Ausshole Academy

 PET PEEVES

Owning a dog, and belonging to various social media sites, and groups on said sites, brings up the question of personal pet peeves.

There is a lot of knowledge out there on the big wide web, there is also a lot of know it alls.  I have a slight problem with know it alls.  I don't know everything, but I am knowledgeable enough to admit that.  This blog is not supposed to be a last stop for information.  It is supposed to lead you to information you might wish to research further.  

As the MOTTO says, on the very first page of this blog.  

"NOT ALL DOGS ARE THE SAME."

The other day someone asked about laser lights as a toy for their pup, I watched the conversation go from one end to the other.  Several were quoting various studies done with laser lights, several were handing out second hand information, such as "my friend used a laser light with his dog and the dog developed issues, so don't use them on your dog."  There were others saying their dogs loved them.  The fight was on.  

I generally just speak up with my Motto, but a lot of times I am ignored.  Several times I am literally defending my position to someone who will not budge an inch from what they read in a so called study.

Saying things like well 9 out of 15 dogs reacted badly to it, so its bad for all dogs.  Rather than seeing that 9 out of 15 dogs, reacted badly to it, but  6 dogs didn't, so maybe its bad for some dogs and some dogs it doesn't bother. 

This also applies to the Prong Collar issue, and other training methods.  Some are downright rude about it.  Thing is those who are so against said training tools, have never used them, have never actually been trained to use them, and have never taken the time to research all points of view.  I have used a prong collar, I've had dogs that absolutely love them, I have had dogs that totally hate them.  Again "NO DOG IS THE SAME."  

My biggest problem and pet peeve are the people who spout studies, done on a small amount of dogs.  Studies are great, don't get me wrong, but they are not the final say so.  People tend to read the headline, and not the study, and go by what the headline says.  "LASERS BAD FOR DOGS."  They automatically think that study is the end of discussion.  If more people would read the whole study, they would find the headline is an attention grabber, that is all.  Read the study and learn that 6 out of 10 dogs reacted badly to the laser.  It does put a different light on the entire subject.  

ALSO GOOGLE IS NOT THE ONLY INFORMATION SITE AROUND.  While yes google does give alot of good information, they also post the results that earn them money first.  So try this, google something and then use another search engine to search same thing.  Or maybe do some paper research and look something up at the library, you will be surprised at the information still in books.  

With the internet these days, everyone is a expert.  When it comes to any subject, not just dogs and training of dogs, do yourself a favor.  Do your own research.