Reactivity and dogs

In 2024 I read an awful lot and saw an awful lot of videos on Instagram on reactive dogs in all breeds of dogs.  It actually surprises me that dogs today are not allowed to be dogs.  Their is a big shift in the way people want their dogs to behave all for social media and humans are humanising dogs way too much, 

The relationship between dogs and humans has existed for as long as man could draw on caves. They depicted even then dogs living amongst humans.   Dogs are pretty amazing as they offer us warmth, hunt for us or with us,  clear away scraps of food we wouldn't be able to dispose of.  But over time dogs have ended up in our homes and we have began to shift how we look at dogs. Dogs would pull sleigh and each breed had a purpose.  Now most dogs have no purpose and a lot are bored.  They have nothing to do in a day except just be in the house.  This can turn into destructive behaviour because they are bored.   You should think carefully when you buy a puppy and understand firstly why it was bred.  The gun dog group were bred to either flush game, hunt it or bring it back. So their whole day is waiting for this job.  Toy breeds were bred for companions. 
From dogs with jobs to dogs with no jobs and suddenly we see them are children that do not need school.   Dogs do need school, they need training school.  Some dogs need more than just weekly classes they still need an active life.  A good long walk twice a day. 

 Dogs are not allowed to express themselves in a natural way with other dogs and as we see it as bad behaviour.  Behaviourists are having a field day right now as it's a big industry cashing in on dogs.    

Dogs do not have friends in the same way we do, although I recognise they remember some dogs they meet.  They enjoy playing with other dogs, but not all do.  Entire males are struggling being put into play groups.  Because they are battling against their hormones.  In the wild males would not live in large groups together, the dominant male would live amongst the females, and a younger male on the outskirts hoping to come in and get with the girls.  The rest would wander to find their own packs or fight their way into another and then mate.  Yet we think we can chuck lots of entire males together and their be no natural instincts.  

In 2025 let's hope that more dogs are given their space, more dogs are given training and more dogs are enjoying being a dog.  Let's hope that more people start to understand dogs need space.  For those of you looking for dogs educate yourself on the dog breed you're looking for. Do not buy high energy breeds if you can not walk your dog each day.