Positively | Victoria Stilwell | Forum

Thanks for consideration of other ways of looking at this issue. All viewpoints have validity, but I think we need to take whatever action we can to save as many dogs as possible and eliminate the worst of intentional abuse and criminal neglect. So I think we should discuss some of the points raised...

I just did a "dogpile" search for "pictures of prong collar injuries" and also for shock, and found several websites, blogs, and facebook pages with pictures of injuries allegedly caused by these tools, but in all cases they were clearly misused, and the injuries were really not ...

OK, I don't want to argue about this, but I'd like to make a few more points before I shut up and go away. I found the prong collar ineffective, and I've never used a shock collar, I would actively oppose any attempt to have them banned. There are already laws against animal abuse, but the problem i...

I do wish you could obtain at least a couple of convincing photos and other documentation about the details of exactly what caused the injuries. I agree that prong collars and shock collars can be dangerous in the wrong hands, just like guns, knives, cars, and baseball bats. Any tool can be abused, ...

The second photo of shock collar injuries seems unrealistic in the light of the amount of energy that is actually supplied by quality, modern, shock collars. The Wiki asserts that no physical injury has been reported, at least with such collars and correct use. If you have verifiable evidence otherw...

What I am saying is that wolf studies have less variables and it may be easier to make observations and draw conclusions. Even so, the changes as expressed by L. David Mech indicate that the environment of wolves has a huge impact on their behavior. The presence of the observers also affects what is...

Thanks for the information and discussion. It seems like a well-written book, and I have placed a request for it at my local library, so I should be able to start reading it soon. I am interested in learning why he would dispute what I wrote in my last quote, but that was based on my interpretations...

just to clarify - i think 'dominance theory' IS based on the (incorrect) assertion that alpha is achieved by aggression etc. but john goes to great lengths to explain why this is not really the case. he explains "true alpha" is NOT achieved by aggression and fighting, and observations of ...

I think Mech is saying that there may be a "pecking order" in such situations and the term "alpha" may be applied to the top ranking individual. But most dogs are naturally submissive and they actively seek leadership, and if the human assumes this role, there may be little or no...

I found several web pages with more information about John Bradshaw, and his book "Dog Sense". Here is a pretty good Q&A: http://www.thebark.com/content/qa-dog-sense-author-john-bradshaw He mentions a "proto-dog" as an intermediary step from wolf to dog, and that dogs are uni...

note, the North American Timber Wolf and the domestic dog aren't related. John covers that in the book too and why that is relevant. “The domestic dog is an extremely close relative of the gray wolf, differing from it by at most 0.2% of mtDNA sequence.... In comparison, the gray wolf differs from i...

Buddy sure looks healthy to me! Such a happy, friendly-looking dog! Sure a Lab can be 90+ lb and be healthy. Mastiffs are more like 150-200 lb. Maybe Nettle thought you said 90 kG. Now that's a big dog!

http://www.youtube.com/user/joby1#p/u/18/4dEcIif5q8E This seems to be not so much dominance as very good traing, which includes a well-defined "bite and hold" while ignoring the target's attempts to placate the dog or resist the attack. Dogs such as this have been bred for a high level of...

My dog sometimes eats poison ivy, so kisses from him might not be a good idea. Now I'm thinking of the song which says, "Gonna need an ocean of Calomine Lotion!". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Kh555NjxnU

Such hatred and dismissal of the "other" dog "trainer" is disturbing when it comes from those who embrace a gentle and "positive" way of dealing with dog behavior. People deserve respect, and threats of violence, even when (hopefully) in jest, is not funny and engenders...