Animals, like us, are beings of energy. There is kinetic energy. This is energy in motion. I am not referring to that, but rather the energy that is the basis of everything — the stuff that we’re all made of.
You’ve probably heard that what you feel travels down the leash to the dog. More importantly, as dogs they convert whatever energy we are experiencing through our thoughts and actions into an “appropriate” dog thought and action. In other words, they respond in the “dog equivalent” to our human emotion, thought, and posturing.
It is through awareness and observation that we can make subtle shifts in what we are feeling and in how we are using our bodies. This transfers to a different and what we humans would call a more desirable reaction from our dog. Let’s just say, we are more likely to get the response we want and have a much more attentive and content dog.
Dogs are never intentionally responding inappropriately nor are they ever bad in the way that we may interpret the word. They are just acting in a way that is natural for them at that particular moment in time. We spend a lot of wasted energy trying to get the dog to understand human thought rather than it being the other way around.
I’m not saying that we should just accept whatever the behavior is. It is difficult not to transfer our emotional expression to our dog. We assume that they are thinking as we are. By humanizing our dogs, we miss the opportunity to see what’s really going on.
Chances are, your dog is responding appropriately given their history, genetics, training (or lack of), and maybe most importantly, their instincts.
As a side note, I think it’s fair to say that we humans tend to forget that we also live a lot of our life based on instinct – human instinct. We should remember to understand and work with our dogs based on their instincts and not ours.
For a related article on humanizing your dog, check out: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/humandog.htm
I am often asked what I think that dogs do when people are away from the home. That’s usually based on their sense of guilt in leaving their dog. I assure them that dogs do what dogs do. They run and play and rest. They don’t have the same awareness of time as we do.
I decided that in order to better answer this question, I would install a videocam to catch the dogs in action while I was away. I installed the camera in the living room and went to work.
I returned in the afternoon and the dogs greeted me outside as usual. I didn’t anticipate that the video would contain any new revelations into dog behavior.
If only. If only there was a leash or collar that I could bless or maybe have Cesar Milan bless that would train your dog effortlessly. I would then offer it to the public as the answer to their dog training problems.
This is it! Now, my career as a dog trainer and behaviorist will be over and the livelihood of all other trainers will be threatened. Read on. . .
I’m referring to the soon-to-be-released Magic Dog Training Leash. It is UNBELIEVABLE. I mean that literally in that it is not to be believed. Seriously, don’t believe any of this. . .
Imagine! With this leash, your dog will instantly heel, sit, stay, lie down, eat all his food, have no aggression issues and be completely housebroken. BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE! If you buy now, I’ll throw in the unadvertised special Subliminal Dog Training CD that is guaranteed to keep your dog off any and all furniture. It will also end the need for your dog to chew on expensive shoes! You just play the CD while your pup sleeps, and wait for the miracle of your dog’s behavior modification.
If only. . .
I guess you know that the only way to have a well-behaved dog is to consistently train them. If I can some day perfect the ideas above, you’ll be the first to know!
CONFINEMENT. Confine the dog in a small space – either a crate, play pen, or a very small area of a room. If your dog is not in this space, then the ONLY other option is that they are with you and in your sight (preferably on a leash). In most cases, dogs do not want to soil their living space. The size of the space will grow as they mature. It can also be helpful to feed them in this space.
CONSISTENCY. Consistency with water and feeding on a schedule and taking the dog outside on a regular basis. When you take the dog out, use a word that you will use every time they go outside. They are outside for a purpose. Stay with them until they “go” and reward with a treat and verbal praise. Come back inside and follow Step 1. If they didn’t “go,” it’s still back to Step 1 until you take them out again.
CARING. Caring that your dog will have every opportunity to succeed. That means that you will feel successful! Understand that you are not being cruel by providing either of the first two steps. It could mean the difference of housebreaking taking two weeks versus two months (or longer).
Look for additional housebreaking tips in future posts!
Some of the best rehabilitation for a dog happens in the presence of other dogs. They learn from each other and to us mere humans it appears to be in very subtle ways. This could be not-so-good if it’s like how some teenagers “help” other teenagers learn new behaviors! But, good behaviors can also be shared.
I live in the high desert on a fenced acre of property that is like an off-leash park. It is, however, dirt, gravel, and natural desert terrain and is slightly terraced. I recently had a Great Dane here that had lived in a neighborhood and was accustomed to walking on sand or grass. Walking up or down hills had not been his experience.
Here is this 120-pound dog afraid of stepping off of the patio because of his tender feet. He was like a little girl trying to gain stability while walking around in her mother’s high heels! As we’d walk around and climb the gentle slopes of the yard, it was apparent that what Schlappie lacked was more than toughened paw pads. He lacked confidence in his body and ability to control it as he maintained his balance.
I couldn’t help him with that but the other dogs could. He would do his best to keep up with them. It was obvious that he wanted to be like the other kids on the playground. I think I heard them call him Chief Tenderfoot. What was I to do? “Kids” can be cruel.
He would step from patio to dog bed to dirt to patio and then contemplate the best next step to get inside without ever leaving a cushion or the flat consistent surface.
I’d take all the dogs on a walk around the property every morning and evening and watch as Schlappie began to walk a little quicker but more than that, he was gaining confidence. THEN, one evening, it happened! Confidence shift for Schlappie! He took off galloping like a horse – around and around he went. It was a thing of beauty to watch his awareness of freedom and trust in his long legs to get him where he wanted to go.
Schlappie is now ready to help other dogs and to tell his story of how in just two weeks of rehab he lost his nickname and gained self-confidence.
Obedience training and positive structure will help to build confidence in your dog. The more confident and clear you are with your expectations – the more confidence you’ll bring to them. Watch how the dogs do it. . .it’s a beautiful thing!
Unfortunately, 171,229 dogs are feeling and living the impact of that statement and that’s just on http://Petfinder.org.
I know that they’re “just words.” Just words. . .”get rid of”. . .I think that there are a lot of things we can all get rid of and none of them would even closely resemble a dog. I’d like someone to be able to look in the eyes of their dog and explain exactly what “getting rid” of them means.
There may be a lot of reasons that a dog should be re-homed or helped in other ways due to a consideration that is in the best interest of the dog. I am very grateful that I have my dogs, and while I’ll have them with me for the remainder of their lives, I’m not their first home.
It’s not that there can’t be some synchronicity at play that brings the right dog to us but that’s a completely different story than a dog that someone chooses to get rid of out of an inconvenience. Some dogs are fortunate to have been loved by several families and have always known a loving environment. Some haven’t. Someone got rid of them.
Maybe you or I will be lucky enough to be loved by one of these dogs.
Oh how I wish I could answer that. We observe, we study, we listen, we assume, and sometimes we cry or laugh until tears are running down our cheeks.
I was training a black lab, Maxi-B, who was having issues with being timid. She seemed to be hardwired this way. She was adopted as a pup and had no known traumas. She was in a very playful mood this particular day and heeling nicely but with a bit of a spring in her four-pawed step.
The visual I’d like you to get is that there was nothing smooth or simultaneous about her gait. I think that goofy is a good word for her enthusiasm.
I was thrilled because she seemed to be making progress with briefly letting go of her timid nature. If a dog can express being pleased with herself – she was pleased.
Labs in particular are good at maintaining a semblance of control and somehow staying in a perfect heel while their body wiggles with motion (and perhaps emotion).
I stopped and she sat but with a bit of an extra twist of the hips. Then, I said “down” and she looked up at me and began to move and wiggle like she was dying to let me in on some secret but wasn’t supposed to say anything!
Have you ever told a child to do something and they know they are supposed to do it and will do it but they say “okay, but I want to show you something first?” It’s an obvious diversion for a child.
Could that be the case for a dog? I think so. I think that she was feeling so good and so confident that the girl would rather just have danced a bit. So, I let her and then like a good trainer made sure that she followed through with the command.
She made me laugh, and I think that on this particular day, Maxi-B laughed too.
This post is to honor a breed of dogs that have been so misunderstood. I’m grateful that more and more healthy families are adopting Pit Bulls as family members .
I am, however, very frustrated with the legislation in some States, Cities, and Counties that punish the breed and potential homes by threatening to cancel homeowner’s insurance policies if there is an animal in the home that even remotely resembles a Pit Bull.
I realize there are other breeds that are discriminated against, but my love is for the Pit Bulls that I have had the pleasure of knowing.
It’s so easy to ignore any form of prejudice or personal discomfort when fear (false evidence appearing real) is allowed to dominate our thoughts. I used to watch as people crossed the street to avoid approaching me and my tail-waggin’, body-wigglin’, floppy-eared Pit. I don’t know that she cared. I did.
I used to say that her chest was so large because it was designed to house her loving heart. And, love she did. Every moment and always! She’s no longer here in the physical sense, but anyone who has experienced the passing of their beloved pet, knows they are never really gone.
Always take the time to experience the wonder of the beautiful (and not so beautiful) creatures we have the privilege of living with on this earth. We never know what we might learn from them.
Here’s to my girl. . .
From Chapin, a stray and badly abused Pit Bull with an unknown past I learned:
Anything large enough to lie on is a potential bed
When someone is reaching toward you, be sure of their intention
Love is simple and available every moment
Greet friends or a new experience with wild abandon (don’t be too shy to tuck your rear and run!)
When people don’t trust you because they don’t know you, love them anyway
Snoring is not nearly as annoying if you’re really cute
It’s OK to need someone in your life
Never be too lazy for a hug
It’s good to see things for the first time again and again
No matter how hurried those are around you, rise slowly and always take the time to stretch
Unconditional love is just that – unconditional¬
Dog parks or off-leash parks can be great places to let your dog socialize, play fetch, and for some aspects of training.
I have been to several parks that are very small, smell of urine, and the humans haven’t been responsible for picking up after their dogs. I have also been to parks that were amazing and the dogs and humans all had a great time! Here are a few things to consider:
If your dog is aggressive with other dogs, stay out of the parks and find a trainer who can work with you and your dog in a more suitable environment.
If you are feeling insecure about entering the park, chances are your dog will sense that from you. Alway take their leash off in the area provided prior to entering the area with the other dogs.
Dog parks are for well-behaved humans and their well-behaved dogs.
If you can’t handle your dog outside of the park fence, then inside the park is not the place to be.
Dog parks are good for human socialization and for dogs to use some of their energy. However, some dogs will leave the park more energized.
Never leave your dog unattended.
Dogs will be dogs and will do their introductory sniffing. Not all dogs will like each other. Don’t try to force that. Just be responsible and aware if there appears to be signs of an altercation.
If you are interested in going to a dog park but aren’t sure about your dog in that environment, contact a trainer and have them meet you there. They can evaluate your dog and go in the park with you if that’s appropriate. It can be a great place for you and your dog!
I’d like to introduce you to the newest member of my family. Zoe is her name. She is a Labradoodle. That is a Labrador mixed with a Poodle. They are very popular and if lucky, you can get one that has inherited Poodle hair rather than the shedding version.
Zoe is definitely more Poodle than Lab, so maybe she’d be more of a Poodlabrador? It’s all so confusing. To complicate things, Zoe’s Dad is a Rottweiler. So, I’m left deciding on an appropriate breed name.
I could call her a Rottilabradoodle or a Rottioodlab or even a Labradoodlweiler. I know that she doesn’t care, but I know what it’s like growing up with an unidentifiable heritage.
Come to think of it, her brother (not genetically) is a Yorkie/Maltese/Shitzu blend. hmmm. . . I definitely live in a multicultural or maybe that’s multibreedural environment.
