Training for Both Ends of the Leash

In a world of choice and treats, they say,
There’s a better way to train each day,
And they say ...
But why use kindness, love, and care,
When dominance is everywhere?

Let’s fit a prong on Rover’s neck,
For every bark, we give a check.
A tug, a yank, to show who’s boss,
No time for play, no time for loss.

Sit before you eat, my pet,
It’s not control, it’s etiquette!
Sniff the ground? Oh, what a crime!
Stay glued to me, you’ve got the time.

Commands barked out, strict and stern,
No need for joy, no need to learn.
Punish first, then praise, they preach,
Obedience through fear, that’s what we teach!

But wait, let’s add a little fun,
For every wrong, there’s punishment to be done.
A zap, a shock, to keep in line,
Your dog will surely toe the line!

Yet in this rigid, joyless game,
What’s left of dogs we try to tame?
A robot pup, devoid of glee,
Is this the pet you hoped to see?

So here’s a thought, a little plea,
Let dogs be dogs, wild and free.
No need for prongs or zaps or fear,
Just love and play, and keep them near.

For in their eyes, there’s life and light,
Not just machines that do things right.
So toss the choke, the prong, the chain,
And let your dog be whole again.