The Good Samaritan Law « Fearfuldogs' Blog
we meet a dog, or adopt a dog, or volunteer at a shelter, or pet-sit for a dog...
when is it OK to correct or punish a dog, whom we do not know well?

the Good Samaritan for dog-training + handling:
in essence, we do NOT assume the dog's skills + knowledge are equal to the task at hand,
and presumptively punish a failure to comply or to offer our preferred behavior -
instead, assume the dog "knows" nothing, and ask for, or teach, our preferred behaviors.
this is charitable and also IMO the only fair option - perhaps this dog does know the behavior,
but an entirely different cue or under other circumstances or is just overwhelmed at the moment.

giving any dog TIME to get to know us, and we to know them, is key to a trusting relationship;
jumping in feet-first and correcting every error will taint all future encounters, not only our own
individual memory in this dog's recollection, but what about other future-strangers?...

__________________
terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, TDF
*wolves R wolves, dogs R dogs, + primates R us.*
tmp, sept-2007