I adopted my first working dog a year ago, and found Leerburg by chance. It has been a wonderful resource for info and gear, and Ed and Cindy have personally given me some great feedback. The working dog community has welcomed me both locally and in this forum. For that reason, I am greatly distressed by some of the dialogue here.
I've see wonderful, insightful threads that continuously get spoiled by personal insults and disagreements. By going back to older topics, I've seen where good trainers have either given up on this forum or been banned because they were badgered into losing their composure. I've seen helpful members "speak" to others in a manner in which they would never wamt to be spoken to.
I beg each and every one of you; please think thrice about how you sound before clicking submit. If you really, absolutely cannot communicate with others without getting personal, might I suggest participating in the blogs on msn.com or foxnews; they are perfect for intolerance. Personally, I am here to learn from you all, and I really don't need to see your rumps.

 Quote: Duane Hull

I beg each and every one of you; please think thrice about how you sound before clicking submit.

I know my mastiffs, Pisa is ....well she is hard I am not

I really struggled when answering for a reply on isometric exercise, I do appreciate finding out I was on the wrong track,

but I need help with Pisa, I love her, I have spent over 2000 hrs with her, training, exercising and socialization.

our plan for sch was 3 yr. That’s how long I was told a totally motivational training program could take a novice trainer.

I was devastated finding out her hips are borderline

I lost a 17yr old cat I loved in September, and her brother this January who shared my pillow with me, and purred me to sleep every night.



I think we all have "stuff" going on,



this forum is an indispensible resource

If she's not in pain Dave, borderline hips doesnt mean she can't do Schutzhund. Start her on SynFlex and watch for any signs they're bothering her.

I agree with Steve Dave.

Duane I really do think that for the most part the board members here have a good handle on putting any personal feelings aside for a poster and concentrating on what it good for the dog.

Not perfect but I think the board has a darn good track record.

Then there are people who post for advice and then turn and argue it, yes but. Sorry couldn't resist.

I think the regulars on here have very good hearts and though from time to time its our hearts that become outraged at unfairness to a dog and disgusted at bad information. We just have to remember that to change another one's thoughts, we must first not use harsh corrections. You want their trust...not resistance.

It has been a wonderful resource for info and gear, and Ed and Cindy have personally given me some great feedback. The working dog community has welcomed me both locally and in this forum.


My sentiments were in no way an indictment of the forum; they were borne of the frustration that a new member feels seeing the intolerance of SOME of the posters. If nec, I can provide numerous examples, and some posters are habitual offenders. And yes, I also get frustrated with people who ask for advice only to argue. I feel one is better served by turning the other cheek in those instances.

I have only been a member here for a couple of years, and confess I prefer to listen and learn rather than contribute to posts I am woefully inexperienced to comment on, and cringe when I see new members wading in on debates between established members who really DO know what they are talking about!

I have spent a lot of time reading old posts that have been relevant to me, as well as other subjects out of curiosity or interest, and I was really amazed at how many times the same questions have been asked over and over, when a lot of common questions can be answered with a search; I admit to being one of those people who came on the board and didn't even think to do that, rather shooting off a post out of desperation and anxiety, wanting reassurance/answers there and then, so I can see both sides of the story!

I think considering some of the very provocative and eyebrow raising posts, the general tone is more civilized than it could be, and as adults, we all feel we have the right to be heard and have our say, and at times it might appear that an opinion has no weight and is dismissed out of hand, or nipped in the bud with no right to reply; passions can run high where the welfare at the dog is the primary consideration, and eye watering as some of the responses can be, it is the dog that the concern is for, not so much the sensitivity of the poster

This board is only 1 of 2 that I am interested in the opinions of, and the expertise from, and one of the few with any real credibility, so if some of the advice is blunt and to the point at times, it remains one of the most reliable in its knowledge of all things 'dog'

Here's the problem, it kind of bothers me when people come on a say you should say "xyz" and you should say it in such and such a manner.

If you feel that a forum should take a certain style, why not learn how contribute in that style and do so yourself?

On any good forum, experience posters usually have a wealth of information to share. They do so on their own time for no compensation. They're just passionate about the activity. So I think if you want access (for free) to a wealth of information, you're going to have to take a little personal style and passion along with it sometimes.

Do good folks go overboard sometimes? Sure - everyone human after all and when you're passionate about something, tempers can get riled. But those instances seem to be pretty small compared to the help they give. So maybe if it bothers you, maybe you figure out how you can tactfully post to calm a thread down and get it back on a track you feel comfortable with and offering help you feel should be offered instead of calling people out.

You're right; I'm wrong. I just don't feel personal insults and attacks are warranted. I can live with being wrong.
One of the posts I was frustrated with was Mara's school project thread. I addressed it, and it resulted in a very pleasant private convo with a moderator, who took the high road and got the thread back on track. I also apologized and asked said mod to remove the post in which I called out the participants, and it was taken care of with no hurt feelings.
I do notice that not one of those who took exception to my post are ones that I consider to be offenders.