It hasn’t been a great few weeks to be a dog.

First, excerpts from the governor of South Dakota’s book, which by now have made it into the meme universe, so I’m guessing they don’t need much of an explanation, may have scared a few “untrainable” dogs straight.

Then this past weekend, dog treats laced with fish hooks were found along the Appalachian Trail, fairly locally.

While I was reluctant to take the initial reports on Cricket’s untimely demise in a gravel pit at the hands of Gov. Noem at face value and potentially out of context, her frequent appearances and attempts at justifying her actions have only dug her in a deeper hole and made me feel more and more sympathy for the dog.

One set of quotations regarding how this dog acted around chickens and while chasing birds seemed to be exactly the kind of behavior I want a bird dog like Duncan to have in the field, and why Steve never, ever disciplined him for “being curious” about our chickens. (The chickens were always safely inside their enclosure and not at risk of being harmed.)

As for her justification in sharing this story, that it makes her seem capable of doing difficult things and not backing down, I’d just like to posit that one of the most, if not the actual most difficult thing that I’ve had to do in the last two years is learn to work with two exceptionally stubborn dogs.

While I would never call either of them untrainable (with the right motivation and consistency, I could probably teach them to set the table for tea,) I’m not so sure that they would say the same thing about me.

Training myself how to act and how to recognize their cues and learn how to love them, while keeping them on a short leash so to speak, has been a tremendously difficult task.

It’s also one I am still failing more than I am succeeding at most days, but so far their recall has improved 100%, they usually stay within visual range on our walks, even when off leash, and they haven’t lured me to a gravel pit yet.

While they are only off leash in areas that we know well, and that are close to our home, and where we aren’t likely to encounter any strange dogs, the idea of someone leaving tainted treats where any dog, or other animal, coming along would be likely to ingest them just baffles me. Most of the people in my circle who have shared that information editorialize it with “what sort of monster would do this” type comments.

Judging by how well my two discerning mutts can separate a teeny tiny pill from gobs of peanut butter and treats mixed together, and by how most dog owners and dogs respond to getting a face full of porcupine quills, I think that pet dogs who came across this stuff might have stood a chance. I wasn’t as optimistic for the raccoon who thought he’d scored an easy meal and scurried off into the night, not under the eyes of a careful human.

To me this act was just incredibly cruel and heartless, and I can’t fathom it. How people treat animals and small children says just about everything you need to know about them. That being said, I also grew up on a farm and understand that yes, sometimes there is a need to dispatch an animal quickly, and sometimes it might be the kindest thing you can do for a pet or a working animal.

The world of hunting dogs is also new to me, but even in the short amount of time that I’ve been a member of online chat groups or other organizations that promote hunting with dogs, I’ve learned that while your dogs can be a tool, just like a gun or a trap, or any other piece of equipment you take into the field, they are also usually treated with the care and respect that one might have for an expensive rifle, knowing that just like a gun, they can be dangerous if used incorrectly.

I also know that truly good breeders don’t stop caring about their animals when they pack them off to their new owner. I’ve seen several dogs returned to breeders when they may not have lived up to expectations, or had a different skill set than the one required.

Quality breeders will work to find the right owners for their dogs. A hunting dog lacking prey drive may make the ideal pet for another family, but it will take time, patience, and experience to sort that out.

I worried greatly that I was being cruel to Duncan when I decided to keep him, rather than find a new hunting home for him, but I also made the commitment to do my best to keep him on the track that he was on and doing the things he loves. It’s not quite the constant challenge that a life with Steve would have given him, but I know Dunc’s happy face, and I see it frequently enough that I no longer question whether I was right to keep him.

So, what is my point this week? I’m not entirely sure that I have a good one other than to ask that if we can’t be nicer to each other, can we at least try to be nicer to our dogs?

Liz Pinkey’s column appears on Saturdays in the Times News.