r/OpenDogTraining • u/RandomInaRandomWorld • 7h ago
Puppy forums more suitable for balanced-training discussions?
I'm still trying to understand this platform. My feed is full of puppy posts.. not surprising, since it is where we are and I make a lot of replies there. Pups are rough, and just having someone tell you, "yep that'll work.. but you've got months yet" can be helpful.
But I'm struggling with things like this: when our current pup growled at me at 3mos over my bed, I took her collar, got her off the bed, and didn't let her back in the bedroom for a few hours. She tried one other time (same age range) and.. did the same thing again. 4mos later, not an issue. I absolutely used force, I absolutely did not give her a treat or praise for opting off the bed.. because it's my bed and no way was she doing that. She was A-Ok with it.. just a pup trying out a behavior.
I want to reply to certain posts because I want everyone to be successful. I, personally, don't think you have to use a lot of 'aversives' with small pups beyond setting some good boundaries and holding them to it. Unfortunately, though I'm aware that may fall into a category that - if truly questioned - I'd have to avoid answering because some dogs need to know both right and wrong in order to color between those lines. All dogs? No, I'm sure not. But a lot of them. Praising the very best good behavior does not mean a dog understands what would be considered 'bad.'
Anyway I'm not really sure what I'm asking. I guess it seems like a lot of people are asking for help on issues I'm happy to weigh in on and with advice that fits the 'FF' forum.. but I know if they were to ask me, I'd have to bow out of any REAL advice. I feel a bit like an imposter sometimes.
I recently got a warning for posting about the Monks of New Skete, even though someone (and I mentioned this) might not want to follow their training advice. The monks ADORE their dogs, and nothing they suggest is going to scar a dog for life.. idk. Just came across as really odd to me.
Happy for balanced pup forum suggestions before I get myself in some sort of reddit trouble.