• SavageCreation@lemmy.world
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    15 hours ago

    Well, once he opens up she can train him to be more independent. But first he needs the security and wiggle room.

    Its not the best approach, but in the mental world you take what you can get.

    • Donkter@lemmy.world
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      14 hours ago

      That’s kind of my point. What part of our whole understanding of how to train dogs involves training them to be more independent? I don’t really think there is any. At best you can point to like dog socialization training, but I don’t think that makes them more independent, that’s just training them to be social when their owners are around.

      • SavageCreation@lemmy.world
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        5 hours ago

        Yeah but this guy doesn’t currently need independence, he needs safety. Independence isn’t gonna give it to him - if anything, it’s making him feel exposed and unsafe.

        It’s like kids, they need to be cared for while they learn how to handle themselves. Slowly, you let them go and eventually they spread their wings and fly off. But until then, they’re vulnerable, weak, and highly dependent. Doesn’t make them any less, they just have other priorities.