[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by gontygirl

Let me say in advance that I'm very straight forward... I am not judgemental although I do have my own way (although not unique...) of raising and respecting dogs. I don't expect all of you to agree with my opinions as I know I won't always agree with yours. I hope that when one comes to this site and asks for help that we have the courage to be honest. NOT RUDE, but truly honest. Being truthful and helpful doesn't not have anything to do with being impolite and unmannerful. If one cannot muster up the courage to be REAL in an online forum when annonimity is the reality and so many people seem to need so much help, I imagine there is nowhere in your real life where this kind of unadorned thruth has it's place... At least find your backbone and gallantry here for the sake of our prized and treasured DOGS. Shutting up now lol...

I would agree that it can take courage to be honest and I agree that forum members should be honest, even if the truth may sting. However, honesty can mean absolutely nothing to the receiver if the message is delivered in such a way that's more about the giver, than the receiver. There are a TON of people in this world who just have to be right - who have to 'educate' others via a completely alienating imperious manner. In those cases, honesty usually means very little to the person who is on the receiving end of that imperiousness.

We have people delivering messages on this forum that cover the spectrum of all styles. But yeah, in an ideal world - we would all deliver our messages honestly and respectfully.

Originally Posted by Handlewithcare

As a new person to this site (posting wise - I've actually been reading for a long time) I find the information and most posters really helpful. Sometimes bluntness is useful but the written word can make it come across as really nasty.

What I would say however, is that posts refering to forum politics (on any forum) without reference to the particular post or poster they are taking about, are THE most off putting posts ever. They really drive new people like me away. I'd rather see the instance of overly blunt posting happen than the starting of new threads just to yap about others.

Yup, I'm a newbie and probably should say that but I just want to be honest.

I'm glad you started posting ! I completely agree with that 2nd paragraph of yours and know exactly what you mean. I've seen threads such as that cause more problems than the actual thread that motivated the start of the 'yapping' thread.

Originally Posted by GuinnessStout

You asked for honest but I was going to stay quiet and be nice NOW after reading more of your expert training knowledge, and how we humans are the alpha and our dogs are below us with no emotions or morals (FYI you might want to research that some more) I am just wondering where this thread came from because it's like you are trying to force what you believe to be right or wrong onto others and now whining like a child because people do not agree with your "knowledge" so you don't feel like you fit in with the "cool kids" (BTW I did not know this forum was Jr High School) Half the replies I see from your come across so rude at times and you keep going on about how truthful and straightforward you are in one breath but the next go into the nobody knows us here and we have anonymity blah blah blah (If you have the guts to be yourself and speak your mind then why are hung up on the anonymity of being on the Internet?)

We all love our pets dearly on here and all have different views of how to train or raise our fur children so just because what works for YOU does not mean you have to force your thoughts own others because as we all know what works for one yorkie might not work for another!!

I too believe in treading gently with all of our fellow earthlings .

I totally agree that we all have such different styles and beliefs about training; I have a very tough time with the way some trainers go about their business. I'm not familiar with the OP's training style, but will have to read further.

Considering I think dogs are WAY more respectable creatures than us lowly and often morally-annoying humans, I have to say that I don't think I'm superior to my dogs just bc I'm human. Um, that is a belief created by humans, for humans. It's not a universal like, say, gravity.