[nagdu] Regarding Recent Messages

[Debby Phillips]

This is my last time to write on this, but I say again, leash 
corrections do not equate to "yanking" our dogs.  I don't think 
any of us who use leash corrections view that as our sole way of 
interacting with our dogs.  If it were, I doubt that we would be 
altogether successful as teams.  Just like children, dogs need 
boundaries, and they need to know what those boundaries are.  
Dogs are pack animals, they need to know where they stand in the 
pack.  If my dog responds to verbal commands, then that is 
awesome, and I'm happy, she's happy and we go on our way.  But if 
she doesn't respond to verbal commands, then she needs to know 
that I'm serious about what I've commanded.  We also have times 
of fun and play, and times (because I have a fenced yard) that 
she gets to run free with my retired guide.  Just because we 
don't always use "positive" reenforcement doesn't mean that we 
don't love and care for our dogs.  And to say that it's harsh to 
use corrections is just plain wrong.  Now I'll go lurk under my 
rock.    Debby and Neena