Canine Nation

Most weeks, I like to put together something on a single topic regarding dogs or dog training.  It’s fun to explore things in depth and see where they come from, where they go, and even if we can be better or smarter about them.  I tend to be scientific in my approach to most things.  I like to break them down, see how they work, and be able to put them back together again.  But I recognize that not everyone shares my systematic approach to dogs and dog training. But something I’m seeing more and more on the Internet is a negative reaction to science and behaviour analysis by dog training professionals.  Many of these trainers actually distinguish themselves as being “non-science” based.  Their methods are pointedly described in imprecise, emotional terms like “relationship”, “energy”, or “natural.”  I can only assume that this is a way to portray these trainers and their methods as more human and “feelings” based trainers.  So when did science become a bad thing?!