How did you learn?

I owe it all to idog. .  Honestly, I never really grew up with dogs and would never let my friends' dogs even lick me.  Then, after college I decided I wanted a dog.  I don't know what made me want it but I did (and I always felt deprived not having one as a child, now that I am an adult).  So, I started researching breeds online and in books prior to idog.  Then I either got Zoe and found idog very soon after or the other way around.  If I can find my start date on here I'd know for sure . 
 
I learned to feed Zoe better food here.  I learned about clicker training, and some more info about training in general (in addition to 2 obedience classes we have done).  I learned about RMB and Rec bones here.  I have made friends here (local and distant).  If I have a question of any sort related to dogs, here is where I come.
 
My friends say I am addited to my doggie and maybe I am... but she leads a happier and healthier life because of it .
 
I still feel I have more to learn to be a great mommy but I am a darned good mommy .

I have always been an avid reader, and I have built an extensive dog library.  But, most of my training came from observing dog behavior, watching other trainers and owners, and from the dogs themselves.  We don't spend a lot of time trying to hear what they are trying to tell us.  Like the guy this morning who was dropping his dog off at day care.  He had been in one of my classes.  Dog is really shy and does not like heavy physical play.  He thinks the tucked tail, laid back ears, and head trying to hide in the floor mean she is anxious - to play with her friends, and that she likes going "everywhere".  Unfortunately, for this girl, what's really happening is that this poor girl is terrified of all the activity of those big blubbery Labs, etc.  She gets inside the gate and crouches, urinating all over, trying to make herself as small as possible.  She would rather be anywhere on earth but there.  Her preference is to play with quieter dogs who will not bump and roll her.  To be a good owner/handler, you have to really "see" what the dog is telling you - honestly. 
And, you never stop learning.

It started with getting Shadow. I had been raised with the old school newspaper  and all that stuff. But I knew Shadow would be my forever dog, however long he lives. And I took that responsibility very seriously and still do. I was spending hours online researching his breed, training, etc. For some reason that I still haven't figured out, I would get emails from dog.com. Once, I received one about this forum. Then my learning curve went sheer vertical. I am a better dog owner because of what I have learned here. Either I learn directly from someone here, or what they post inspires me to research in yet another direction. I am a fast, voracious reader, cursed with a penchant for thinking logically. And I ascribe to the erudite members of this board, past and present. Special mention for Glenda, Mudpuppy, the Jennies, Brenda, Renee (Kennelkeeper), Papillon. And I can even learn from people I don't always agree with. That is, just because I don't agree with someone doesn't mean that they have not raised a good point or that their view is invalid.

I've learned and still learning from books, people, and dogs that have come and gone through out my life. When  I truely started getting in to learning about dogs is when my dad started taking me on hunting trips seeing how the coon dogs would go right to work it just amazed me. But I do believe we never stop learning because no two dogs are alike.

I honestly don't know where I learned that pet store puppies were bad, but my mom says that when I was 6- and begging her for a dog, she wanted to take me to the pet store in the mall to just look at the puppies, (maybe to get my mind off of my obsession...) but I wouldn't go in there. I told her (in a sweet innocent child voice) "Mommy, puppies who are there die"  She was shocked. I still want to know where I learned it.
 
I didn't really learn about good food/vet care until I had a horrific thing happen to Candy and she went to the bridge. Then I got smart and started learning. Before Daisy was even a thought in my mind (when I was still somewhat greiving over Candy) I made a promise to myself and my future dog that whoever it may be that would come into my life next would be taken a lot better care of (health and food wise).
Candy was fed Moist n Meaty and Pedegree in the end because of so many years of bad nutrition, all her teeth fell out as she aged.
 
That's why Daisy only gets rabies from now on- because I have seen first glance at what too many vaccinations can do for a dog and how fast they get sick afterwards.
 
 

I've always had a very strong connection with animals. I was a very sad neglected little kid and without going into the abuse stuff, let's just say that animals were my best friends. So I've always been very attuned to them, and watched any animal that was around to try to understand them, what they were doing, why they were doing it, what they were "saying."

My friend's say I speak fluent "dog." []

However I didn't know how to take care of a dog and my family, when I finally convinced them to let us have one, was the old rolled up newspaper type, too. At least my mother was. I have always read tons of books, so I read several dog books back then and taught my family some better ways about training dogs. I was the one who always did most of the training.

Over the years as a young adult I learned more and more about dogs, and gave much more into my natural inclination toward positive reinforcement type training. And of course letting the dogs sleep on the bed.[]

I worked in a couple different vet hospitals as a prep for getting into vet school. Alas, due to money constraints and lack of support I was never able to finish school. (I still have enough credits to graduate, 20 yrs of schooling! But my school is horrible at graduating people. That's another story.)

I didn't know much about nutrition until I came to i-dog. (And yes, it was i-dog back then, for those who don't want us to use that term.) I learn new things nearly every time I come here, if I take the time to go into something other than the general forums. Things about training, disease and symptoms, just all sorts of things that come in extremely handy and are great to know.

By no means am I done learning, either! I have lots to learn about lots of things, so I'm going to be coming back for a while!

Research + experience + common sense + a true love of dogs (really of most animals) + a desire to do the best I possibly can for my dogs.
 
This forum has helped as a support group. It also helps me to be aware of dog issues like BSL.
 
I really think that it's a never-ending process and I learn something new either from my dogs, research or other responsible owners every single day.[]

As a kid, I was always compassionate towards animals, yet never had any pets (except goldfish) since I grew up in apartments.  But, I was always the kid that was trusted to go feed other people's pets when they were away, and I always took advantage of spending time with pets belonging to friends, family, neighbors, etc.
 
Tonka was my first dog (the second for my DH, who grew up with a dachsund).  We did what we thought was best, heavy research, obedience training, socializing, keeping him indoors, twice-daily walks, etc.  Little did I know we had lots to learn.
 
A co-worker told me about Whole Dog Journal magazine, and once I started reading that, everything changed -  I became much more educated about better food, positive training, vaccines, etc.  It breaks my heart that our boy was already 2 years old by the time I got this new info -- I feel we did lots of things wrong in his early years.  But, we tried to make up for it as much as possible.  Even now, after his death, I still read the Journal, absorb all I can from other reading, and of course, take in all the great info from the excellent folks here at I-dog!
 
Somewhere along the way, because of my deep love for Tonka, I evolved into this person who has a radar for mistreated animals, wild and domestic.  He made my heart go even softer than it already was, and I am now much more committed to animal welfare.  This is just one way that he made me a better person by being in my life.

How interesting! 
 
It seems most of us have learned via IDog and/or lots of research.   A few lucky people really grew up with it, though [] 
 
I love IDog and amd so glad to have had it as a tool to learn from everyone.  It seems it really does help a huge number of dogs to have a higher quality of life.
 
Thanks guys!  I really enjoyed reading everyones posts []
 
 

ORIGINAL: janobonano

ORIGINAL: jensw
I learned about clicker training vs correction training on, of all places, a newlywed board. Dozens of people were posting, "I just started clicker-training, and it is amazing!" So I did more research into it. []

I didn't know that worked on husbands, too!! [sm=eek.gif]

 
LOL! Sure - they require slightly more sophisticated and situation-specific clicking, though.  I like to use "You're the greatest" for day-to-day situations and "mmmm, oh, yeah" for other more private activities [sm=blush.gif] [sm=wink3.gif]  Works great for rose petals down the hall AND taking out the trash. [sm=lol.gif]

I have always been a great dog owner IMO.  I didnt know about Innova or other "super premium" foods, but I did feed the best I could find and knew of...  I devoted myself completely and wholly to my Kayla even not knowing what I know now, she slept in bed with us under the covers and was my everything... was always at the vet for anything she needed... ect.   That, I think, made me a great owner.
 
I have learned so much here, and I know since starting to come here I have been here more and more, in fact, become an addict.  I love to read, love to learn and love to discuss... so I really benefit from this place. 
 
The fact that we are all here learning and sharing makes us great dog owners, IMO.  Knowledge aside, most of us just plain love the HECK out of them, and thats so important in itself.
 

I learned a lot of what not to do because of my father and my foster family.
 
I like to read and observe, so I learn as much as possible that way.
 
I've also learned a ton from idog.

I too have always had a stong connection to animals.  As a kid, we had the occasional family dog and was an inside/outside dog, (mainly outside).  I grew up in Los Angeles, so it never got very cold and in the summer had access to a large garage/laundry room.  But if I had my way the dogs would have always been inside. []

After college I got my own dog.  I got a Dal from a byb.  I knew I wanted to do something with my dog besides just having a dog, so I looked into obedience classes.  I couldn't get enough!![] Pretty soon I was talking to my obedience instructor about other things I could do with Reese and she got me into our local AKC all breed club and agility classes.  I have gotten most of my knowledge from my friends at the kennel club and agility classes.  When I found I-Dog I got a lot of info on nutrition which has been great as I am always looking for ways to improve on what I know.

I learned some through my schooling over nutrition at my jvs and talking to my vet then lots of research. Tried to tell my mom that old roy was bad food didn't listen to me and after the stinky gas I was in charge of Blue's needs. I spent the first year and half concerned over his weight, lack of intrest in his kibble, and was I doing everything correct. His coat wasn't soft and he had hard texture coat down his back.
 
I also learned all my training from my schooling and Blue has done well on it, but I so want to do my next girl though obedience so I knowing I'm doing it correct.
 
I found this site while searching for info if raw eggs were good for dogs.
 
Since I joined Blue had done better he eats all his kibble each day, coat is a whole lot better plus it's soft all over, he has put on weight, and he has a better engery level. He loves RMB's and loves getting veggies or a few fruits. My brother can't get over the changes in Blue since he moved in.
 
Heck my brother said he wouldn't mind giving his RMB's for me if I can't be there on days I give him. This is coming from a guy that had to walk out of the room when ever Blue was getting them at first, now he doesn't care.

I have always had a thing for animals, so from all my fostering, pets, books, vets, online sources, and all the collective experience here, I try to check out different views and decide what is right for me and Mack.  The ultimate sign of how good I am doing is Mack's health and well being but it sure has been a process over time.  Thanks everyone for your part in it.  Jules