Resmini Law Firm Publishes Dog Safety Roundup

The attorneys at the Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini have launched a roundup of answers from some of the top dog training and behavior experts from around the world. A total of 13 bloggers, trainers, and enthusiasts were chosen to respond to three simple but poignant questions:

1. If you could only give one piece of advice to dog owners to prevent their dogs from harming other dogs/people, what would it be?
2. What is the most outrageous excuse you have heard a dog owner give for their dog’s bad behavior?
3. What do you think is the ratio of nature to nurture in a dog’s behavior?

You can read the full article here.

Although responses varied from one participant to the other, the general theme of the responses encouraged the basic tenets of canine responsibility like leash manners, socialization from a young age, and using positive reinforcement for training. Another pro tip is to know your dog and anticipate bad situations before they occur. If your dog’s ears are back, fur is standing up, and eyes are enlarged, these are signs of an oncoming bite. It’s also important to prevent your dog from fixating on another passing dog.

The second question garnered some great responses. Participants were asked what types of crazy excuses they have heard owners make on behalf of their dogs. It seems that some owners think that certain types of treats can make their dogs temporarily insane and that humping a human’s leg is a sign of affection. One of the most insightful answers came from Eryka Kahunanui, who feels that owners place too much responsibility solely on their dogs, when in fact the human is responsible for training and ultimately removing the dog from bad situations.

The final question asked what the ratio of nature to nurture in a dog’s behavior is. There was no consensus among participants, but it is generally accepted that nurture plays the dominant role in how the dog will behave. This opinion might come with a grain of salt, as it comes from a group of dog trainers whose job it is to alter the behavior of dogs.

Hopefully this roundup proved useful for the average dog owner or even amateur dog trainers who would like a little insight to the opinions of the experts.