Can't we all just get along?

The answer sadly is apparently not.

Some of you may have noticed I have removed some comments from this blog and set my comments to moderated status. I have inadvertently become the target of another dog trainer that didn't like some comments I posted to her public blog. (by public I mean owned by a newspaper)

It was never my intention to irk anyone with my opinion but it is clear that is what happened. The original post was about how to become a dog trainer and I added more info for prospective trainers to her post. She disagreed with my response. Strongly. I have since been accused of "drinking the kool-aid of the positive training cult" among other things. It became a bit of a mess from there and after an attempt at a normal dialogue I tried to back away. In response I seem to have been followed. (and linked to as an example of a member of the fanatical positive trainer cult)

Now I dislike strife, in any form. I grew up in a home that had far to much of it for me to want to continue the cycle. Plus I just don't understand WHY dog trainers feel the need for infighting!? We are on the same team!!! Regardless of methods, or personality conflicts, we are all in this for the love of dogs and to help both them and their people. Aren't we? So WHY do we feel the need to beat each other up? It is incredibly unprofessional and I am so tired of it. It takes to much energy to be negative if you ask me.

So I have had enough. Lets each stay in our respective corners and continue to do what we love and help dogs. We can agree to disagree on methods and ideology. It really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things if dogs are being humanely and effectively trained. (by both sides) I was accused of having an agenda, I guess that is true. If I had to define it my agenda is to promote dog training to keep dogs in their homes.

Yes I have chosen positive reinforcement for the majority of my clients and for my own dogs. I am unsure why that can be so irksome to others. Every trainer has a choice. If you are happy with your own choice why feel the need to attack anothers choice? Why resort to name calling? I just don't get it.

I think it is possible to have a dialogue with and between trainers of different methodologies. (I have had some great debates with other trainers of different methods.) As long as there is mutual respect. Respect doesn't always equal agreement after all. When one side lacks that it seems to quickly become a war. There really is no need of it. If we can't get along and meet in the middle to some degree we might all stagnate in our journey. Is that what we really want for our future? NONE OF US KNOWS EVERYTHING after all. Both sides have things they can learn, if they are open to it.

OK enough venting. As my grandmother always says, what doesn't vent will eventually explode. I should be good for a couple more years now. VBG.

So my plea is this, if we can't declare a truce, how about we each walk just away? I'll go first.

Wag more, bark less.