Unknowingly conditioning behaviors.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEFsKGQ9FMI

"Dog training" goes way above potty and obedience training (motor and mechanical skills; training the mental aspect of the dog).

The problem is, most people stop there... or don't even make the effort to reach this point at all.

Puppies ("baby dogs" and blank slates) and dogs *do not come to us pre-programmed.*

For some reason, there's this common level of expectation that our puppies and dogs should "know how to....x, y, and z", and "know not to..... x, y, and z."

Most the behaviors we're struggling with were conditioned by us *unknowingly*.

By what we never made the effort to learn ourselves.

Not understanding timing, how to communicate clearly and effectively, state of mind, canine needs (instinctual, individual, breed-specific), etc.

As caretakers, *we are responsible for their development.*

For equipping them with what they need to know to navigate and understand the world they're living in. The "rules". Boundaries. What's okay vs. not okay.

We're also responsible for their emotional and physical development. Self and world perceptions. Filters.

Though, most people don't understand how to communicate with their dogs ***effectively***; and we can't teach what we want to teach if we don't have this understanding. Oftentimes, we're teaching what we don't want because we don't have this understanding.

What we don't learn, we can't teach.

What we don't know, we can't apply.

WE are the difference between "having a dog" and *raising one*.

WE are the difference between a wild, unruly, unstable, crazy dog and a fulfilled, balanced, stable, and regulated one.

"Dog training" is far more about equipping, empowering, and educating the human end of the leash.

....the more we know, the better we can do.