Arnold - Through a Dogs Eyes

As the founder and executive director of Canine Assistants, a nonprofit service-dog school based just north of Atlanta, I have spent the past twenty years working with dogs and I have become convinced they are the most giving of all creatures. There is no question that dogs give their trust, strength, affection, and adoration to the people they love. I have witnessed many dog-made miracles in my work, and with each day I find more to love about these amazing animals.

Over time, I have learned a tremendous amount about how dogs perceive the world. I have also come to hold very strong convictions about how they should be treatedalways with kindness and respect. I am deeply concerned and disappointed with the dog-management methods that have recently gained popularity. Training methodologies, once headed in the direction of kindness and respect, have largely reversed course over the past several years. It is common now to hear people speak of the supposed need to dominate and become physically controlling alpha types when handling dogs. Also making a comeback, sadly, are certain types of collars that cause dogs pain and discomfort, such as shock collars and choke chains. What happened here? I may never fully understand what caused the shift, but there is one thing I do understand: This cruelty must be stopped.

This book replicates, to a large extent, my journey of discovery about dogs. So many of the things that I did wrong with my dogs early in my career happened because I simply did not know better. I saw forceful methods being used with dogs all around me. I was told that in order to be good with dogs you had to be tough with them. Now I know how wrong this is and why it is so wrong. I want all dog owners to know what I have learned. Knowledge and understanding will lead you to a far kinder way of handling your dog and a much happier life for both of you.

Throughout this book, I will be making assertions about dogs with which a few scientists may disagree. For example, some scientists do not yet feel there is conclusive evidence that dogs have thoughts or emotions. While it may be difficult to prove such a thing scientifically, to those who live with dogs, these assertions are a given. This book is directed toward those of us who love dogs and is not intended to be fuel for scientific debate, so I am going to subscribe to a theory best summed up by an old Southernism: If it waddles like a duck and quacks like a duck, it probably aint a pigeon.

Those who endorse differing methodologies and whose economic interests will be threatened by my approach may well direct their wrath my way, but that will not deter me. Dogs manage to maintain an unwavering trust that human beings are good despite our occasional behavior to the contrary. It is long past time for us to honor their trust.