Philosophy on dog training

I'm not a dog trainer. I don't have the patience, or really the big problem is my attention span.

Wait, what was I talking about again? Oh...

I've been thinking a lot about dog training (and horse training) and pet peeves.

This is what I have to say about dog training, and my dogs.

I love dogs because they are DOGS. Dogs are not children. I am not Oscar's mom, and I do not want to be. If I wanted children I would have them, but as you know I do not. I got a dog because dogs are NOT children, and I do not want to treat them that way.

Dogs (and children, but this post is not about children) need LEADERS not parents. Dogs need to be dogs and have a pack. Even a two member pack. Dogs need to NOT be the leader of the pack. So far I think oscar gets it. I can say no firmly and give him a look and 99% of the time he'll stop what he's doing and give me the "sorry" sad face.

We're up to 99% for "come" when we're inside, and about 50% outside with distraction. If I get his attention and crouch down at the dog park MOST of the time he'll come running and barrel into my lap for pats and "good boys" but if he's playing or making his initial rounds about the perimeter to "mark" his territory, he's not going to come for anything. However he usually will look up if I say his name, and check himself if I say no.

The only issue we've really had in the dog parks so far is really due to his youth and size. He's too exuberant and large to play with the small dogs (even though he's only 20lbs and fits in the small dog category), but usually bites off more than he can chew with the big dogs and gets scared and snappy.

I love being able to take him to the dog parks (there's one about 40 min away but it's 14 ACRES and offers a huge area for him to sniff around), and he LOVES playing with the other dogs, and he really needs the space for exercise), but he likes to play REALLY rough and it usually leads to him getting scared and snappy. He will usually just try and put them in their place but several times they don't back off or give him room and I'm worried it's going to get ugly.

I think I just need to stop worrying. Like I said before they're dogs. Dogs will be dogs and sometimes dogs scuffle.