As a positive dog trainer and dog advocate, I would like to express my concern for man’s best friend after reading the article in the Sun Journal Jan. 11, “Dog law has more bite.”

My concern is that just fining dog owners and, even worse, taking the dog away from its home will not necessarily change the behavior of the dog owners. A more proactive approach could be educating dog owners about canine behavior and humane dog care.

For as long as humans have lived with dogs, we have expected so much from them, expected them to do as we say, understand our language, many times without humane training. The family dog is trying to communicate with us all the time. Dogs bark for a reason. I would wager that the problem barker is the poor dog chained up outside 24 hours a day.

Before passing a law to just shut the dog up, we need to start listening to what our dogs are telling us and respond. Then and only then will barking decrease in the town of Greene.

Ann M. Ward, member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, Leeds

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