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The Dog-Training Approach to Political Domination

  • James Ron
  • Apr 10
  • 1 min read

Updated: Apr 30

Watching Trump handle US tariff policy reminds me of how a dog trainer once instructed me to teach my Labrador Retriever to walk off-leash.


"Leash your dog," she said, "and go for a walk while holding a piece of cheese in your extended fingers.


Walk rapidly in one direction, stop without warning, and then charge off in a new direction.


Repeat several times a minute for 10 minutes, periodically and irregularly offering the cheese for consumption.


Do this every day for a week."


My dog, Molly, caught on quickly. As excited about cheese as most of us are about our retirement portfolios, the puppy kept her eyes firmly on me and the treat in my hand, seeking to anticipate my every move. 


After seven days of this, Molly walked quietly and consistently alongside me, off-leash, attuned, and largely compliant. She stayed that way for the rest of her 12 years.


Is Trump training us like dogs?


About James Ron

Learn more about James on his website and LinkedIn profile. To read his scholarly articles, please visit James' ResearchGate and Academia.edu profiles. To learn how other scholars have used his work in their own research, visit his Google Scholar page. You can read James' social science blog here and his personal blog here. 

 

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