Course Details
The Puppy Putty Perspective Problem - Exposing the Myth That “It’s All How You Raise Them”
It’s a well-meaning lie that arose from good intentions - the idea that dogs are not predestined to behave in certain predictable ways based on their breeds and the respective stereotypes about them. In a world where people are constantly tempted to perceive things in polarizing absolutes, it feels important to encourage members of the public to not make any sweeping assumptions about the genetics of the dogs that they see, meet, or consider adopting into their families. Those who have worked with the incredible scope of dog breeds in the world know that every dog is far more than a sample of a given breed or mix of them - understanding the incredible influence of not only the learning experiences that a dog has throughout their life but also the roles that the unique external and internal conditions play when it comes to an individual’s behavior.
Encouraging families to give dogs the benefit of the doubt in consideration of all of these complex interacting factors seems like the only right thing to do. And it is. But, the “it’s all how you raise them” mantra has accidentally created just as many problems for dogs and their families over the years, as culture has adopted the reverse extreme perspective about their dogs and the unrealistic expectations related to it accordingly. This belief that puppies are putty to simply be molded into whatever home, lifestyle, activities, expectations, and goals a family has for them regardless of their genetics has led the pet loving public and industry into a very dangerous fantasy. The idea that we can simply train all behavior in our pet dogs according to our wishes creates tremendous friction for the thousands of dogs finding themselves living as square pegs in the round holes of their modern pet habitats so far removed from their original intended conditions, and places unreasonable pressure on them to suppress their once prized natural behaviors now labeled as “bad”. “Behavior problems” are the symptoms of this cultural cognitive dissonance and friction between history and modern conditions - not inherent evidence of simply untrained dogs as we have continued to believe as a pet dog loving society.
In effect, this idea that dogs are nothing more than what we mold them to be has resulted in thousands of pet dogs being set up for failure - inadequately provided for in their lives, & misunderstood and judged for those behaviors beyond their control (often resulting in the most tragic ultimate consequences). Furthermore, families adopt the burden of responsibility as they shoulder the blame and shame for what they believe to be the results of their own failures to “raise them” correctly when things go wrong - so often never having had the chance to truly understand how to meet and provide for the dog that they had in the first place. It’s time that we introduce our industry and the general public to the whole picture of our dogs as the complete and dynamic animals they are - influenced by the complex interplay of their L.E.G.S. - their Learning, their Environment, their Genetics, and their Self just like any other species. It is time to reject the fallacy that “it’s all how you raise them” as strongly as we have the notion that a dog’s breed will predict their behavior - for everyone’s sake
About the Instructor:
Kim Brophey (she/her), CDBC, CPDT-KA, FDM, is an applied ethologist and owner of The Dog Door Behavior Center in Asheville, NC. Kim’s commitment to Family Dog Mediation® has been recognized internationally, awarded the APDT Outstanding Trainer of the Year in 2009 and the Best Dog Trainer of WNC eight years in a row. She is a member of the International Society for Applied Ethology and the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, and a certified member and past board member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Kim Brophey’s L.E.G.S.® model of integrated canine science has been endorsed by prominent canine scientists such as Raymond Coppinger and embraced by reputable academics and dog trainers worldwide. From her applied ethology content in Michael Shikashio’s Aggression in Dogs Master Course to her market-disrupting L.E.G.S.® Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediation® Course, Kim’s work is a celebrated contribution to the field. Her groundbreaking sold-out first edition book, MEET YOUR DOG, TED talk, Beyond The Operant (BTO) collaborative, numerous public speaking venues at institutions & conferences around the world, and countless radio and podcast features have made profound waves throughout the dog behavior world as well as the general public. Kim continues to build bridges and invite others to contribute to a new conversation about dogs- one that challenges us to redefine how we perceive, talk about, and treat our canine companions as a society.
