The Path of Most Resisitance
No one goes to the breeder, shelter, or rescue and says, "You know what? Give me a dog with a lot of issues. Give me the most fearful, anxious, aggressive, reactive dog you have. I've got nothing but time and money." No one does that. And yet, here we are trying to help our dogs with issues. As someone living with such a dog, I see you.
What's it like to walk this path of most resistance? First, you have to battle the gauntlet of well-intentioned bad advice from family, neighbors, and TV. While nodding and smiling, you slay your way through the internet in search of reputable professional dog trainers.
After wrapping your head around what the professional dog trainer has told you, you now have to change your own behavior, routine, and home environment to help your dog improve. You do all of this while simultaneously trying to convince family and friends to also change.
And this is just the beginning. Practice practice practice. Hundreds of hours spent on management and behavior modification. You may even need further help from a veterinary behaviorist.
You miss events because your dog cannot be left alone, or because you are tired of explaining why taking your dog to a dog park next to a bar sets your dog up to fail. You feel judged, isolated, and exhausted. And yet, you keep going.
Because on this path of most resistance are glimmers of hope. My dog was calm while home alone for five minutes today! My dog looked at another dog, didn't bark, and looked at me! My dog didn't try to flee when a car backfired!
There are also stumbling blocks on this path. As your dog improves, others become lax because they think your dog is "cured." They invite a new dog into your dog's playgroup without telling you. Next thing you know, you're breaking up a dog fight. (This has happened to me twice.) Neighbors let their off-leash dog wander into your yard. Friends reach to pet your dog while he's chewing on a bone.
Life happens, and it can leave you feeling utterly defeated. As I slay my way through this path of most resistance, I see you through the thick forest. Let's make a human chain and lift each other up, lining this path with support and encouragement. When you see someone leaning in on their path of most resistance, share a kind word and ask them what you can do to help.