Are there bad dogs?

Sometimes owners complain about “bad” dogs. Like, no luck with the pet. “Defective”. But are there bad dogs and where do they come from?

Photo: flickr.com

Of course, there are (and not uncommonly) dogs that exhibit “problem” behavior. And it happens that there are genetic prerequisites for behavioral problems, that is, such behavior is innate. But this is not so common, and often such problems can be compensated to a certain extent. 

But more often than not, “bad” behavior is an acquired thing.

Where do bad dogs come from?

Sometimes the owners and “sympathizers” call the cause of “badness” “spoiled” or “dominant”, but “spoiled” and “dominant” dogs in fact turn out to be unhappy and / or misunderstood.

The bad habits that label a dog as “bad” most often have nothing to do with the “badness” of the dog. They usually have one (or more) of the following causes:

• Health problems. For example, it is not uncommon for aggression to be the result of a dog being in pain and, consequently, being annoyed by everything around it.
• Insufficient socialization dogs. For example, a dog may attack other dogs simply because it does not know how to communicate with them, as it has simply been deprived of the appropriate experience.
• Negative experiences in the past. For example, many dogs are afraid to even go into a veterinary clinic where they have experienced unpleasant procedures.
• Insufficient training. Dogs are not born with knowledge of the set of rules for living in human society, and each owner has his own rules. And before you demand that your dog meet your criteria, it must be trained in the right skills. Even if you take a puppy of a “smart” breed.
• Involuntary Learning. Sometimes people, without realizing it, instill bad habits in the dog with their own hands. 
• Unwanted Species Behavior. It is perfectly normal for a dog to bark and chase cats and birds, but in a modern city, this behavior is not always appropriate. Therefore, the owner’s task is not to blame the pet for “barking from morning to night”, but to work on the problem and train the four-legged friend to “keep himself in his paws”.

That is, it is not at all that the dog is “bad”.

Photo: pixabay.com

So are there bad dogs?

There are no bad dogs. But there are those with whom it is difficult for a particular owner.

However, these dogs have a huge plus. They are excellent teachers. And often, looking back on the years we spent in their company, we are surprised how much the “bad dogs” taught us. Patience, perseverance, ingenuity, the ability to understand others and take care of them, the ability to perceive difficulties with humor …

And perhaps your “bad” dog came into your life in order to give you something very important?