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Why is it bad to teach my dog this2007-11-25 2:56:20

Hello,

I think my 1 yr old rottweiler is very smart and I have been teaching him to identify animals. He knows the word puppy, kitty, piggy and horsey. I did not see any harm in this when I say the animals name he will look for it and wag his tail and just watch it walk by or watch it on Television. Unless if I say " go play with the puppy" then he will run up to the dog. A dog trainer saw me point out a kitty to my pup and said how dangerous it is to draw attention to an animal walking by. She said that it would make him get exicted and possibly attack.

Does anyone have any reasons on why this could be bad to teach a dog? Has anyone done the same?

I am just curious of people's opnions, thanks!

Answers:

Here is the problem and it is something that no one here understood. People blamed the trainer and talked of socializing the dog. Socialization for a dog works like this. The dog is socialized ENVIRONMENTALY so that he does not exhibit any unsureness in any environment. That does not include having the dog in the park playing with strange dogs or cats or horses or bunnies. Dogs socialize within their own pack, they get to know members of their OWN family, not outsiders. Have you ever seen a pack of dogs get up and go visit another pack? This is where the problem comes in. Although you want the dog to be FAMILIAR with other species of animals, you DO NOT want the dog interacting with them because you never know. Socialization does not extend to that point. The dog has no idea what you are saying to him in English, all he knows is that your tone inflection is higher then normal when you point at a cat, he can translate that any way he wants. He may one day translate it the wrong way and you will be responsible for that translation.

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It's not bad a dog has the right to be smart

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The trainer already told you the answer to your question. How many answers do you need to realize you are doing a really stupid thing.

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If your dog remains friendly, there is no problem. After all, they are social animals, something the trainer seems to have forgotten. They like each other's company.

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I never seened the harm in this that man that told u that didnt knoe wat he was talking about if your dog likes it then keep doing it i dont think it will attack anyone LMAO well Good Luck :)

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There isnt anything wrong with this unless your dog does attack. The trainer doesnt know how your dog reacts to other people and neither do we. I've acuatly done this myself too, and i think its ok. Its not like your saying "kill the kitty" or something like that! As long as you can keep your dog under control this is ok!

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It's good and bad. It is good if you know the animal's and you know they would never hurt your dog. It's bad if if don't know any of the animal's because you don't know if they are vicious and could attack, possiably hurting your dog. Then a big law suit will follow and honey, you will be at fault beacuse No# 1 Your dog was not on a leash and #2 You allowed your dog to go up to a strange dog. Just make sure you the the animal's and it is at an area where you know it is safe. Any of the animal's could have Rabies or god forbid something else. Just be careful. Have a great day honey.

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i dont see a problem with it as long as the dog is well socialised with all animals.