3h ago
inWatching my neighbor's dog respond to gentle guidance made me reflect on harsh corrections from the past
The history of some breeds, like many herding dogs, is a partnership built on subtle communication and mutual trust to do a job. Harsh corrections literally rewired that genetic blueprint for cooperation into one of fear and suspicion. Modern positive methods feel less like 'new tricks' and more like finally speaking a language the dog was bred to understand for centuries. It’s not just kinder, it’s honoring the original working relationship we asked them for.