog is properly trained and accounted for at all times, and on a leash when you are out in public.

Police officers do not go around randomly shooting dogs. They shoot dogs that prevent them from serving and protecting the community. They have every right to defend themselves from a human or canine aggressor. Dogs get shot because their lazy owners have nothing to do with them and leave them alone in the backyard or to roam the neighborhood.

Why would anyone take shortcuts when it comes to medical care, even with pets? Some veterinarians might promote home vaccinations, but that might be only because they won’t have to use their time to perform a service and they can make a quick buck from the sale of supplies. A reputable DVM would not promote this practice and would explain that animals need basic care and check ups just like humans do.

Buying a dog from a breeder that performs their own vaccinations is like playing Russian Roulette. Are you willing to gamble your time, money and the health of the dog you just bought on the skills of a breeder that has not been to veterinary school?

Petting a dog has nothing to do with socialization. Training your dog in obedience and behavior is the method that should be used to teach them how to behave in the general public. Allow one person to pet your dog and your dog has just learned that all people should pet them. The dog cannot reason and know who to approach and who to stay away from. Not all people want to be around dogs, but because you have allowed so many different people to pet your dog, your dog now thinks that everyone should pet them.

When people visit your home, they are there to see you and not your dog.  Allowing visitors to greet your dog makes the dog think that all humans are there to see them. Petting a dog is not like a handshake between acquaintances, it’s like a hug between humans. At this point, it’s unfair to the dog when you try to correct this behavior after the fact.

It’s rude to assume that it’s okay to pet someone else’s dog, especially without permission. It’s no different than a stranger walking up to your kids and picking them up to play with them, which would anger a lot of people if it were to happen.  Your dog is no different.

You and your family should be the most important thing in your dog’s life, not the attention it gets from strangers. The whole concept of “socialization” is just another money-wasting gimmick that gives way to ill-behaved dogs and embarrassed dog owners. The only affection that your dog needs is from you and your family.

Sure, teacup dogs are tiny and cute.  Most people don’t realize that these dogs have their small stature due to generations of inbreeding to stunt the growth of the dog, which results in unnatural characteristics and a multitude of health problems.  The toy breeds are bred for monetary reasons only, with no regard to the health or lifespan of the dogs.  People are paying top dollar for a tiny genetic mess that will live half as long as other dogs that are not bred for this purpose.

Designer dogs are a joke these days.  Labradoodles, chugs, puggles, you name it and it probably exists somewhere in the world.  These dogs are mutts – plain and simple.  I have nothing against mutts, just call them what they really are.  There is no point to making up a name for a litter that came from a Beagle and a Pug.  This has become a silly pre-occupation with people these days.  It’s a game to have the silliest sounding dog name.  Backyard breeders are having a field day with this because they do not have to make any effort to guarantee or vouch for the health of their litters.  People are in such a hurry to buy a “new” breed that they don’t care about these important details.  Who cares?  They just bought a dorgi or a shih-poo.

It doesn’t take a genius to see that the true motivation of these breeders is to make money while someone suffers heartbreak because they bought a genetically inferior dog that has to be put down due to health issues.  Be wise and don’t fall for this.

The biggest scam is a paid evaluation. It makes no sense to pay someone to evaluate your dog so that they can confirm what you already see and deal with on a daily basis with your dog, and then charge, you more to eradicate and correct behavior. Behavioral issues are usually the same common issues that happen with a lot of dogs. A true dog trainer has dealt with these and does not necessarily need to come out and charge for an evaluation.

It is never a good idea to let any stranger into your home, even for business purposes. It’s one thing to purchase something and have it delivered, or to have an electrician come out and fix something. You generally know how much these services cost. When it comes to a dog trainer, you probably don’t have a clue what the charge is going to be. Allowing them to come to your house or business lets them see how and where you live. You might live in a nicer neighborhood and so your quoted price might be significantly more than another person who lives more modestly. Don’t give anyone the opportunity to scam you just because you might be able to pay more for something.

When talking to a dog trainer, keep a few things in mind. Bloodlines are not important. The price you paid for the dog is not important. The fact that you had the dog flown in from some foreign country is not important. Disclosing this information is a sign that you’ve spent a lot of money and can afford to pay an inflated price for services. The behavior is what is important and what you want corrected. Be honest, but keep unnecessary details to a minimum. Show up in casual clothes and take your dog to the dog trainer.

These are just a few tips to help anyone avoid being scammed.  Anyone can claim to be a dog trainer just so they can take your money. Minimize the risk by talking to actual clients and seeing the dog trainer in action. Get the price finalized up front and make sure that you see the dog trainer at work.

The first and most important lesson that a dog owner and dog handler needs to learn is to walk a dog correctly on a leash. Walking your dog on a leash is also one of the simplest things to teach your dog. Only two things are required; a collar and a lead/leash. I fail to understand how so many dog trainers and people in general have turned this simple task into such a train wreck. The result of poor leash training is a dog that has learned some seriously bad habits.

If you cannot walk your dog on a leash without problems, what makes you think that you can properly train your dog to do anything else? The reason this should be the first and most important lesson is that it sets a precedent and expectations for your dog.  Without a solid and basic foundation, any additional training will be pointless and unsuccessful. This is not fair to the dog or to you.

It is important to have this skill mastered because it teaches your dog to focus on you. You are the most important thing in your dog’s life, not the food on the ground or the other dogs walking and barking close by. You should be the focus in your dog’s mind because they are trusting your to take care of them as if their life depended on it. You never know what is around the corner or what some other irresponsible dog owner will do. Dogs are not fearful animals and they should not be scared of anything. Their focus should only be on their master.

Stop making excuses for your dog’s behavior when you are out for a walk. Do something about it and train your dog correctly so that you can enjoy your time with your dog.

There is no need for doggie sweaters or other ridiculous accessories. Dogs can handle extreme weather during training sessions. Just because a dog might appear to be shivering does not mean it’s time to throw in the towel and quit training. Dogs need to work. Dogs need to move. Keeping them active in various types of weather conditions them. Just because the dog owner is hot and tired, or cold and wet does not mean it’s time to quit. Dogs are naturally wired to work but unfortunately get stuck with lazy people who cannot even be bothered to take them for a walk, let alone train them in various conditions.

Dogs, are more than a cute pet, they are not like a stuffed animal with a heartbeat.