Be One With Your Dog

There are many approaches to training your dog; every trainer has their preferred method.  And they each claim that their method is the best.  I’m no different.  I teach the way I teach because I believe it’s one of the best ways to connect with your dog.

Note that I said “one of the best ways”.  I am not so narrow minded to believe it’s the only way.  Also I said “to connect with your dog”, not “to train your dog”.  That’s because I believe that if you want to train your dog to do all the standard sit, down, stay, come commands, you should first meet her in her world and see things from her perspective.  Only by understanding her world can you expect her to work with you in yours.

As humans, we tend to deal with the world internally – through analysis, projection, and emotions.  Dogs, however, exist in the physical world, noticing every tiny change in their environment, from the scent left by a mouse in the field to mood changes in people.   Integrating those two perspectives requires that we recognize and respect our differences, not just pay lip service to them.

Dogs sense the world primarily through their nose, and they investigate with their mouths.  This is completely different from how we perceive the world.  We use our eyes as our primary sense and we investigate with our hands. 

How many times has your dog barked at something that you couldn’t see so you’ve told her “there’s nothing there” because you couldn't see something?  But that doesn’t mean your dog is mistaken.  Maybe she has picked up on a scent which has been carried on the wind from half a mile away.  Just maybe she knows something you don’t.

For dogs, curiosity often leads to grabbing, manipulating, and tasting.  Which can lead to people being disgusted at what dogs will put in their mouths:  dirt covered bones, rotting fish, mouldy food, and poop are just some of the items that cause some of us to recoil in horror.  But dogs don’t have the same taste buds we do, and they evolved to make best use of any available organic items.  That is how they survived.  They developed into the companions we have today because 40,000 years ago they began staying close to human settlements so they could take advantage of our food and bodily waste.

When you understand these basic differences between us and dogs, you can begin to perceive the world differently and work with your dog to help her live her life happily in human world.

Instead of dismissing your dog’s barking because “there’s nothing there”, try looking out the window with her and letting her know you’ve investigated but you’re both safe so she can stop barking now.  Instead of holding her leash mindlessly (or worse, talking on your phone!) when out walking, try sharing her interests by following her as she sniffs the ground and brush.   Instead of ignoring her head turns, learn to read her subtle body language so you can respond when she alerts, turning to look in the same direction or guiding her away from danger.

Understanding your dog, reaching her brain and not just rote training of her body, will connect you emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  That is the goal of the classes I teach:   two souls moving through this world as one.