I've always believed that true love is an action one takes, not a feeling one gets. So, if someone asks me if I love dogs, I will say “Yes.” I don't mean that I love the feeling that I get from dogs. I mean that I am obligated to them as their advocate and provider.

I have lived with and worked with dogs for more than 20 years, and the fact that my life path has become communicating with dogs and their owners was much less a plan than something that just happened by chance. In retrospect I think that I was more trained by the dogs than the other way around. Seeing the dogs as my teachers has helped me answer, for myself, the difficult questions that arise with regards to methodology and technique in training.

I often refer to dogs as “emotional barometers” for humans. Because dogs are so dependent on us for everything they need to thrive, I stress the importance of a “true love” arrangement with them. Statistics that spell out the real story of what is happening with our dog population in the U.S tell me that as a society we have a huge crisis that is screaming for our attention. Despite the fervor of American canine infatuation we euthanize a dog every six seconds in this country, and 55 million dogs take residence in shelters and rescue programs every day. I'll apologize in advance for being obsessed with a need to take a grim, if honest look at the underside of our contemporary canine culture. But statistics speak a truth and I think it is a good starting point for a healthy discussion about how we can become better advocates for dogs.

Authority vs. compassion ... treats vs. correction ... dominance or submission ... this tool is mean, this tool is nice ... you're wrong, I'm right ... never do this, always do that! Any dog owner who has researched training has encountered these mixed messages from various dog media sources. It makes me realize how difficult it must be for your average new dog owner (not to mention your average dog) to be confident in anything. I've always liked the quote from the Monks of New Skete that says “If you want the facts, ask the dog”. So I asked my dogs about this problem. What they told me is, “You guys have to figure out how to agree on stuff. That would be nice for us.” Ah-hum, OK ... they were blunt about it.

Whether a dog's caring owner, vet, trainer, dog walker, pooper scooper, or groomer, every interaction one has with a dog matters. Dogs are extremely sensitive beings and tend to carry with them the imprint of our influences. Similar to kids, dogs need the “adults” to be unified and clear about proper behavior and etiquette. The more we can find common ground with one another the better we can support the ever-evolving needs of our growing dog population.

That's what I would like this blog to focus on: common ground. For the sake of making the world a safer, more fulfilling place for dogs and embracing the lessons that they have to offer, I propose an action of true love. This is a unified perspective that all of us involved in the world of dogs can share.

I look forward to sharing with you my dog stories, and lessons learned from these instinctively compassionate creatures. I also hope this blog can spark discussion within our dog community. With a dog population like we have in Ann Arbor, I think we'll have plenty to talk about!

John Spieser is a professional trainer and owner of Dogheart. He can be contacted at john@doghearta2.com.