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I usually avoid dog content on Instagram unless it’s things my friends post about, but now that I have a puppy the algorithm keeps feeding me puppy content and especially “dog trainer” puppy content.

I can’t handle all the misinformation and more importantly, the inappropriate expectations. It’s all for stupid reasons like comments and views and likes at the expense of the puppy. Baby puppies do not need to, nor should they, know 20 cues and tricks at 16 weeks. Baby puppies have no business being asked to make inappropriately difficult self control decisions. And baby puppies most definitely should not be expected to have the mental and physical capacity to perform adult dog behaviors at home or in public.

Baby puppies need the time and space to be babies and explore and learn about the world in a safe and low pressure way. Of course you’re going to be doing training at home and in the world, but most of that is teaching them your general rules and expectations and building solid foundations for life and sport skills. That’s already a lot to have on both of your plates.

While I and other dog people who get it look at these videos and roll our eyes, pet owners and people getting started in sports see these things and get super down on themselves for failing their puppies or not doing enough. They don’t know that this isn’t normal, appropriate, or something to aspire to. That pressure either makes people discouraged and they shut down or it makes them push their puppy way too hard and way too fast in an effort to keep up. It hurts everyone.

I didn’t want to put random people I don’t know on blast, so I made my own video of a mild version of what I’m describing.

What does this tell you about my puppy and us as a team?

While it looks like my puppy is doing complex “formal obedience” behaviors, he doesn’t actually know any of these skills or what he’s doing. All this video shows is that he knows how to follow a food lure and that he can eat cheese while walking. On my end, it shows that I know how to lure a dog into different positions. A baby puppy doesn’t have the mental or physical capacity to do a formal heel or chain multiple behaviors together and that’s normal.

If we kept this stuff up long term I might create an aversion to the signs/sport picture because the dog associates it with too much pressure. I’ll definitely create a serious lack of independence in my behaviors and difficulty fading out the food lure. And I’ll 100% create a lot of sloppy heeling on the dog’s part and poor handling on mine. Like most of these videos, “impressive” in the short term but digging a very deep hole that will get in the way of future long term success.

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we have a new nephew and we are in love with him but it has also (instead of triggering baby fever) worsened the puppy fever….

we want a big mass of wrinkles sooo badly now

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never soeak again

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Alarm cock is this anything

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littleboyyyyy

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ball pit baby

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Taylor and her unicorn

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if you don't currently have a pet, feel free to answer with any previous pets in mind

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I don't think that's how it's supposed to work

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🔥 A gorgeous little puma cub checking out a wildlife cam 🔥

(Source)

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💚

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i love her 🥺

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The high ALP I mentioned that Taylor has….is just a normal senior thing. The ultrasound vet said every one of her organs looks normal and perfect and that even if it goes into the thousands range she isn’t worried unless Taylor starts acting sick. She even said she’d recommend we not refill the denamarin and just let it run out because it doesn’t do much for the benign ALP levels.

Did I mention I also freaked out and thought Taylor had DM because she had…normal senior tremors? Specially when she’s excited/stressed/tired? My vet had to talk me down from the ledge with that too lmao

It’s just so weird having a senior dog with (knock on wood) no health issues that is just showing normal signs of aging. I’m used to either them just acting tired and no other signs of aging until they drop, OR getting chronic health issues early into senior hood. Having a senior dog that has all the energy of a four year old but has these quirks I just need to warn people are normal is weird

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LGBT (labrador, greyhound, beagle, terrier)

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The little man is learning how to wear a harness and jacket.

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Alfie is home and he is an absolute joy - bringing lots of laughter back to our lives 💙

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He's home!