He’s Just Doing His Job!

I’m not sure how many times I’ve heard an owner attempt to excuse bad behavior with that line. Who wrote this job description? Are you saying that it’s your dog’s job to act in an indiscriminately aggressive manner without provocation? That you want your dog to threaten – or even bite – innocent passers-by, children, old people, guests in your home, and the guy you called to repair the leaking faucet?

Is this your expectation for your dog’s behavior? Or are you simply restating the obvious – that without appropriate training, leadership, and advocacy, your dog is is free to make behavioral choices that could jeopardize his own well-being and the safety of innocent people? Do you think animal control will find the argument persuasive? How about your insurance carrier? Or the parents of the kid that your dog just bit for no good reason?

One of the most humane and loving things you can do for your dog, right up there with food, water, and shelter, is effective training and socialization.