Aly, I do hope you realize that I never thought you were calling names, I just advised anyone and everyone when discussing training methods that the use of the words like "cruel" can easily be taken personally and misunderstood (as we are seeing here somewhat I think).

In your first post you stated: "I think it is very cruel" As someone who has used one before my knee-jerk reaction was to feel that someone considered something I did to be cruel, and just the thought that someone might think I was being cruel to my dogs by using one made me feel almost tearful. Please I hope you can understand why I, or someone else, might have read it that way, at least at first. After taking some time to think and consider things, and yes also because I know you and how kind hearted and caring and sensitive you are, I decided it wasn't meant the way it might appear. I then made my response that just the WORDING was what can throw people off. "I don't like them" wouldn't have hit me the same way as "I think they are cruel" did.

I truly hope you can kind of understand where I'm coming from here, and I do understand where you are coming from as well. The LAST thing I want is to hurt you and make you feel singled out and attacked.

I know you are feeling distressed now so I just want you to know that I know how kind hearted and caring a person you are, and that you never intended to say anyone here was cruel. You were just trying to encourage what you feel to be a better method. {{group hugs}}