Advocacy Overdrive - Walking The Talk
I am releasing a new series of dog advocacy videos called Walking The Talk. They are short 1 – 3 minute videos of my exchanges with people while on a dog walk. These are real life occurrences not set-ups.
Many people advocate for dogs and as much as they do via avenues such as Twitter or Facebook nothing is more powerful than real honest exchanges with dogs and people that result in a learning experience.
For years I have taken it upon myself to speak with anyone that may have an interest or perhaps be slightly concerned about a dog I am walking. As long as the dog in my charge is social, I respect people’s preferred distances, yet maintain some conversation as to help them realize not all dogs are the same and not all people in charge of dogs possess the same skills. I also agree with them that caution is always the best preventative, as one never knows the behavioral pathology of unknown dogs or the skills of humans in their charge. Indeed be cautious, but do not judge the dog. The human is the one with the bigger brains, we hope anyway. The human is the variable that matters most.
There is an empathy army of smart, caring, charming and personable people out here with safe, smart social dogs. My suggestion is this - start carrying a camera (your phone works very well too) or have someone follow you around to film you with your social dog that draws the attention of people.
If people do not want to speak with you, respect that and always oblige and move on with respect. Don’t be angry, hateful or mad at them. You do not know what their experiences are with dogs. However if you see an opportunity to educate take it.
Carry cards with info from an organization that will help the people learn about dogs legitimately. This way they have sources to check out.
Release these short videos on the web and let people see real life advocacy in action. This is Walking The Talk.
This is the ripple effect that dog lovers, dog advocates and canine educators can create with short 1 – 3 minute videos of real life exchanges with people.
The person that was hesitant or inquisitive about the dog has now met someone that was educated, met a dog that was friendly, received a card with legit info. Then a video goes on the web and the ripple effect casts out one more positive fluctuation in culture an example of dogs that is true and accurate, not hype, myth and sensationalized violence to frighten people or some manufactured happiness to lead people into the lull of cuteness. I like cute as much as anyone, and hey if the exchange is cute, super, just make sure it’s educational along the way as well.
One thing the anti dog lobby does not have are any real answers or real solutions.
The dog haters have three moves. Fear. Anger. Hate. They are all filled with bad opinions and hurt feelings; they possess zero creativity in any form. BSL has proven a failure, and all they have left is their own hatred and anger of dogs or types of dogs.
They have no answers as to how to deal with the issues surrounding dogs, all dogs, not just the one’s they deem worthy of saving if any, nor do they know how help people that have dogs nor do they know how to educate people that do not have dogs to understand them legitimately.
Re posting violent images and or ignorant rants will only get dog haters left out of the conversations that are had in real terms in real settings where smart people make common sense decisions about dogs. When dog advocates partake in this it only serves to cause more disfunctions. All this dose is foment hate and attract more dog haters. That gets old real fast and serves no purpose. Much of it is just cyber & verbal bullying done anonymously. Wow what courage.
The pro dog people have it all. We have it in spades to boot! We just need to be more creative than apathetic. Though the voice of hate and ignorance can be drowned out with millions of honest portrayals of dogs, the meme in the media is; if it bleeds it reads, and that creates hysteria in the streets.
ALL dogs run the risk of false judgments when the humans in their charge are not equipped to be the best guide they can be for their dog. Once again proper education is the bottom line.
Make safe decisions for your dogs and you make smart decisions for your dogs.
Dogs are conduits of the truth. Start spreading the truth you experience every day with your dog so that the world can see it is not the dogs that are the problem, it is the people that are in their care that make them safe or unsafe, sound or unsound.
When dog caring people step up their game and become an active member in the canine empathy army and help dogs, not simply “have dogs”, we’ll see the change we all want.
ALL dogs run the risk of false judgments when the humans in their charge are not equipped to be the best guide they can be for their dog. Once again proper education is the bottom line.
Make safe decisions for your dogs and you make smart decisions for your dogs.
Dogs are conduits of the truth. Start spreading the truth you experience every day with your dog so that the world can see it is not the dogs that are the problem, it is the people that are in their charge that make them safe or unsafe, sound or unsound.
When dog caring people step up their game and become an active solider in the canine empathy army and help dogs, not simply “have dogs”, we’ll see the change we all want.
PSA - Pit Bull Saving Announcment - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcJO_W4sAPY
Episode 1 Walking The Talk - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eJT11AuOa0
Episode 2 Walking The Talk - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9oStrmWgj4
