“We’ve always done it this way.”

When working with dogs there are behavior changes that I look for to confirm when things are right. There are also behavior changes that I look for to provide assistance, guidance or correction. All of this comes from regular consistent training. Scenario based training in fact. Training to simulate or recreate real life experiences. Training with other handlers held in high regard among their peers. Handlers that will too, humbly take and honorable enough to give honest critique even during successful sessions for even the most minor corrections that can be made. This is hard work. Hard to be humble. Hard to be honest. Hard to set aside ego. Hard to set aside emotions. The ONLY way to be successful though. Life is no different. If we continue down the road, blind to the behavior changes. Unable to humble ourselves to seek help. Unable to be honest with others let alone ourselves. With ego and emotion that stops us from even realizing our harmful ways. The only thing we have left to keep us going is, "We've always done it this way." When the nose height changes, the leash tension goes slack, the ear position moves rearward listening for guidance, the direction of travel is lost, the tail position is dropping, something needs to be done. Walking around waiting for someone else doesn't find the missing child. Out for a walk with your dog doesn't find the "bad guy". Doing things the same way we've always done it, does noone any good. If theres guidance to give, humbly, honestly, and without emotion, give it. If there's a correction to be made, make it immediately without emotion. If the nose height is acceptable. If the leash tension remains consistent. If the direction of travel is consistent. If the tail position is consistent with previous successful situations. Give encouragement to reinforce what you want. Never, never, never accept "We've always done it this way."