Training Session

Now, in a Lincoln Journal Star article, a dog was trained to be friendly around children. I was caught slightly off guard that the author would write the article through the eyes of the dog in training. However, this point of view gave me a little perspective on a local issue. Certain dogs need to be trained to curtail aggressive behaviors. By no means am I saying that dogs are born violent, but dogs that are brought up in the wrong environment are more likely to be aggressive. I, personally, love dogs, and I have always enjoyed playing with dogs while growing up. My family always treated these dogs with respect by providing food, water, and shelter for them. However, not all dogs receive this treatment. Some dogs are abused and neglected, and this is where aggressive behaviors develop. Then, when these dogs are removed from this environment, they have learned to be distrustful of humans and are hostile toward us. This is when time, effort, and patience are used to help retrain these abused and neglected dogs and, in a way, regain their trust. Retraining is crucial in relocating an abused dog into a caring loving family. However, I have the belief that retraining would need to be seldom used if dogs were treated fairly and given the certain amount of respect they deserve. If dogs are given food, shelter, and attention, they can easily be the best friend one could ever have. The simple rule of thumb is this, if you do not believe that you have the financial capabilities to provide for a dog’s basic necessities, do not get a dog. Perhaps I have put together an incoherent rant and sound like an advocate of PETA, or, on the other hand, I have illustrated a point which could obviously be discovered by using common sense. I still hold fast to the belief that dogs should have treatment adequate to that of their label as “man’s best friend.”