| Know
thy dog, know thyself
… training is a two-way street
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Challenge
With understanding and a clear and patient
attitude, a situation that at first created
frustration now turns into an exciting
challenge to our problem-solving skills,
as well as an opportunity to learn more
about animal behavior and about ourselves.
As with most challenges, there are many
tools, techniques and resources we can
turn to for help. We should also prioritize,
by concentrating first on the behaviors
that are least tolerable. For example,
a large dog that jumps on people can be
a serious problem that could lead to injury.
With small dogs, however, it may not take
such a high priority.
Relationship
A dog's actions are not motivated by human
concerns, which means he is not capable
of doing "bad" things just to
irritate you. On the contrary, a dog instinctively
assumes he is in a relationship governed
by pack dynamics. His motivations include
social contact, food, mating (if not fixed),
attention, praise, play, bodily functions,
and striving to attain a higher position
in the pack hierarchy. As well, every
pack has a leader (in this case, you)
who behaves in a fair, confident and consistent
manner.
Dogs are highly attuned to body movements,
pitch of voice and other physical cues.
Also, just as humans have their own personalities,
individual dogs have their own characteristics
and traits. It is important to know your
dog and his personality. Is he dominant
or submissive? Hyperactive or laid back?
Awareness
Assessing the interaction we share with
our dog leads to an enhanced awareness
of the dynamics between our own behavior
and our dog's. Just as we tend to interpret
the dog's behavior in a human way, so
the dog sees our behavior in canine terms.
Since it is asking too much to expect
our dogs to think like humans, we need
to try to think like a dog to further
our understanding and be successful in
training. This involves self-awareness.
How do your won traits influence your
god and his behavior? Do you react to
negative situations with anger or hurt?
Are you over-controlling to the point
where the dog doesn't get enough fun?
Or are you the opposite, allowing your
dog to run loose, chew furniture and generally
disobey your commands?
Consistency
Consistency includes choosing a particular
training method and sticking with it.
Dogs are as clever as children when it
comes to determining whether or not we
really mean what we say, and if we intend
to follow through. This is why your dog
may behave perfectly with a trainer, but
won't listen to you. In the words of Dr.
Phil, we teach people how to treat us;
likewise, we teach or dogs how to treat
us. Consistency will teach your dog that
you are firm but kind, and that you will
not tolerate any boundary crossing but
will praise positive actions.
A dog's behavior can serve as a mirror
for our own characters. Blaming the dog
for undesirable behavior not only destroys
the possibility of self-knowledge and
growth and aborts the potential for creating
a mutually fulfilling relationship.
Karen Hutton has
worked with dogs and other animals for
many years. Based in New Brunswick, she
shares her home with six dogs. She as
a Master of Arts in Anthropology and a
certificate in wildlife rehabilitation.
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Published in
the August/September 2003 issue of Animal
Wellness
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