LYKOS WOLFALIKE COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA INC

In our breeding community, we all share something important - a deep love for dogs and a commitment to preserving and improving the breed, training and loving our dogs.

Whether you've been breeding for decades or are just starting out, we know how much time, energy, and heart goes into raising and training healthy, well-adjusted pups and maintaining ethical standards.

That’s why it’s especially disheartening when you see some people partaking in online bullying, defamatory and untrue statements and personal attacks.

Unfortunately, this kind of behaviour is becoming more common in the age of social media. Social media platforms, forums, and even group chats can be used to spread misinformation, stir up drama, and target people.

In some cases, it’s sparked by competition. Other times, it's due to disagreements over breaches of contracts, breaches of breeding regulations and being removed from an organisation or personal misunderstandings that spiral out of control.

What Does Online Bullying Look Like in the Dog community?

It can come in many forms:

- Public shaming or “naming and shaming” posts

- Sharing private conversations or screenshots out of context

- Spreading false claims about someone’s breeding ethics or animals or training methods

- Trolling of social media pages, websites, or advertisements with fake reviews or complaints

- Targeting a breeder’s puppy owners or followers and attempting to manipulate or turn them against others

-  In some cases, it’s not just one person behind it - it may be a group effort, where like-minded individuals coordinate to undermine someone’s reputation.

How online bullying affects people

Aside from being personally hurtful, this kind of behaviour does real damage to the broader community that migrates into the real world.

It harms people’s reputations, their businesses, harms mental health, even resulting in PTSD or worse.

There was recently a news article published about a wildlife rescuer in the USA who ended her life, with online bullying playing a major part in the tragedy.

It drives potential owners, supporters, clients and breeders away, creates fear and division, and makes it harder for the public to know who to trust.

Ultimately, it’s the dogs and the breed that lose out when passionate, ethical breeders are silenced or discouraged.

At our club, we believe in fostering a supportive environment where open discussion is welcome - but bullying, harassment, or character attacks have no place here.

As a community, we all have a role to play in setting the tone.

-  Avoid gossip and speculation.

-  Report harmful behaviour when you see it or hear it.

-  Don’t engage with online bullies.

-  Support your own community and the breeders and owners you personally know.

-  Celebrate collaboration, transparency, and kindness in the breed.

If someone genuinely believes there is a welfare concern involving a breeder or their dogs, the correct course of action is to report it to the appropriate authorities such as the RSPCA who are trained to assess and investigate these matters objectively.

Those who engage in online bullying and harassment campaigns ultimately damage their own credibility and reputation and reveal more about their own personal grievances, lack of emotional maturity, or unhealthy fixation than about the individuals they target.

Let’s Lead By Example!

At the end of the day, we’re stronger when we support each other. Avoid spreading gossip and focus on the positive!

We all want the same thing: to see our dogs thrive, and to know that the people raising these incredible dogs are doing so with care, knowledge, and integrity.

Let’s continue to build a culture that uplifts, not tears down!

- Shared from the LWCA newsletter 30/07/2025