A family’s dynamics have a significant effect on its canine members. For example, the dogs are stressed when family members constantly have shouting matches. This was a familiar scene when dog trainer Victoria Stilwell was called to a family with misbehaving dogs. In at least one home, she reprimanded a dog owner for abusive behavior in her presence.
Victoria often goes above and beyond to help dog owners with their problems. This means that she has to address underlying issues that affect the dogs. More often, those are issues that are related to the owner’s personal problems. As we all know well, our dogs can tell when we are upset. https://happymutt.org/study-shows-your-dog-feels-when-you-are-upset-and-in-need-of-help/
The father of this specific family, Pete, likes to scream at the dogs. He thinks that being loud will stop them from chewing items in the house. To make things worse, his wife revealed that he also has a history of kicking and punching the dogs.
Victoria was livid after Pete confirmed that he does indeed abuse his dogs. The trainer threatened to take legal action if ever she saw him doing it again. After that, she had a long conversation with the couple and their children about properly treating dogs.
The trainer made a point by making Pete taste his own medicine. Victoria raised her voice as she was speaking to the family. Pete realized that they were getting nowhere with all the shouting.
Addressing The Abusive Behavior
After Victoria made her point, she took Pete and his family to a training facility. While there, the family was introduced to a therapy dog named Carrie and her handler Kathy. In addition, a social worker named Juliet was there to give the family a lecture on how dogs can provide happiness and satisfaction to a troubled family.
During the lecture, Pete was able to open up about their previous dog, who died from lung cancer. Pete recalled that after the dog’s death, he had changed and didn’t want another dog. After opening up, he realized that he needed to give the new dogs a chance.
Victoria believes that Pete is not a bad man. He just has trouble properly expressing emotions towards dogs. After the talk and the lecture, the trainer was hopeful that Pete would correct himself and atone for what he did before.
Here is another story about a dog trainer having to deal with the owner in a drastic manner. https://excellentdogsclub.com/the-baby-or-the-dog/
Video courtesy of It’s Me or The Dog via YouTube.
