This picture might make for a funny meme, but the message behind it is an important one.
It is important to have a well-trained dog, I will be the first to tell you that! But there is a big difference between a well-trained dog and a "perfect" dog. Dog's are not robots and when we strive too much for perfection we can lose sight of our dog along the way.
I can't tell you how many times I am asked how to correct a behavior, when the answer inside my mind is "why?" Now of course for many things, even most of them, training is the solution and problem behaviors should be eliminated, but sometimes I feel people want to train the dog right out of their dog! How do I get my dog to stop sniffing on a walk? How do I get my dog to stop barking? How do I get my dog to stop digging? How do I get it so my dog listens to me every time, all the time, every second of the day - how do I get them to OBEY?
Dogs sniff. Dogs bark. Dogs love to smell disgusting things. Dogs dig and roll and root and run. Dogs get muddy. Dogs have good days. Dogs have bad days. Dogs are DOGS - not robots. Honestly, it breaks my heart to see a dog who isn't allowed to be a dog.
"stop that!"
"come here!"
"don't chew that!"
"leave that! Stop sniffing that!"
"don't LOOK at that"
"Stop!"
"No"
"NO!"
To watch some poor dog who is just trying to enjoy a moment to roll on the grass instead of marching at their owners side endlessly be berated and chastised for their "misbehavior" or their "disrespect" is a tough thing to watch.
One of the most frustratingly pervasive myths in the dog training world is that your dog is in a constant struggle with you for "dominance". That a dog's misbehaviors are personal attacks on us - our dog's way of being dominant over us, seeking a higher status in their never-ending quest for world domination, or even a vindictive ploy to get back at us for something.
The truth of the matter is dogs may be smart but they are still just dogs, it is in fact their most admirable quality. I love them BECAUSE they don't spend their lives contemplating how to rule the world. Most dog behavior problems having nothing to do with status but are the result of a dog who is confused, frustrated or fearful.
I don't mean to say your dogs should run wild, I am a dog trainer after all. Anyone who has met my border collie knows EXACTLY what an impeccably trained dog looks like. Ready to work pretty much any time, laser beam focus and response, reliable, dependent and yes, obedient. But she also has been known to steal my snack when I turn my back and hop up onto the counter to take her toys out of "toy jail" when I am not looking. It is that persistence and willful spirit that makes her such a fun dog to live with and I would rather loose ALL of my snacks than to "train out" the spirit from my little dog.
Training your dog broadens their life and opens up a world of oppurtunities, it provides structure that gives you the control you need to keep them safe and happy, it enhances the human animal bond and it is a BEAUTIFUL thing. But there is such thing as too much of a good thing, and balance is good for us all. There are many behavior problems that are critical to resolve, there are many behaviors that a dog MUST be conditioned to respond to promptly (recall!) and there are many situations where it is important that your dog listens the FIRST time - but you can train a dog to do all of those things and still enjoy their pranks and foolishness, where they can have a chance to say "no thanks" sometimes and that is ok.
Life is short - remember to ENJOY your dog.
One day the little annoying things they do that drive you crazy will be a memory you would give anything to experience just one more time.