Standing Alone

Men who form an opinion of others by the opinion of others... are men of no substance, character and have no honor. In other words, if I base my opinion of you by talking to your neighbor to get his opinion of you...I am that man of no substance, character and no honor.

People do this all the time. They are weak individuals who can't stand on their own two feet. They blindly follow along with the masses, the "in" group. They are content to stand with the group, to blend in. They won't, nor can, they stand on their own. They are afraid of the spotlight focusing on them. They are so easily swayed. They are like a ship lost out at sea, with no sails or motor. They go where the wind and waves tell them to go. I have no use, nor respect, for such individuals.

What has this to do with dog training, you ask? Everything. There has always been a right way to do things, and a wrong way to do things. So many people in "dogdom land" just read the opinions of men, but never prove it or test it out on the field or streets. They just accept it as gospel because "so and so" said it, and "what's his name" agrees. For some reason, they are afraid to form an opinion, because they just might have to stand alone. What if they don't agree with "so and so"? What if "what's his name" makes fun of him or speaks bad of him? What if they are ridiculed or talked badly about? They are far more concerned with what others think of themselves, than to actually knowing the truth.

I know of dog trainers who are not that way. They have learned things by, get this...actually doing things. Imagine that! They have listened to what others have said, tried what others have said. They have kept what has worked and discarded the rest. They are not afraid to stand alone if they believe they are right. Being ridiculed, talked badly about, and made fun of doesn't bother them. They are not swayed by the opinions and commentaries of those who do not know. The actions of their dogs speak loud enough to quiet those who speak ignorantly of things they have not done, nor even attempted to do.

Nowadays, these men are few and far between. Years ago, they were commonplace. But as society has grown weaker, the percentage of weak men has grown also.

Listen to me, take some "New Year's" advice. Listen to others, but prove it on the field and in the streets of your neighborhood. Don't be afraid to stand alone. In time, you will develop a good intuition of who to listen to, and who to walk away from.

And to those of you who form their opinions of others by the opinions of others...it must be miserable being you...SNAP OUT OF IT!!