Lately Iโve been thinking about hypocrisy in dog training and we discussed it deeply in our latest community call on Skool. If you missed it, here is the link to the recording:
Was such a great topic- felt like a community podcast. Thank you everyone who showed up! ๐ค
Honestly, think about it...we ask dogs for incredible levels of self-control:
โHold your down stay.โ
โDonโt react.โ
โIgnore distractions.โ
โBe calm.โ
โWait.โ
Meanwhile many humans canโt sit still for 4 minutes without checking their phone.
Canโt tolerate boredom.
Canโt delay gratification.
Canโt regulate frustration in traffic.
Canโt stay calm when emotionally triggered.
Canโt resist snacks, scrolling, dopamine hits, or constant stimulation.
Yet we expect another species to master impulse control while we struggle with it ourselves.
Thatโs humbling.
Iโm not saying donโt train dogs. Of course we should help dogs build regulation and resilience. But maybe part of ethical dog training is also asking:
โHow developed is MY nervous system?โ
โHow much pressure do I place on my dog compared to myself?โ
โAm I teaching regulationโฆ or demanding suppression?โ
Sometimes I think the best dog trainers are the people willing to train their own humanity too.
Dogs may actually be inviting us into deeper practice:
Patience. Presence. Simplicity. Emotional regulation. Tolerance for stillness. Nervous system regulation.
Not perfection. Practice.
Let me know what you think,
Much love, Birdy ๐