What's the best dog related advice you've ever received?

[Danefied]

Some of my favorites...

Don’t name it ‘till you like it.

Be the cookie.

Training is something you do with your dog not to your dog.

When all else fails, hug the dog.

[puppydog]

Research food, read labels.

[eddieq]

If you don't want dog hair on everything, don't have a dog.

[Red.Apricot]

You're allowed to just walk away; this applies to a situation where you are too frustrated to continue, or to one where you're not comfortable.

It's your dog. Best advice ever.

[Freehold]

Not dog advice - horse advice, but it fits too: Never end on a bad note. If training (or anything similar) make sure you find something - anything good to finish up with, even if it is something super easy and already well known.

[Finkie_Mom]

Originally Posted by Danefied

Be the cookie.

Haha that's one of my favorites, too

I guess it's not really "advice," but I'm glad that I've learned that no one thing works for every dog (despite what I thought when I got Kimma as my first dog/puppy - I thought it would all be pretty straight-forward!). I'm glad that I have been able to gain experience working with different breeds/ages with different personalities and temperaments. My favorite thing is finding what motivates each dog and how they learn, and using that information to help them and their owners develop wonderful, working relationships.

[Kat09Tails]

When left to their own devices your dog will always remind you that they are in fact a dog after all.

The first person to offer you a puppy is usually the last person you should take that puppy from.

The best dog for ribbon chasing isn't always the best dog to live with

That which is not selected for is lost.

Odds are if there is a problem the solution is at the human end of that leash.

[Sit Stay]

When Quinn was around a year I was having a really tough time with her fairly recent dog reactivity. I was feeling like I'd failed her and ruined her for life - just extremely helpless and at the end of my rope. I actually cancelled a trip to the US for an English Shepherd meet-up because I was so embarrassed and scared about what she'd do. We ended up going to a wonderful obedience trainer that MafiaPrincess actually recommended for an assessment and I remember crying out of relief a few times that session. She was very to the point but at the same time comforting and knew when and why I was getting stressed or emotional. We had such a good talk that day - she pretty much said that you don't always get exactly what you want in a dog but a lot of the time you get what you need. She also said "she is what she is". That was the BIGGEST lightbulb moment for me and I frequently remind myself of it. Quinn is what she is. She'll never be a dog park dog again and I've come to terms with that. I've come to look at her reactivity a lot more realistically and am much more calm about it just by accepting the fact that Quinn is Quinn and I'll take all of her, the good and the bad, any day.

[Sit Stay]

Originally Posted by Freehold

Not dog advice - horse advice, but it fits too: Never end on a bad note. If training (or anything similar) make sure you find something - anything good to finish up with, even if it is something super easy and already well known.

Yes - such a good one!

[katielou]

Slow down and enjoy the journey.