Recently I have had two different dogs from two different households come for training. Both of these dogs and their owners had been to different trainers. In one case, two trainers. Both of these dogs need rehab since they are unable to coexist with other animals or be calm around the owners. Unfortunately the similarities don’t end there. In both cases, the dogs knew commands, but either would not listen or, even if they followed the “commands” it still wouldn’t mean they anywhere near to being able to be around other people or dogs when “commanded”. It is no secret that dog training has become a huge business. With little to no regulation, any person can state that they are dog trainers. Many are incredibly talented, but, sadly, the majority stands between average or simply incompetent. Hence why many dog owners become jaded when procuring a dog trainer. Finding the right trainer for you and your dog requires a lot of research. However, I believe the secret to achieving success with a trainer comes down to trusting one’s gut. Both owners in this case, felt that something just wasn’t right with the training their dog received and the things they were asked to do. In both instances they chose to override that instinct and do what the trainer said. We now know how that worked out. When searching for a trainer I believe it is imperative that one does their research. Understanding that there are a myriad of training techniques out there is not only crucial to encountering the style that most agrees with your life style, it is also imperative in finding what works and what is just window dressing. Working in dog psychology gives one access to understanding how dogs function. Dog psychology denotes we work with the psychology of the dog, meaning what makes sense to them. Hence, making it easier for them to understand what behaviors are allowed in a human world. It is not rocket science, it is simply communicating with a being in their language and repeating it until it becomes a new behavior.
I believe that finding a dog behaviorist or trainer requires almost as much work as choosing a school for one’s kids. There are many teaching methods out there. One can go to catholic school, military school, open learning spaces, teacher centered, student centered…the list goes on and on. In dog training you can find protection work, positive only, treat centered learning, balanced training, dog psychology… I could go on. The crucial difference between “traditional dog training” and dog psychology or behaviorism is that the former centers on working on the dog, while the latter focuses on working with the dog. One can think about it in this way, if a child is having issues with learning and one focuses solely on their inability to learn then the blame will be placed on the child alone. However if one understands that this child is “unbalanced” meaning stressors are making it difficult for them to grasp the lessons, them the conversation goes in a totally different direction. A young person that does not feel safe at home or at school will be less open to learning. Hence the foundation needs to be worked on, not the individual’s inability to learn and succeed. The same is true with dogs. A dog maybe able to master words and commands but not necessarily be calm enough to trust situations around him or her.
With the risk of opening the door to many angry messages, I’ll say it loud and clear… food is not the conduit to good behavior. No animal is neutral about food. It is what sustains us. But one does not see animals going around and offering food to one another in order to bribe a better behavior. Food is an amazing tool to create connections but it is a misnomer to believe that without food one can not achieve a balanced dog. On the contrary, many dogs that were trained with positive reinforcement only (treats for everything) are usually the ones with a heightened sense of excitement when food is presented. Hence making it difficult to create a balanced association whenever food is around.
In the case of the dogs now here with me, treats were used in abundance. Talking was used extensively. One of the dogs associates the word “place” with staying on a bed while shaking uncontrollably and whining at the top her lungs. It breaks ones heart knowing that these owners trusted a “professional” with their dogs and this is the result they got. Dog training is not a bad thing when it takes the dog in consideration. But most of the time what is most important is how the dog acts and reacts while in the presence of the trainer. Police dogs are a perfect example. These dogs can scale buildings, catch a person running away, drop and lie down on command but are incapable of being calm around other dogs or humans. To be fair that is exactly what one does not need them to do. Nevertheless, it goes to show that a dog can be extremely well trained but not at all balanced. Hence the foundation of the work I am now doing with the two dogs is teaching them that humans can indeed see them for what they are. By honoring their way of communicating and understating that it centers not on treats or food, but on energy and body language. By starting the conversation with their nose and not their ears. By acknowledging that I am making up for lost time and many missed commutations. These dogs don’t trust that a human can actually give them protection and direction. Even though they know the words the humans want them to know, they do not associate humans guidance.
I am grateful everyday that I am able to work with dogs like this. As a trainer, I acknowledge that I am also part of the problem in not spreading enough education around. It is incumbent on all of us in this huge dog community to engage the average person and help them understand that not all dog trainers are created equal. Dog psychology is what allows me to work with dogs and prove to them that human beings can see when they are communicating their needs. When they are unsure about something, nervous, hesitant. I can help them conquer they fear and move past it. Dogs are incredible beings that are resilient and teach me everyday what it is like to live in the moment. What it is like to relearn trust. No amount of food can do that. So the next time you hear a trainer say “well the dog doesn’t do that with me.” Run. Find someone else. Someone that not only can teach your dog that they are seen, but can also teach you how to achieve that level of trust and respect from your furry companion. A trainer’s job at the end of the day is to make your dog trusting of the world around them. If they are not capable of teaching you how to that, then it is best that you look elsewhere. Do your research and find someone that works with the psychology of dogs and not on the dog.
Happy training!
