solutions to problems don't have to be complicated

they don't have to wow you with ingenuity and creativity...they just have to work. if we looked for simple and easy to implement solutions to problems with our pets BEFORE they spiral out of control...maybe a lot of dogs would not lose their homes.

what i find interesting is that when i suggest an easy solution to some dog's "BIG...about to lose his home" problem...ie if the dog is barking in the yard and bugging the neighbors...my answer is...bring him in the house.
...people look at me like i am stupid. what? did you want me to say something more complicated..more intelligent, more inspiring...like...every time your dog barks, run outside and make him sit, lay down and stay...distract him from the behavior and work at practice of his basic commands, several times a day?
...come on here...if he is out barking in the yard all alone enough to bug everyone with his barking...the chances of someone actually investing in a time intensive and committed training routine of behavior modification are pretty freaking slim....bring him in the house...barking and bugging the neighbors problem is solved.

but you know what?
folks do not want simple solutions...they want the hard ones...why? well first, if you do follow thru and manage to stick with it...you are a freaking hero..that took a lot of time, effort, dedication and hard work on your part...the dog? oh yeah, he was there too.

but mostly i think the real reason is...a lot of people actually want the solution to fail. in their heads that dog is already out of here so they just go thru the motions so they can say they really did everything they could.
above all else remove the guilt.
which kind of failure would you rather be...the kind that would not simply open the door and bring the dog in? or the one who tried (sort of but not really) this whole complicated training program and gee, despite the heroic efforts...it still did not work?

most folks prefer to blame the dog..it is easier and gets them off the hook.

common sense is not something that goes naturally with living with animals...it is a lot about the illusion, the impression, the wow factor, if it ain't complicated, it ain't good...simply effective is nothing special...simple common sense is dying in our world.