Titles

What are they?

 

To different people, they mean different things.

 

To some, they mean nothing; to others, an identity.

 

At a trial under any one of the title organizations (AHBA, ASCA, AKC, etc.), you will find people from all walks of life -- and they are all there for different reasons. Some are there to have fun with their dogs.  Some are there to support their friends.  Some are there to "balance" the dog by putting titles on both ends of their name.  Some are there for the bragging rights.  Some are there because they paid a trainer to run their dog.  Some are the trainers who are being paid to run the dogs.  Some are there to get their feet wet going "to the post". 

 

But what do these titles mean? 

 

To the dog?  Not a thing.

 

So it's for the handler. 

 

And to what lengths will some handlers go to obtain such titles?

 

Well, that depends. 

 

Some will spend tons of money and travel many miles and enter lots and lots of trials while enjoying the time they are spending with their dogs.

 

Others it's head-to-head competition with their buddies for bragging rights, so they will train and drill and train and drill some more. 

 

And yet others it is a living ... training and trialing other people's dogs.  Some are really good at it, treat the dogs very well, are able to understand the way a dog's mind works, and will get the most out of the dog, all the while maintaining the dog's trust.  Some use force and intimidation to get a dog to obey them by using training techniques that elicit a fear-based response (commonly misconstrued by some as "respect") from the dog.  It makes me wonder when you see a handler outside the arena doing the stiff up-jerk of the leash and demanding a down in a harsh tone over and over again in hopes of getting a down in the arena (AS IF THIS WORKS!) ... what these same trainers do at home when there is no one around watching.  You'll often see this same type of person "petting" a dog's head, but upon closer inspection you see them pinching or pulling on the dog's ear and mumbling threats to them under their breath (AS IF THIS WORKS)!  Saw that this weekend and was not impressed, but was awful glad it wasn't my dog. 

 

But those titles are what's important, aren't they?   

 

I, personally, would rather have a title-less dog respect me because they want to, not a dog with an alphabet after their name fear me because I've given them reason to.

 

But what do I know?