Friday Blog Fishing

This is my rant for the day, after reading my "favorite" social networking site DogStarDaily.com, and managing not to bash my head against my desk into sweet oblivion. This has been building up for awhile, so these may not refer to recent postings.

Actually, DogStarDaily.com has surprisingly had quite a few posts on the fact that some of the rabid advocates of the "middle of the road" spin off of the "truly dog friendly" phenomenon use aversives.

(TRANSLATION: for most of my audience who doesn't know the politics of dog training. These people pretend to not be extremists while blocking comments, limiting posts, and not allowing answers from their blogger to information the blogger posted about. If you need to hide and control it, there is something there to hide folks!!)

No not aversives, you say (which may include the word no, body molding, or a leash correction)!! Yes, those that have been preaching to the choir, can not honestly say that they don't use aversives. Apparently they just like to in secret, so they can demean others who use methods that largely aren't aversive and compete with them in the market. Or that's my opinion anyway.

In the spirit of venting and serving up my Friday blog fishing in a different way, I am listing these as "there must be something wrong with me, as I don't do the following":

I don't have a "heart dog" as some trainers claim to. All my dogs and pets have been or are my heart dogs or pets. It's like saying you have a favorite child. Huh, that's positively dog freindly? Luckily dogs don't need therapy LOL. Or maybe they do and just can't ask for it!!

I don't accept payment for services before meeting with or talking to the client.

I don't ever wish that I did not have dogs, didn't have children, or wasn't doing what I currently do right now. I'm thinking some of that training some people don't like too much to do, or do well might help this situation.

Being bitten is not all in a days work. I have been bitten once, and deflected on once since starting. Both my fault, of course.

I am unable to train a dog fully around all distractions in two weeks. (It's the same blog as above, sigh)

If I have to hold up a cookie to get a command performance, then I have not trained the command. (It's the same blog as above) heavy sigh

I don't serve dogs or allow them to manipulate everything around them. (I do what is in their best interests to protect them and their freedoms. We have a partnership and both have duties to perform in that partnership.) This has more to do with what makes the human feel good, not in the best interests of the dog and family.

Dogs will obey commands, even when I don't have a treat or toy in my hand (unlike in this photo) once they are trained. A trained dog also does not need corrections. I don't consider a dog trained if I can only get them to perform with treats or corrections.

I am not afraid to give straight answers to questions, not conflicting answers or the run around. Still am very unclear as to what titles or designations her dogs may or may not have beyond CGC, TDI, or Rally titles LOL. And if you look on her blog bio or her website, you will be equally as mystified.

Then try and figure out, does this trainer use aversives or does she not? Hmmm, different answer everywhere you go. Then she says one should "show not tell". Sure saw this trainer doing a lot of telling on the Greatest American Dog, though sadly this trainer did not win. In fact lost to a dog owner. Seems she can't honestly say she doesn't do this just to live with her dogs, she just doesn't want anyone to know this:) Or heaven forbid, correctly try techniques at home that aren't even aversive.

I don't misrepresent training methods that I have supposedly learned by linking them to articles that inappropriately depict them. In my opinion, a person that does this hasn't learned very much about the method, as claimed in the blog. The article even talks about negative reinforcement correctly LOL. Negative simple means to take away, and reinforcement means to increase. It does not need to be aversive or a yummy treat, for the love of DOG. Koelher relies on you showing a dog gently and patiently with many repetitions. Those that don't do their homework and don't understand the method, may do harm to their dog as this blogger seems to be admitting she has.

I don't have promotional pictures of my dogs where they look afraid. Also can be found by scrolling down here.

I have a real problem with allowing dogs to hump other dogs. I would certaintly not leave them at a daycare that allowed this.

I don't put people down or demean them or villify them if they want a well trained dog. I understand that most people want the best in safety and freedom for their dogs, and that's why they do the best obedience training that they can.

I really feel for any of the general public that would give this social website with blogs from such "experts" any credence, whatsoever. The shame is there are some knowledgeable dog trainers on there somewhere, who very infrequently post. The main posters are people with minimal experience dog training, or who won't answer a straight question about their experiences dog training. IMO, this is all about money. Note that the bloggers have their products advertised on this site. Ian Dunbar's products are prominently displayed as well. He is notably well known for creating a huge divide in the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, before trying to play both sides of the fence. Unfortunately, the reason he is doing this is not for the dogs, but soley IMO for his own profit. This couple of Ian and Kelly Dunbar can jaunt off to here and there all they want, but IMO they are hurting dogs and the profession of dog training in seeking to dominate the market.

Just my humble opinion of course.

Things that Put Me in A Good Mood

Reason number one, Gigi and Paddington went to Paddinton's home and spent the night together. Okay, get your head out of the gutter, they are both spayed and neutered, so it's purely a platonic friendship. I had high hopes that the results would be the same once they both got to their respective homes, and Gigi true to her form here has accepted Paddington as her family friend. Very good news that will help her in the future, and will help her owners as well.

Jack does a roll on a hard surface. We have been training on soft surfaces, and this is his first attempt on a hard wood floor. Then on to sand, snow, and road!!




Reason number two has to do with my own behaviorally challenged dog, Jackie. Day three of increased freedom and no attempts on Leon's person, even with some things he has been obsessing around, I am not saying there haven't been one or two looks, I am saying we ended week 4 without the attempts to be bad that happened previously. This does not mean I can prop my feet up and breath a sigh of relief, and let Jack up to his own devices. This does tell me the improvement is ongoing, and I most likely won't need to live with two seperated dogs. Jack makes me work for it though, he does.

End of yesterday, day four, Jack was allowed a stuffy on his dog bed in the bedroom. When Leon returned, Jack started the growling with the I am about to lunge pose. This was stopped much eaiser than it had been in the past, with Jack dropping into his down on command immediately, even though the "anger sequence" had gone into "launch mode". More importantly, Jack settled right after that and did not continue with the looks or guarding. At this point, he is still dragging a six foot lead, and at any point where there is potential, I am at the other end of that loose six foot lead. Additionally, playing and wandering times are strictly supervised. That means I am actively watching them and involved, when Jack is allowed any freedom to roam or go up to Leon.

Also today, a terrier was loose in the neighborhood and running towards us, and Jack did not challenge my leadership by trying to take care of matters himself. I am not saying he was not thinking about it, but for the third time in the last two weeks when a potential problem situation occurred, he did recognize that I was taking care of it. It's so much easier to do that, when you don't have to worry about what your own dog is attempting to do!!! There really needs to be a partnership developed to do this with certain dogs like Jackie. Jack looked a bit tense, but he didn't bark and remained in his heel position. I did my job, and kept the offending beasty away from us. Leon and Manny were with us, and so this remained a time where Jack's protective instincts would kick in.

I am happy with the potential that is being demonstrated in Jack's behavioral modification. It could not be done without the use of obedience and the additional advanced retrieving and fetching skills that both boys have learned. It has been equally important that Leon listen to commands and directions as well in order to have planted situations that I can train Jack around.

One incident happened on January 18th, where I did not catch the fact that Jack was guarding the couch from Leon. Unfortunately Jack did connect with his teeth briefly. The leash should have been in my hand so I could have diffused the situation immediately. So we took a training step backwards that day. Being that this is at least a three month training process, that happened less than a third way through our training plan, so I wasn't surprised that Jack tried something. He had made me a bit complacent by being a good boy up until that point. Much of the plan is to test or proof Jack's responses when it "seems" like he has the freedom to make the choice, but in fact he does not.

Here is the summary of his training plan:

• First, the rules. (scroll to the middle of the post to see what the rules were on week 1) Some have been updated. Jack does not need to sleep in a crate outside the bedroom anymore, but is allowed on his dog bed in the bedroom. He is exhibitting enough self control to not be muzzled for two weeks now.




• Relaxation and molding exercises. Teaching Jack to release the tension in his muscles when I touch him. Also using this exercise for posing as well, so I can manipulate his limbs et, and have him begin to instantly relax as I do this. Massage and petting are helping this along as well. This has to do with yielding (ie owner says something or needs to physically manipulate the dog, dog allows this willingly and is used to it).




• Relation to relaxation and molding, really firming up left turns for attention and movement.




• I have been teaching the commands of roll over and over even in distracting areas where other dogs are or on different surfaces.




• Open exercises of fetching and jump around dogs and "wanted items" that Jack normally obsesses over.




• Leon doing his play retrieve taking items that are placed around Jackie. Jackie does not have a muzzle on, but he is mostly tethered or back tied during this exercise. He has never attempted to get up, but this is a safety measure during the early part of the training.




• Leon and Jack have at least a half hour a day where they are trained on obedience, freestyle, tricks, or retrieve together. They are actually a great team when they are working.




• Leon and Jack have at least one walk where they are coupled together during the day and must heel with me.




• Jack has one heel or loose leash walk alone with me a day. Preferrable to areas where there are dogs out. He is expected not to reacte if another dog comes running up to us.




• Jack and Leon are allowed to play with their toys in close proximity as long as Jack does not reacte to Leon. If only Leon has a toy, and Jack is not interested in his, Jack is not allowed to obsess or try and guard that toy, and certaintly not reacte to Leon.




• Jack is doing fetch and retrieve with and around things that he becomes obsessed about.




• Jack trained not to follow Leon's every move or think he can dictate what Leon does. Obedience combined with commands such as look, leave it, and out have been combined to achieve this.

Every week a little more freedom and a little more free time is given to Jack. He is praised and rewarded in times where he would have reacted before, but now chooses not to. Times where he is relaxed and is not obsessive are times where he gets some special atttention or alone time later. At any time there is a set back, those freedoms are reduced again or taken away for a time.

Here are some before and after shots of body language (note Jack is muzzled in the before):

Gradually over time, it is my hope, that as the freedoms increase the control that Jack has been exhibiting over his "over reactions" will take hold and become part of his personal behavior under his own steam.

So far so good. Some really nice progress and self control has become apparent. Many times with a dog like this, the misunderstanding that their previous reactions "weren't that bad" or "didn't get to the point of drawing blood" can cause some of us to not take the action that we should have (or were unable to) sooner. I take heart in the fact the list with Jack was so long two years ago, that I thought walking this dog on lead would be a huge feat (even though I am quite used to doing this with many and plentiful dogs). I never dreamed that we would be able to accomplish a Companion Dog title, as we did last year. This required Jack to heel off leash while many people and other dogs looked on. Now the list has become smaller 1) finally fully address the resource guarding AND 2) make it crystal clear that Leon is not an appropriate scapegoat or punching bag for Jack.

As for doing the open exercises, Jack is bright and smart enough to get that easily. Put all of that together, and Jack will be a dog will A LOT of work into him but truly exceptional. This is so much easier with a dog that is not "behaviorally challenged". On the other hand, the work that Jack and I have done together have not only strengthened an already strong bond, BUT will benefit "behaviorally challenged" students so much in the future.

Gigi and Paddington Show They Are Friends Now

After about two and a half days, Gigi and Paddington were doing this:




Instead of Gigi doing this, when she first came here (seems so long ago now):



We are also happy to report that Gigi and Paddington's relationship has remained friendly after they went home. These are the results that make dog training so worth it!!! We are able to use Gigi's obedience skills to calm and control her, while she figures out another dog means her no harm. Equally important, is the other dog does not see or experience anything physically negative from Gigi, and that puts them at ease and able to befriend her as well.

Your dog experiencing behavioral issues? Call Maine's Dog Trainer for your Maine Dog Trainng needs. Robin Rubin of Mannerly Mutts is glad to help. Call 207-361-4395 or e-mail mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com for your Maine Dog Trainer.

Gigi Has a New Family Friend

Paddington is a dog in Gigi's Owners' family. Previously, Gigi has not been able to warm up to or accept Paddington. Paddington is a super soft and submissive dog, and so he had come to be very worried about Gigi.

So we all decided to try a little camp Mannerly Mutts retreat for the Gigi and Paddington together. Sometimes the nervous energy of the owner or the stress of doing something so new and hard for the owner's learning curve (and Gigi is a tough little personality) can dampen the progress that owners can make on their own. In this case, that had come to a successful point, but had a hard time passing that one barrier.

The very first night, we started Gigi out in the crate with Paddington on the outside. Paddington was pretty worried about being in the same room with her. She did well once a couple of tantrums were over with, she stopped with the vocalizations that told me she was very worried about this as well. So then she was allowed out of the crate but with a muzzle on. Overall pretty good, some rushes at Paddington but very mild and obviously she was just trying to make a point.

I have noticed that Gigi is worried about dogs bigger than her. While we can never really get into the dogs' mind, from observation of her behavior, it seems she has the "I will get you first or I will be sure that I can push you around first syndrome". The handler needs to teach Gigi that this dog that she is meeting is not a threat, and therefore does not need her "treatment". The problem with the treatment being, is it's a big barrier for friendships with the other dog even being possible when she is acting like a nut. And not a nut in a good over the top play way either, but by trying to pile drive the other dog and dominate him or her.

Equally important in this case was to have Paddington's trust that Gigi was going to act appropriately (or as appropriately as a totally socially challenged dog can act) and that he can enjoy her and not worry about her. So once the muzzle on, we worked on some positive interactions. The first night, Paddington was like "no way am I going to trust this little black girl". Day two, he did not seek to hide from her as much, but I had to make him come up the stairs and be with us. By this time, Gigi had made her good intentions known to Paddington by doing the socially challenged Gigi back leg kick. Normally in most dogs, this is a warning move, but much experience with Gigi has taught me that this is HER invitation to play and be her friend. Gigi has not to date gone back on her friendship promise once this move rears it's head. Still Paddington, not familiar with this other Gigi, needed a bit more time before he could consider the friendship possibilites.

Day two and a half, Paddington is looking pretty comfortable around Gigi. His tail wags high when she is around, play bows are offered by Paddington, and he does not look to uncomfortable by her over the top "method" and play style. He is beginning to trust that this won't end badly for him now. Paddington starts coming up the stairs to seek out Gigi and everyone's company on his own steam today. There are about six or seven play sessions with Gigi and Paddington involved with each other. Gigi has tried humping him a few times, and has been discouraged from that particular activity. (I should also mention that on day one, Gigi tried to hump my husband). Especially when Gigi wants to play, and Paddington is lying there, she tries to hump him when she gets discouraged that he is not moving. Other dogs here have told her to bugger off, but Paddington being unusually soft and submissive does not. So the owners and handlers need to tell her to cut that out (just in case, it doesn't mean a dog is going to do anything bad, but avoiding this can cut down on a lot of future problems. Other dogs can just misunderstand this move and attack).

Gigi is very intrigued with Paddington's hair as well. I have just realized that she hasn't met any real long haired dogs here. She seems to seek through his fur, as if to confirm there is actually a dog in there LOL. Crossing my fingers that this goes as swimmingly on the way home:)

Leon is Fetching

The upside to the winter quiet is the amount of time I have to concentrate on my own dogs. Jackie is being readied for spring trials in Open AKC competition. Leon can't trial due to his inability to keep along sit (bad knees), but he is still able to work and play along side me. I have been training him in an auto stand rather than an auto sit for instance. I am working on the long stand stay LOL. Down works too of course.

One thing we have been working on together, is having Leon pick things up for me. Leon can so far pick up the following and give to me:

• Highlighters or pens


• Keys


• Chain collars


• Leather muzzle


• Leashes nylon or leather


• Remote controls


• All his toys


• Gloves


• Dumbbell


• Shoes


• Skarves


• Dog Coats


• Dog Flat Collars


• Mail or Pamphlets (warning, they get damp)

I have been trying to figure out how to get him to pick up a bowl lately. After we go onto bowls and baskets ET, I will teach him a hold when following me, rather than just when bringing the object to me.

Leon and I have been having a lot of fun with this. Leon's always enjoyed the "getting part", but he now enjoys the bringing and giving to me. I wonder if he thinks I have become really clumsy lately (or clumsier than usual)! We were working around my two Great Dane clients on the beach as a distraction the other day. I had left every one's leashes in a pile a bit away from us while the Great Danes played, and Leon and I did a bit of work.

Leon was doing his free style moves, and picking stuff up for his very clumsy owner. At the end, I started over to get the leashes. I did not ask Leon to get the leashes, and I saw him look from me to the leashes and back at me. So I stopped walking. Leon took off, grabbed a leash and brought it back to me! He took his praise, and dashed off two more times until I had all the leashes. I loved this, as he saw a need that I had and solved it on his own. Course he had his trademark Leon grin on as we headed back home.

Leon and the gang even got a business card handed out that day. It wasn't during the fancy work, but in a long down stay. When the dogs go to the bathroom on the beach, I down them while I pick it up and then typically walk about a quarter of a mile away to "deposit it". Then I walk back to the dogs, they are in a down this whole time, and release them. If anyone who has dogs is on the beach, they normally can't believe it. They will say "why are those dogs all in a down"? " You mean they will stay there until you return". There was a lady on the beach beginning to work with her puppy. We talked, the dogs were released to meet the cutey, and I got a card out.

I keep joking with the Great Dane's owners that they need to be put on commission LOL.

The Darkest Evening of the Year Book Review

Dean Koontz is one of my all time favorite authors. He is not a writer of dog stories, but a few of his MANY books feature Golden Retrievers (he owned a GR named Trixie) and other animals. He has subject matter that skips around from spy, sci fi, horror, thriller, and suspense. Part of his charm is that you just don't know what you might get when you pick up one of his books.

This book's main character is a woman who participates in Golden Retriever rescue. As usual there are many dark parts to this story. However, as in most of his books, there is a beauty and goodness that rules most of the book through the dark and horrid actions and thoughts of the villainous characters.

Through excellent story telling, Mr. Koontz is able to capture how most people feel about beloved pets and family. This book is an excellent read and adventure. As usual, Mr. Koontz remains one of the few horror masters in which you can be reasonably sure there will be no horrible passages of pet death and torture . Another reason that he is one of my favorite authors.

Looking for Maine Dog Training for your canine companion? Give Maine's Dog Trainer, Robin Rubin, a call at 207-361-4395. Or e-mail Robin at mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com.

Television Shows and Dog Training

Most dog training shows, no matter the method, make me crazy and cause me to watch all at the same time. This is true be it Cesar or Stillwell.

Both shows have one thing in common, they do not use a leash to train at times where common sense would dictate this to most. It especially concerns me where a segment begins with a dog ripping the leash out of the owner's hand to then bite a passer by (a Stillwell episode) or an off lead dog runs across the room to bite his/her owner (a Cesar episode). Is it really necessary to afford a dog another or first bite in a training program? The number one goal in a behavioral modification case is to PREVENT this from happening, not cause it to happen. I wonder if the producers do this on purpose to either sensationalize the show, or they feel the need to prove these things do happen?! I can think of better ways to demonstrate this than on hapless humans that wander by during taping episodes.

On the other hand, I do like that the episodes do not cut away from the problems encountered. I only wish that the trainers would also recognize why the problems were encountered, and take steps to correct it in the future. Also, they should explain in that episode what went wrong and how to do it correctly.

The other thing that the shows have in common, is there is never a discussion of appropriate (leash) equipment to use or how to hold a leash. If they go in and flexis or chain leashes (the absolute worst) are used, they never discuss the benefits of a nice leather leash, and how to grip it through the handle AT ALL TIMES. Nor does the advice "what you can't do on leash, you can't do off leash" EVER come up. Just having something that stays in your hand in a good grip, can be a huge help to someone. While a chain leash IS strong, it's better to not have to hold on with all your might by training your dog AND using the appropriate equipment when training your dog. A chain leash is very hard and pinches the human hand. The links are slick if you attempt to hold onto them, and it's only purpose is to attempt to hold back a dog that is clearly out of control.

Every trainer is different of course, and the one thing two out of three dog trainers will agree with is that the third one is wrong LOL. Television, as well, is about more than distributing good information, of course. They have advertisers that want a good viewer base, and there are other shows to compete with. I just wish we could fix a few safety things with these shows, and still make them sensational to the viewing public.


Need to train your dog SAFELY? Call Maine's Dog Trainer, Robin Rubin, at Mannerly Mutts Dog Training 207-361-4395. Or e-mail for your Maine Dog Training needs at mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com.

Flipping the Cookie

I have been doing much trick and freestyle work with my dogs in addition to their regular obedience. I was becoming convinced that a dog could flip or not flip. Today I decided to see if there were any directions for cookie flipping out there:)

Now I will try this, and see how it goes .

RECENT BOARDERS

Magical Days

In working with dogs, there are so many magical days. I normally forget to document most of them. Then there are times where I didn't bother to get the camera, just wanting to stay in the moment. Yesterday was just such a day:)

It started with our boarder and behaviorally challenged, Gigi, waking up. Gigi is so much fun, the very first thing she wants to do each morning is play. Play with doggie companions who are game for such play:) So she tippy tappies around on her toes identifying each playmate and making "inquiries". Gigi is also a student of play, as she had never done it before with a dog. I notice she studies hard what the other dogs are doing, and then tries it herself. I noticed her doing this, when she figured every likes to chase each other. Then she didn't know what came next after she got to them though LOL. Then she started figuring out about boxing, wrestling, and mock mouth fighting.

So yesterday, Leon was fetching my slippers, and it finally clicked to Gigi. You chase the thing, you get the thing, and then you run and get chased. Her and Leon had such a wonderful time doing this. Gigi even brought the slipper back a few times as Leon was trained to do. You have to watch her though, as she is likely to rip and shred, and these were my good slippers:)

Gigi and Jack also got to playing for a little bit. Jack's been teaching her that mock mouth fighting does not mean giving pressure to sharp teeth by whining at her when she is too rough. So Gigi had a heavenly morning right up her alley and gave my dogs a bit of entertainment as well.

Yesterday was a horrid weather day. It started with snow, and by the time Roxy and Harley, two Great Dane clients, needed walking, it was sleeting out. So I put on my boots with the screws in the bottom (works great by the way) and leashed up Leon with his pack on. We walked there with Leon being reintroduced to the concept of heeling to a client's house, as his knees have been doing really well lately. Leon and I got the Great Danes and went down to the beach, which was at low tide.

The dogs really had fun despite the adverse conditions. Well everyone except Roxy who has a horror of all that is damp. She does not do wet, and so she just stuck close by me as Harley and Leon tore up the beach. The good thing about bad weather days, is that the beach is totally empty even at low tide!! My hands were numb by the time we went back, because I had to take the gloves off to get all the dogs leashed up again.

When I went home it was time for training. I did fetch exercises with Jack around the worst distraction I could think of, bread that he couldn't eat while training. I had him also doing fronts through two English muffins lying on the floor, and needed to concentrate on fetch and give while auto sitting and staying next to two muffins. A whole lot of training has been going around things he tends to be an aggressor to Leon over in order to increase his tolerance threshold and obedience threshold around those things. In the meantime, and until a semblance of that goal is reached, he is limited as to his total freedom that he used to have in the house.

Leon was next, and we did his practice retrieve. He understands getting and retrieving keys, gloves, scarves, remote controls, and his toys. Now I am starting working him on a bowl. We also did his freestyle dance moves, which he loves. I think I will start this with Jack as well.

And thus ended a very productive and fun day. All the dogs slept very well that night:)

Goals for 2009

At the end of each year, I look over the things I want to accomplish in the next year, and sometimes this means also finishing up somethings that I had scheduled for the year before. Here is my list that I will be working on for 2009.

1. Compete Jack (my Doberman) for his CDX.



2. Finish up Bri's (tenant's Am Staff) last CD leg, and move her to CDX.



3. Bring Devon (tenant's Thai Ridgeback) into competition this year.



4. Tighten up training for competition in general, and try to eliminate as many handler errors as is possible. Move scores to high180s and then 190s.



5. Finish my IACP CDT test and NADOI application.



6. Money is tight, and my husband is lucky enough to be in the mortgage industry. Identify some low cost but meaningful seminars close by. (that will be a chore Ugh)



7. Get at least one client to go through AKC Novice this year.(have two potential candidates now)



8. Marketing, marketing, marketing.



9. And related to above, keep on with the Green Dog project.



10. Compete puppy and Novice training manual redo.



11. Related to all of the above, better manage my free and busy time.



12. Grow business by (at least) 60% again this year.

Do you have goals of your own for your dog? Call Maine's Dog Trainer, Robin Rubin, at 207-361-4395. Or e-mail for your Maine dog training needs at mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com.

Response to Blogging Ethics

http://gooddogowners.blogspot.com/2008/12/blogging-ethics.html

I do everything out there pretty publicly. It's any one's right to comment on me publicly, my e-mails, my comments, my blogging et. You know, feel free that is what this is all about. People comment on others such as leaders et all of the time and their choices as if they know them, and do not have first hand experience. Often quite negatively...

If you are choosing to send me a nasty e-mail, and if you are public or are of influence as a leader and role model, be aware that you might be in real danger of being outed. Especially if I feel an ethic and moral obligation to do so. Even more so if I have the documentation to back it up. So the best thing one can do is not feel so safe in your [the collective your] little cocoon or world when going out in public. I don't.

Enron was taken down because no one wanted to say anything. Patients are abused in hospitals due to non disclosure. In order to be respected, one must be respectful of anyone even if they don't consider those people on the same plane. To do otherwise is to risk foolishly exposing yourself for who you are, and to expect people that know of your [the collective you] position as a leader and role model to ignore whatever it is you are doing now. You are not in your living room. If you are not my friend, do not expect that I will keep something damaging that you say to me in confidence. If it is worrisome enough, I most likely won't, so be forewarned. Written, faxed, e-mail correspondence to me becomes my property unless I have otherwise stated that I will respect your privacy for whatever reason. If you are my friend, my actual friend, you would not send me correspondence like this anyway, and you would not act in a manner that would lead me to question your ethics or moral judgement.

Making what someone in a position of leadership, responsibility, and as a role model public normally serves to cease that activity, or they are going to be very careful who they are morally bankrupt and unethical with. If that makes me appear or I am unprofessional in that venue, I take sole responsibility for that. It means my ethical and moral meter has gone off to an extent that I am unable to ignore it any longer.

When someone makes a public recommendation for a leadership and role model figure on a public board, it should totally be able to be commented on publicly. Otherwise just make a private recommendation. That's what public boards are for, it is not your living room, as several others have attested. To do that is to invite others who have NOT had the same experience to comment. If it's done privately, the the only person that knows the recommendation is the person who gave it and the person who received it. No one else who might disagree knows about it, and thus would not feel obligated to comment on it as it did not appear publicly.

I did not have a good experience with Cabella's non slip foot slip on wear (one came off my boot after two steps, but I am tying them on now). This is something I feel totally justifying and commenting about. Service industries and public figures in organizations fall under the same rules. Thus they should act and perform in a way that they are able to be proud of OR defend. Making statements behind someones back rather than to their face or publicly can be a sword with two sides. One, you have not confronted the person as they should have been. Possibly the reason for this being that one has no first hand knowledge of this. But two, you did not publicly let others know who may mistakenly believe this "leader and authority" is as they appear.

My failure in this instance was many years back in not confronting a person immediately, and with related parties in attendance. Also in not reporting my disappointment in the performance in any kind of way. Additionally, I trusted someone (actually people)in a situation that I had no business putting that sort of faith into. I bear the horror of that inaction on my part.

My failings are that my politeness and not wanting to believe the worst in some people, even when staring it in the face, causes me to not act in a timely manner many times. My acting in a different way may have saved me additional future conflicts and the misplaced trust in a person who sought to mock a situation that I was/am truly heartbroken over. My timely actions may have even caused that situation to have a totally different outcome. Those are my failings, and I admit gladly to them as a warning to others. Not about an individual, but a warning of when situations are observed, don't have regrets as I have to not report them.

At the very least, prompt action may cause someone in a leadership and authority position to carefully question their actions in the future, and not feel so comfortable carrying certain actions out. While I hate masking or suppressing ones real nature in dog training or in human consequences, this can be more beneficial that allowing someone to continue feeling wrapped in a cocoon. It does not promote peace and love as the commenter above posted, but it does promote "act professionally and don't bash others as if you are exempt from acting professionally".

Sometimes what promotes peace and love also brings down an organization thru lies and deception OR covering something up. Once it's uncovered, one has to deal with that. Or that was what I learned in Corporate America. You could either say "yeah the sales team is being completely honest about having earned their bonuses" or you could at least inform the president that the "items shipped at the end of the month had no batteries, are likely to be returned, and I don't see us making payroll this month never mind paying those huge bonuses if you do this". It's always been my goal to act responsibly not keep the peace or PR nonsense at any cost. As far as my "ego" being involved, doing something like this does NOTHING for me personally. In fact, I put myself out there for being unprofessional in my "better later than never" comments. I don't believe I have made more friends and admirers by doing this. However, perhaps I have made a newbie think before just going by the recommendation of another to at least be aware or check out the recommendation.

Doubtful that it will keep the parties from continuing to bash me , though they may be a bit more careful how and to whom they go about it. That was not even on my radar as to why I complained, but how that sort of free flow information for the leader or role model's personal gain might affect another. I am a big girl and can take it as far as names flung my way, especially as I continue to prove those people wrong.