Duane that is the truth for the most part. great looking dog no better color than a nice sable.

 Quote: john axe

Dogs do want ever is in they're best interest. they love who ever takes care of them.

You have never seen a good therapy dog work with abused children. There is nothing tangible in it for the dog- so why does the dog bother?

Your hamburger test makes no sense to me. My dogs would not touch them unless told they could. If told they were OK to eat, logic would dictate they would be allowed both. My dogs would also pick them up and bring them to me if asked. So what is your point? That dog's can't count, and since they can't count, they really don't care about you?

Truly sad if that is your experience with dogs....

You have never seen a good therapy dog work with abused children. There is nothing tangible in it for the dog- so why does the dog bother? because they are receiving attention, like being petted.



my test makes no sense to you, because you don't allow the dog to think or act on it's own. you are controlling them

Truly sad if that is your experience with dogs. I'm not sad at all. i spent 25 years getting paid good money & a great retirement spending time with dogs, found drugs with them , tracked escapee's , crowd control,etc. why did that happen? they were trained. how long do you think a drug dog would search, never getting a reward ? not one time in the years did a dog offer me any of his food ( lol) they are animal's

 Quote:

Dogs do want ever is in they're best interest. they love who ever takes care of them. i was given a dog from a dept. the officer was promoted, couldn't keep the dog & i was getting ready to retire. i didn't want to start a new dog for less than a year a month later the officer walked up to my squad the dog tried to eat him . he tried giving the dog commands didn't matter. if they really care about you. try this test, lay 2 hamburgers on the floor. tell your dog one is his, the other is yours, see if he saves you one.

While this is the case for many dogs, it certainly isn't for all.

My late dog didn't care about anything if her family wasn't around. Tried leaving her home once in the care of a friend and she didn't wouldn't do anything for them.

She did things just because I asked her to. Honestly, she just wanted to please. She was fond of rewards, but didn't need them to work.

As far as your hamburger test, well, we could leave food on two foot high table and she'd leave it alone.

it's not a real test. it's kind of a joke, most dogs would eat both hamburgers in a second.

Mara your right, dogs do care for their owners. i just don't believe the lassie go get help, way of thinking. like the reining horse i ride. when i first started riding her, everyone said she doesn't like men, she will throw fits, no fits. now it's she loves you. No, she loves the treats and a great instructor teaching me to be fair & consistent

Kelly, i have had my k9 around abused women and children while during a search of a group home by request. kids and their mothers petted him, they liked it. dog didn't care one way or the other. got a attaboy letter from the supervisor of the home.

back on topic Another thing my dog would like me to understand, she is going to chase the barn cat no matter what lol

I read a book I think was called "how dogs think". It explained about how dogs senses work. I think it gave me a much better understanding of things that relate to how they view the world. Very very helpful. As to what my dog wished I understood. That it is ok if my world really revolves around him.

 Quote: john axe

Kelly, i have had my k9 around abused women and children while during a search of a group home by request. kids and their mothers petted him, they liked it. dog didn't care one way or the other. got a attaboy letter from the supervisor of the home.

That's NOT a therapy dog. I've seen Drift work with abused kids. I've seen her sit there quietly while abused and terrified children SOBBED and SCREAMED into her neck fur during therapy sessions. I've been there when she got HIT and still continued to work. I saw one child hold onto her so hard it had to hurt her, but she made no move to get away. That's not a dog that's in it for a pat on the head or an "atta girl."

I don't believe in the Lassie crap either, but when you see a truly gifted dog work with special needs kids, it's amazing to watch.

There are dogs that do stuff because we've trained them to do it- like the drug dogs or service K9s. There are other dogs, though, that do stuff because they WANT to do it- there isn't always a "tangible reward" available.

And, for your information, my dogs are NOT controlled and ARE allowed to think on their own. My dogs don't eat strange food - that's not something I ever taught them, they just don't do it. And since I did teach them a proper retrieve, they will bring me anything I point to without mouthing it (including food items)- this SINGLE act constitutes "controlling" my dogs and not letting them think for themselves? Because I trained them to retrieve? WTF??

You do not know my dogs, or how I live with them. Until you are here, and living in my shoes, don't you EVER criticize how I handle or care for my dogs. I have NEVER criticized your training or handling methods publically, John, and I expect the same respect.

**Moderator edit**

Post removed per Duane's request.

Sorry for the recent derailment. Back to the topic at hand:

 Quote: Mara Jessup

My school is putting together a yearly journal of student writings and I'm thinking about writing a piece that is a letter from a dog to a person

So what are a few things that you think that dogs would tell people if they had a chance?

I need to keep it geared to the average person so I don't want to get in really in depth.

 Quote: Mara Jessup

So what are a few things that you think that dogs would tell people if they had a chance?

I see this in my dogs eyes every day

"I know you are trying your best and I love ya for it"