I don't understand why...

DPU

Truley

As much as people try, regular people, trainers, fosters, rescues and shelters, there is no way we are going to save them all. It is just not possible.

Sure you can and below is the reward for the little effort needed by everyone.  Spiritsdog, a collage of the "few" I have rescued, rehabbed, and placed in the past couple of years.  Prior to that, I did not have a camera.  Do you want to know their names?

spiritdogs

  But, my point was that the really tough dogs require more time and expertise than should be allotted by rescues if they must allow readily adoptable dogs to be PTS at the shelter for space while they tend to the tough dogs.  kpwlee's post addressed the point quite nicely, and more eloquently than I.

I've been reading from the sidelines but feel compelled to disagree with you on this one.  While it would be nice if all rescues focused on quantity and not other things, I think that's extremely unrealistic.  As kpwlee said, everyone who is rescuing deserves respect, even if you don't agree with their methods or choices.  I feel resentful when I read breed-specific rescuers venting on boards about getting calls from shelters who think they have that particular breed and then it's not "BC enough", etc.  I also get resentful that the SPCA people can come in and pick and choose the "easy" dogs from our shelter and take them off to their taj mahal of facilities while others are left behind in the stinking, concrete, double decker kennels at the less than perfect shelter where I volunteer.  It must be nice to be able to pick and choose and not have to stick around for the cull day.  But, each person and rescue does what they can, how they can, when they can and none is better or more deserving of praise or respect than the other.  A person or rescue who specializes in the "tough dogs" might be reaching out to a dog who is so traumatized by its experiences that it's become a "tough dog" but with the right amount of care, peace, and training could become a wonderful working dog, therapy dog, service dog or great pet.  If that's what their heart is called to do, no judgment of that calling is appropriate.  A life saved is a life saved, no one has the right to dictate which ones are worthy of saving ("readily adoptable dogs";) vs. those that aren't ("tough dogs";). 

Moderator request...READ THIS PLEASE.

I think we've indulged the OT long enough...SO...THIS thread will be for the following...

"the first question that many people ask is "How do I correct (name the bad behavior).  Or, how do I stop my dog from (name the bad behavior).JMHO, but I wish they would ask how they should train the dog to do things right!!! "

If your post DOES NOT pertain to the above...START A NEW THREAD. Further OT's will be edited...which will count towards your strikes.

The topic is fine for discussion...in the proper area of the forum...and in a SEPARATE thread.

Thanks.

*content removed, OT*

I think maybe I'm a PollyAnna but I don't mind helping people work through stuff - even if I  know very well they caused it!  I was just counseling a lady today who had a dog who was killing chickens.  She brought the dog for testing on sheep and walked around with her on a tight leash (my ducks free range).  I forgot to take my long line out and was thinking, "Oh, no, this is going to be interesting!"  

Usually chicken killers have no self control, and it's a battle just getting their attention at first, and I use the leash to keep he choices limited.  So I fully expected to have to catch her immediately  - but it was a long way to the house and what was the worst that would happen - she wasn't even looking at the sheep, anyway.

It turned out she was a fully trained dog many years ago, and the chicken killing was just out of frustration, from the way this dog had been managed - allowed to see the chickens for a year, but no working at all, doing anything but running the fenceline.

I let her work the ducks, and showed her owner how she wouldn't touch one even when I pushed them right into her.  I explained how the instincts work and that she needed to either make the dog more a part of her life, or do more working training with her, to let her vent some steam.

As I said before, it might be easier for me because I am not taking money for this (no expectations to live up to), and if the owner just can't or won't put the effort in, I can do what every trainer itches to do anyway - get the dog away from the owner and handle everything myself!  Seeing dogs make that big turnaround in that circumstance, really boosts my confidence level when I'm discussing things - I am pretty sure that I'm right when I've looked at and handled a dog in person. 

If I start getting the excuses and "buts" it doesn't bother me.  Sure, let me know how all that works out for you.  Here's my card, you know, in case you need it down the road - for anything.

rwbeagles

Moderator request...READ THIS PLEASE.

I think we've indulged the OT long enough...SO...THIS thread will be for the following...

"the first question that many people ask is "How do I correct (name the bad behavior).  Or, how do I stop my dog from (name the bad behavior).JMHO, but I wish they would ask how they should train the dog to do things right!!! "

If your post DOES NOT pertain to the above...START A NEW THREAD. Further OT's will be edited...which will count towards your strikes.

The topic is fine for discussion...in the proper area of the forum...and in a SEPARATE thread.

Thanks.

Imagine, 200+ posts in response to this"

All I essentially said was what bothered me, what I wished people would do instead, and how I thought their ignorance affected their dogs, who I feel really badly for sometimes, because they DO suffer sometimes.  I NEVER said that I didn't treat each client with respect and dignity in my classes, nor did I say that I didn't do my best to help them.  All I really said here was that I don't like that people seem to want to scold the dog before they train the dog.  I am dumbfounded that  people took so much pleasure in bashing me that they seem to have forgotten the real original topic. You can be the best trainer in the world and the client will abandon your methods, or prefer to do something else.  And, I agree with Becca that you hand them your card on the way out...but I still think it's healthy to have a rant now and then.  In fact, I think it was one of the posters here who actually suggested it to someone else on another thread.  Imagine that.