The language of dominance and submission

ORIGINAL: Angelique

Well, Mr. Dodman has his own set of critics. Most of the negative remarks I've read refer to his over use of drugs to deal with behavioral and/or social problems. 

Your points regarding whether or not a dog may be beyond redemption or is simply displaying average correctable problems are valid. However, how "bad" a dog's behavior has become matters little if the owners are simply tired of dealing with it and have run out of options.

I agree with you that it is the owners who determine how much they can live with, or do.  That's out of our control as trainers and behaviorists.  Sad, but true.
As to the criticisms of Dodman, I don't disagree, but I would submit that, just as humans suffer from organic brain dysfunction that can be helped by the use of medication, I think that dogs may have similar problems.  Even with humans, it is what "society" can live with that determines if the aberrant behavior is severe enough to medicate...
But, if you have ever seen the night into day result when someone with bipolar disorder is first given lithium, you know there's often something organic going on that responded to the chemical treatement.  I am not so quick to criticize, since I've seen him get results with dogs that were in serious trouble, one of which used to come to our grooming salon, when I was working for a friend of mine.  Night and day.  And, that dog is still in his original home and now enjoying life out and about with his dogmom.

I agree that Mother Earth is no weakling, but humans do her great disrespect, and it wouldn't surprise me to see her respond with a great big "Oh yeah....!!!!" and start all over again without us pesky little turds dumping on her all the time. []