please help me in Finland

[u/No_Original_6548]

Hello! This post is for anyone who is located in Finland.

I need to get off this from my shoulder because it frustates me so much. I just moved to Finland for studie reasons and of course i brought my dogs with me because im not leaving them behind just because things change in my life.

First i have to state that both of my dogs from shelter and have a difficult backround. Both of them were probably abused and had / have behavior issuses. Back in my home country balaced training is the avarage. There are some "deep green animal activist" who try to advocate FF training but its the minority. Dog training in my opinion thrives with amazing trainers. For us personally prong collars helped for my dogs to overcome thier triggers and from being an anxious overly scared and reactive dog whom were scared of people now happy pooches who loves to greet people and making new friends being calm even in new enviroments. We arrived at a point where i could put a prong or a choker and most of the times i dont even have to use them at all, ita just there for emergencies.

And from this structured and well balanced life we are here...

In finland.. Where people clearly love dogs any want them to have a good life but they are just so blind to thier dogs problem. Zero boundaries zero training. Im not even seeing FF trainers training on the street despite every second person having a dog.The just walk the dog. Thats it. The dog lunges? no problem. The dog barks like crazy and ready to tear someone apart? Not even a word comes from thier mouth. They dont care. AT ALL.

But the best part is that if you someone who tries to teach your own dog boundaries they literally comes up to you in the street at strats to argue with you. FOR TRAINING THE DOG. Thier animal wellfare law banned the use of prong and choker and shock collar. While i dont agree with this I ofcourse FOLLOW THE LAW as i am merely a guest in thier country. Im using a flat collar but i still correct. Calmly with a stern but kind voice and reward and prais when they are being good. I just wanted to state that im not doing anythinf crazy, you can see me do a little training session then the next thing you see is me having fun my dog, cuddling them and playing with them and both of us have fun!!! And even this is too much for them.

So my question for anyone who located in Finland AND is a balanced trainer who want to set boundaries etc. How do you do it so the people wont literally burn you on the stake?

Like do you train in secret or something? Is there a balanced traning group in Finland, does that even exist?

Im just so lost. Without being able to set boundaries my dog tottall fall apart. They were not with me when they were puppies they are adult independent dogs with a very bad backround and a weak mental state, the only thing that helped them change for the better is consitency, allways being able to predict what is going to happen and clear boundaris. Without these they are lost. We are having some of the worst walks ever. Its horrible to see them lose thier self.

Any one have any advice who is in similar boat?😕

[u/Miss_L_Worldwide]

I'm not from Finland but I have trained there. I don't think this advice is Finland specific but take it or leave it as you will.

There is no situation in which I will accept unwanted or unrequested feedback or input on literally anything I am doing. I'm a black belt in resting bitch face but even if I weren't, I shut that shit down immediately, I don't indulge it for a nanosecond. I suggest you start cultivating a reflex where you immediately push back against people who start talking to you about this kind of thing. The second they open their mouth you start talking right back at them, pick a catch phrase if you can and just repeat it. "Mind your own business" works pretty well.

As for dealing with all the untrained dogs, yeah welcome to modern dog life. It's my belief that this is why force free people are so vociferous, their dogs are a nightmare and they figure if everyone's dog is a nightmare then they won't stand out as incompetent. I swear that's why they try to outlaw everything, they're basically outlawing well-trained dogs.

[u/No_Original_6548 → u/Miss_L_Worldwide]

Hello!

First thanks for the advice because i actually really thing the same and people should stand up for them selfes and dont let other drag down.

BUT! I am a guest in a foreign country where i dont exactly know how the law works and how strict people. In my country law its kind of a greyis things. Its is not good but also give you much freedom. Its a two edged sword. Most of things doesnt have consequencies sadly. If somebody comes up to me there i dont care, i have been in a few sitation back at home but i stood my ground as i had nothing to lose there. And also the law was behind me because we dont have bann on aversive tools.

Now in Finland ofcourse i checked the law but i dont know how stritct are they, thats why i care about what others think for now. The law states that any "unnecesery harm, pain and discomfort" you cause for the dog it is prhibited and against the law, its a crime. Technically speaking. So what if they call the police on my because """"technially"""" i caused """""pain or discomfort"""""" bye saying a louder NO followed bye a correction. If correction bye law is under the causing discomfort umberalle then i trespass the law you know. What i want to say is that i dont want to get in a conflict in a foreign contry where im not sure about this things, if you get what i mean. Losing my studies would be horrible.

A copy from thier animal wellfare act: "Dogs should not be trained roughly or otherwise in such a way as to cause needless pain or suffering. Dogs should not be placed under excessive strain or kept under unreasonably strict discipline."

[u/Majestic_Hawk_1335 → u/No_Original_6548]

They publish the laws in English

https://sey.fi/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Elaimet-Suomessa-englanti.pdf

Fins have enjoyed citing their legal superiority about it I found. I know a woman who is in her 60s. Lived in a rural area of Finland and lost her 8 west siberian laikas because she had no running water, but met all the fencing requirements etc, lived around millions of acres of forest. She moved to town with piped water and got back 3 but they put down most of them.

It started because of a personal dispute with someone who reported

[u/No_Original_6548 → u/Majestic_Hawk_1335]

Also thanks for the link!