Who are THEY anyway?

“They say you should always walk your dog on the left side.” Ever heard that one? How about, “They say feeding from a raised bowl prevents bloat;” or, “Your dog should never sleep in your bed…well, that’s what they say.” Who are these mysterious “they” anyway?

So many of the rules and ideas that begin with “they say” have either no basis in fact, or the facts have changed over time. The recommendation about feeding from a raised bowl, for example, has reversed with newer research in the last few years. As to having your dog walk on the left side, that one started with the military, because the soldier needed to carry a rifle while managing the dog. Unless you’re carrying a rifle down the street—in which case you’ve got bigger problems than which side your dog should walk on—either side is fine. In fact, a dog should be able to walk on whichever side you request, because you never know when traffic, another dog, or some other threat is going to appear. Flexibility is good, in training and in thinking.

On a recent flight I sat next to a woman with a lovely southern accent. It’s no surprise that we got around to talking about dogs, but it did surprise me that when I mentioned I liked Dobermans, she answered, “Oh, you know what they say, they’ll turn on you!” Sigh. The next time you hear “They say…” do a little research. Find out exactly what the statement is based on, and whether there is newer thinking on the subject. If it’s not something that’s based in science, but more of a lifestyle issue, question whether it’s really right for you. It may be they “they” are perfectly correct. Or… “they” may be mistaken!