Tim Dowling: the dog's training regime has taken a weird turn

A Dog Trainer's Unorthodox Methods Put Owner in a Tight Spot.

Tim Dowling, the husband, found himself in an uncomfortable situation on his mid-week dog walk with wife. As they were strolling through the park, a stranger appeared out of nowhere and was promptly chased by their aggressive dog, Violet. When it became clear that the woman was not a threat, Violet returned to her owner's side, still panting heavily. The couple's training regime, which included hiding from strangers and aggressively defending them, seemed to be taking an unusual turn.

At home, Dowling discovered a certificate from Violet's dog school with "Completed" as the only notable achievement. When asked about this, his wife revealed that the instructors were too conservative and did not provide any further details on what went wrong during training. She had signed Violet up for Intermediate classes, leaving Dowling to wonder what other unconventional methods she would take her dog through.

Their next outing ended in a confrontation with another dog, which sparked an intense ball-swapping incident. While the owners tried to resolve the issue by swapping dogs, Dowling couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss. As he watched Violet dig up a hole and remain focused on it for seven minutes without any apparent reason, he began to question the effectiveness of their training regime.

The next day, when asked about the park, Dowling reported a fight between Violet and another dog. When pressed for more details, his wife revealed that the other owner didn't even know Violet's name. The couple's unusual methods had raised concerns among fellow dog owners, who couldn't understand why such aggressive behavior was being encouraged.

While Tim Dowling acknowledges that some training techniques may be effective, he is left wondering what the long-term implications of their approach will be for both him and his wife.

I mean, have you ever wondered how some dog trainers can come up with these super unorthodox methods? Like, hiding from strangers and defending them aggressively... it's just not right . And now they're dealing with a dog that's more aggressive than usual, and poor Tim Dowling is stuck trying to figure out what went wrong .

I get that some trainers might think their way is the best way, but sometimes I think we need to take a step back and re-evaluate our approach . Maybe they should've gotten more feedback from other instructors or something... . I'm not saying it's the trainer's fault, but at least they should be having an open conversation about what went wrong .

It's just crazy to think that Violet was in Intermediate classes and things were already starting to go downhill . And now people are questioning whether this training method is even effective . Poor Tim Dowling, he's gotta deal with all the drama... I hope they find a new way to train Violet soon !

I'm like totally stoked about this whole thing ... but at the same time, I'm seriously worried . Like, I get that the dog trainer's methods might be unorthodox, but what if it's actually working? Maybe Violet is just super intelligent and needs a different approach to learn . On the other hand, I'm all about being safe with our pets, so if this training regime is causing more problems than solutions, then yeah, something needs to change .

I'm not sure what to make of it either... maybe they just need to rethink their strategy or seek out some additional guidance from a pro . But at the same time, I don't want to judge them harshly without knowing all the facts . It's like, can we really say that their methods are bad if they're working for Violet? Or is it just a case of "you get what you pay for"? Ugh, my mind is totally blown !

I'm calling BS on this dog training regime. Hiding from strangers and aggressively defending them? That's not training, that's toddler behavior! And now they're expecting some serious fallout when Violet starts biting random dogs in the park? The woman in the park was like "no big deal" after getting chased by Violet... did she just let it slide because of whatever weird agreement the owners have with her? This whole thing smells fishy. Where's the evidence for these training methods being effective? Or are they just making this up as they go along? I'd want to see some serious scientific backing before I start condoning aggressive dog behavior... or a very good reason why that's exactly what their daughter needs

omg this is crazy! I mean, on one hand, you gotta give Violet's trainers credit for creativity... but also, like, who hides a dog from strangers? that's just asking for trouble. And what's up with the ball-swapping incident? did they not realize that was just an excuse to play tug-of-war? anyway, I'm kinda worried about Tim and his wife now... are they gonna be able to handle all these confrontations or is this dog training thing just gonna blow up in their faces?

I've seen some weird stuff in dog parks, but this takes the cake. Like, who hides a dog from strangers and expects them to come out all aggressive? It's like they're trying to create an alien or something . And swapping dogs during a fight? That's just basic common sense, not training .

I'm all for letting your dog have some space, but this is just getting out of hand . I mean, if Violet was really being trained to defend her family, wouldn't she at least try to sniff the other dog out first? It's like they're just throwing their dogs into a meat grinder and seeing what comes out .

And what's with the "Intermediate" classes? If someone's got that far, shouldn't they be taught how to actually calm down and behave in public? I'd rather see some basic obedience training than this crazy stuff .

Wow , like, I'm shocked! Who teaches a dog to chase strangers and fight without any provocation? That's just crazy talk! Violet should be in obedience school not some sort of canine ninja training program Interesting how the instructors didn't give more details about what went wrong during training.

omg u guys this dog trainer is straight up crazy Violet's owners r literally worried about her aggressive behavior & I'm like no wonder! hiding from strangers & defending them like that can't be good 4 the poor pup and now she's on to ball-swapping with other dogs? what kinda weirdo teaches that?

I'm kinda worried about this couple . I mean, I get it, they're trying to help Violet become a more assertive dog, but come on! Chasing strangers and digging up holes without reason? It's not exactly the most chill way to interact with others. And what's up with those Intermediate classes? Who teaches dogs that aggression is a viable skill? The fact that other owners are concerned about it too makes me think that maybe they're onto something. But at the same time, I don't want Violet (or anyone else) to get hurt because of some unorthodox training methods

I mean, this whole thing just smells like a case of unregulated dog training, you know? Like, who's really in charge here? The husband or the instructor? And what's with these intermediate classes that are more like "intermediate chaos" classes? It's all about pushing boundaries and testing limits, but is it safe for the dogs?

And let's talk about accountability. If Violet's training regime was so off-the-wall, how did her instructor not notice? Was there a lack of oversight or just a whole lot of doggy drama going on behind the scenes? The fact that fellow dog owners are speaking out against it suggests that something's seriously amiss.

I'm no expert, but I think what's missing here is some sort of dog training regulation – maybe a national standard for dog schools. That way, you know your pup is getting a safe and effective education. Otherwise, it's just a doggone wild west out there .

I mean, think about it... Violet's just trying to live her best life and take care of her humans in her own way . It's not like she's a bad dog or anything! The owners are probably just so busy with their lives they didn't realize what was going on . And that training school, maybe they were just trying to push the boundaries and come up with something new? It's all good in my books . The more I think about it, the more I'm like... why are we judging these people for trying to do something different? Maybe Violet's just a rebel and that's what makes her so lovable!

I'm kinda worried about this dog trainer's methods ... like, I get it, we all want our fur babies to be confident & stuff, but hiding from strangers & fighting with other dogs doesn't sound right . It's cool that the trainers didn't provide more info on what went wrong during training tho #DogTraining #AggressiveBehavior #ConcernsRising . I mean, it's not like Tim Dowling is looking for drama or anything, but he's just trying to figure out if his wife's methods are safe for Violet (and himself?) . Maybe they should reconsider their training regime & go for some more traditional methods? #PositiveReinforcementTraining #GoodMentalHealthForDogs

Umm, I think its pretty concerning when you see a dog just going off on anyone who walks by... I mean, hiding from strangers and defending them? That's not exactly how you build trust with other dogs or people! My cousin has a pup and she's super social, always wags her tail when they meet new people. Violet's training sounds kinda intense... what if that dog is just really reactive to something specific? Shouldn't the trainers be teaching owners how to handle those situations instead of trying to toughen them up?

I'm literally shaking my head over this dog trainer's methods . Like, I get that they might seem effective in the short term, but what about Violet's mental health? That dog is clearly fixated on some weird stuff, and it's not right to just chalk it up to "training" . And those other owners are worried? They should be! This whole thing raises so many questions about animal welfare and what we consider acceptable behavior in dogs .

I'm all for innovative thinking and pushing boundaries, but this takes the cake (or in Violet's case, the ball). I hope Tim and his wife take a closer look at their methods and consider seeking out some more conventional advice . This dog needs some TLC, not a weird training regime that's just going to cause more problems down the line .