Comments on: And another thing… Do You Suffer from “Alpha Anxiety”? http://www.boulderdog.net/2009/08/16/and-another-thing-do-you-suffer-from-alpha-anxiety/ For the love of dogs and their people Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:53:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Natalie http://www.boulderdog.net/2009/08/16/and-another-thing-do-you-suffer-from-alpha-anxiety/#comment-1437 Natalie Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:23:41 +0000 http://www.boulderdog.net/?p=714#comment-1437 What I really wish is for someone like Neil Sattin to get his own TV show on Natural Dog Training! Now that would be a fantastic alternative, especially since he doesn't seem to tout "quick fixes." There's always the other guy, Lee Kelley, but he doesn't seem to be as approachable as Sattin. He seems to be more interested in theory and sharing how knowledgeable he is, and also too focused on the technical, rather than the practical. What I really wish is for someone like Neil Sattin to get his own TV show on Natural Dog Training! Now that would be a fantastic alternative, especially since he doesn’t seem to tout “quick fixes.” There’s always the other guy, Lee Kelley, but he doesn’t seem to be as approachable as Sattin. He seems to be more interested in theory and sharing how knowledgeable he is, and also too focused on the technical, rather than the practical.

]]> By: Deborah Flick http://www.boulderdog.net/2009/08/16/and-another-thing-do-you-suffer-from-alpha-anxiety/#comment-1141 Deborah Flick Sun, 16 May 2010 05:47:36 +0000 http://www.boulderdog.net/?p=714#comment-1141 Hi Natalie I know VS isn't for everyone. I don't always agree with her either and find the need for reality TV to find a quick fix annoying. Nonetheless, I do think her message about dogs and dog training is a much needed antidote to CM. Thanks for writing and I'm glad you're enjoying the blog! Hi Natalie

I know VS isn’t for everyone. I don’t always agree with her either and find the need for reality TV to find a quick fix annoying. Nonetheless, I do think her message about dogs and dog training is a much needed antidote to CM.

Thanks for writing and I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog!

]]> By: Natalie http://www.boulderdog.net/2009/08/16/and-another-thing-do-you-suffer-from-alpha-anxiety/#comment-1125 Natalie Sat, 15 May 2010 08:11:35 +0000 http://www.boulderdog.net/?p=714#comment-1125 Hmm, is it just me, or is Ms. Stillwell of IMOTD extraordinarily annoying? Her voice, her outfits, her fanny pack, her voice, her "know-it-all" attitude, her voice, her voice, etc. Don't get me wrong here. I'm as anti-Milan as the rest of 'em. And I certainly wouldn't do any better hosting the show. I suppose the nature of these quick-fix reality tv shows is to amaze the viewer with the expertise of the trainer. But for me, I don't even think that +R is the "perfect" solution. Yes, it's better than the Monks and the Milans, but why should we think that we've reached the apex of dog training skills? 15,000 yrs after we started working with canines and now, in 2010, we suddenly think we've got it right? Deborah, I'm really enjoying reading your blog. And I've tried my own version of your methods on my own dog, with the result of much fun, much pride on my part, and a heart-warmingly squinty-eyed, smiling Bella! Does anyone else's pup out there squint when they're happy? :) What turns me off is your 100% support of IMOTD. Stilwell certainly is moving in the right direction, but she's not Mother Theresa. I get that watching her is better than CM, but why even watch that show? The point of +R training, for me, is that it's a process for both myself and Bella. I'm constantly thanking her for letting me know that my questions/requests do not make sense to her, that I need to try some other method. And then we get to celebrate our successes together. The way that Stilwell puts it seems to be that if you just do what SHE does, +R works. Yes, I get that it's mostly the fault of the producers and editing, but still. It annoys me to no end that this show makes Victoria's word "holy." Thanks for letting me rant. Hmm, is it just me, or is Ms. Stillwell of IMOTD extraordinarily annoying?

Her voice, her outfits, her fanny pack, her voice, her “know-it-all” attitude, her voice, her voice, etc.

Don’t get me wrong here. I’m as anti-Milan as the rest of ‘em. And I certainly wouldn’t do any better hosting the show. I suppose the nature of these quick-fix reality tv shows is to amaze the viewer with the expertise of the trainer. But for me, I don’t even think that +R is the “perfect” solution. Yes, it’s better than the Monks and the Milans, but why should we think that we’ve reached the apex of dog training skills? 15,000 yrs after we started working with canines and now, in 2010, we suddenly think we’ve got it right?

Deborah, I’m really enjoying reading your blog. And I’ve tried my own version of your methods on my own dog, with the result of much fun, much pride on my part, and a heart-warmingly squinty-eyed, smiling Bella! Does anyone else’s pup out there squint when they’re happy? :) What turns me off is your 100% support of IMOTD. Stilwell certainly is moving in the right direction, but she’s not Mother Theresa. I get that watching her is better than CM, but why even watch that show?

The point of +R training, for me, is that it’s a process for both myself and Bella. I’m constantly thanking her for letting me know that my questions/requests do not make sense to her, that I need to try some other method. And then we get to celebrate our successes together. The way that Stilwell puts it seems to be that if you just do what SHE does, +R works. Yes, I get that it’s mostly the fault of the producers and editing, but still. It annoys me to no end that this show makes Victoria’s word “holy.”

Thanks for letting me rant.

]]> By: Anamaria Hurston http://www.boulderdog.net/2009/08/16/and-another-thing-do-you-suffer-from-alpha-anxiety/#comment-743 Anamaria Hurston Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:02:59 +0000 http://www.boulderdog.net/?p=714#comment-743 Good posting Good posting

]]> By: puptrainer http://www.boulderdog.net/2009/08/16/and-another-thing-do-you-suffer-from-alpha-anxiety/#comment-143 puptrainer Sun, 23 Aug 2009 17:06:40 +0000 http://www.boulderdog.net/?p=714#comment-143 This does qualify as an actual disorder! And damaging - how much time have I wasted being irritated by this crap? Too much! I might need a sponsor to help me get over it though... This does qualify as an actual disorder! And damaging – how much time have I wasted being irritated by this crap? Too much! I might need a sponsor to help me get over it though…

]]> By: Jules Nye http://www.boulderdog.net/2009/08/16/and-another-thing-do-you-suffer-from-alpha-anxiety/#comment-141 Jules Nye Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:11:38 +0000 http://www.boulderdog.net/?p=714#comment-141 Great post! Great post!

]]> By: Roxanne @ Champion of My Heart http://www.boulderdog.net/2009/08/16/and-another-thing-do-you-suffer-from-alpha-anxiety/#comment-139 Roxanne @ Champion of My Heart Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:16:16 +0000 http://www.boulderdog.net/?p=714#comment-139 Of the various anxieties I do suffer, I'm HAPPY to say this is NOT one of them. We missed you at class this week. Hope to see you more as the heat diminishes. Of the various anxieties I do suffer, I’m HAPPY to say this is NOT one of them. We missed you at class this week. Hope to see you more as the heat diminishes.

]]> By: Delayne Corle http://www.boulderdog.net/2009/08/16/and-another-thing-do-you-suffer-from-alpha-anxiety/#comment-138 Delayne Corle Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:34:48 +0000 http://www.boulderdog.net/?p=714#comment-138 LOVE the article! Thank you for the views AND the humor - Cesar is a pervasive little devil, and this article will be of great help in approaching the discussion in a humorous way. THANK YOU!!!!! LOVE the article! Thank you for the views AND the humor – Cesar is a pervasive little devil, and this article will be of great help in approaching the discussion in a humorous way. THANK YOU!!!!!

]]> By: Grisha Stewart, Seattle http://www.boulderdog.net/2009/08/16/and-another-thing-do-you-suffer-from-alpha-anxiety/#comment-137 Grisha Stewart, Seattle Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:43:27 +0000 http://www.boulderdog.net/?p=714#comment-137 Great article, as always. I'm optimistic, though, because at least where I live (Seattle) positive training is the norm. We have our share of old-school trainers, but the trend is an increase in reward-based trainers and not many new jerk-and-pull trainers. Though Barkbusters does pump out some new CM clones and try to push their way with a lot more advertising $$. PS. To find a trainer in Seattle, your readers can visit http://seattledogtraining.com or of course just go to Ahimsa. :) Great article, as always. I’m optimistic, though, because at least where I live (Seattle) positive training is the norm. We have our share of old-school trainers, but the trend is an increase in reward-based trainers and not many new jerk-and-pull trainers. Though Barkbusters does pump out some new CM clones and try to push their way with a lot more advertising $$.

PS. To find a trainer in Seattle, your readers can visit http://seattledogtraining.com or of course just go to Ahimsa. :)

]]> By: ari_1965 http://www.boulderdog.net/2009/08/16/and-another-thing-do-you-suffer-from-alpha-anxiety/#comment-136 ari_1965 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:12:32 +0000 http://www.boulderdog.net/?p=714#comment-136 Very good. Thank you. Very good. Thank you.

]]> By: Eric Goebelbecker http://www.boulderdog.net/2009/08/16/and-another-thing-do-you-suffer-from-alpha-anxiety/#comment-135 Eric Goebelbecker Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:59:02 +0000 http://www.boulderdog.net/?p=714#comment-135 Great article. The good news is "In the Dog House" is actually a leftover Canadian show and is no longer in production, so maybe AP will just run out of episodes and stop showing it. As for "And don’t be taken in by “No Harsh Methods” advertising. If they have to say it, it probably isn’t so." - I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed that! Thanks for the confirmation. Great article. The good news is “In the Dog House” is actually a leftover Canadian show and is no longer in production, so maybe AP will just run out of episodes and stop showing it.

As for “And don’t be taken in by “No Harsh Methods” advertising. If they have to say it, it probably isn’t so.” – I’m glad I’m not the only one who noticed that! Thanks for the confirmation.

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