Have a think.
When did you last describe your dog as a rescue dog?
Last week?
Yesterday?
Today??
Now, if you acquired your new dog just today, I can understand why you may feel the need to say this. You don’t need to, but we’ll come to that . . .
But if you rehomed your dog more than about five minutes ago, she is NOT a rescue dog! She’s YOUR dog!
Labels
We have a dreadful habit of applying labels to everything.
He’s a naughty child. They’re bossy people. That dog is stubborn.
The first thing to realise is that we’re labelling the PERSON because of their behaviour. Just because someone once did something should not colour our perception of them for ever!
The child was not naughty - he may have done something naughty, but that doesn’t mean you can add the label “naughty” so that you always regard his actions through the “naughty” lens.
Those bossy people maybe reacted poorly in a tricky situation. They didn’t handle it well. They’re not “bossy”. They just weren’t up to that task.
And as for the “stubborn” dog . . . if you’ve read any of my writings you’ll know that dogs are not stubborn. They simply don’t understand what you want of them, or don’t see the value in doing it. That means you haven’t taught them yet!
As the renowned Veterinary Behaviourist Karen Overall says (and I love this quote!),
“What we call something matters because it shapes how we think of it.”
Ditch the labels!
All this labelling is doing us - and the “labellees” a disservice. It is changing our perception of them, and alters our response to them.
If you’re told someone is a thief, you’re going to be very careful around them, watch your belongings, not leave them alone without supervision. It will totally govern how you are with them!
And if you label your dog a rescue - think why that is?
Are you wanting sympathy and a big “Aahh” when you say it?
Are you implying that anything your dog does is not your fault?
Are you abdicating responsibility for teaching this dog - something you can’t deny responsibility for with a puppy you got at 8 weeks?
Whatever it is, ditch that label!
Can you see how it’s not serving you or your dog?
So now, next time you speak to someone about your dog - how are you going describe her?
THIS FREE ECOURSE IS A BONUS FOR YOU WHEN YOU SIGN UP TO RECEIVE EDUCATIONAL EMAILS AND OCCASIONAL OFFERS FROM ME. YOU CAN UNSUBSCRIBE AT ANY TIME.
Privacy Policy