Are we Actually Training?

I often note in my basic manners classes that what we’re doing is not really training. After all we’re not teaching our dogs to sit, lie down or go one way or another – they do all those behaviors already. We’re just asking for them on-demand.

Most people, even the millions that buy purebreds (typically dogs that have been bred to perform a task that no longer exists) want the basic things a dog does, whenever they ask for it. Period, no questions asked. If they ask for a sit, they expect their dog to sit. If they demand a come, they want it immediately. I often have to remind my beginner students that their dog does not need to give them eye contact to have a solid stay. But we want what we want, don’t we?

But what about the dogs? So many dogs these days are what I call project dogs. Dogs that need a bunch of healing (typically mental more than physical) before they can be asked to do anything on-demand. These dogs need to see that we’re trustworthy, predictable and hanging in for the long-haul. Then we need to work to build their confidence and change their negative associations before we can expect real communication. We can do this by having the things that scare them (people, men, dogs, loud noises, etc) signify something great – over and over and over again.

Another factor at play is the dogs themselves. When working at Humane Societies, I often refer to dogs as either ‘soft’ or ‘hard.’ A soft dog needs a soft correction – typically just a reminder, about something they’re learning or struggling with. Whereas a dog that is more stubborn or driven often needs to be managed (and reminded) constantly. These dogs can cause great frustration – but they’re also very smart and can be challenged to work with you rather than against you.

A third factor that always must be considered is the environment. If I’m working with a dog who has a perfect sit but refuses to do it at a busy street corner, this dog has just told me his comfort level with cars, corners, etc (and a place I need to focus my efforts). How many times have you heard a person tell their dogs to sit repeatedly at a veterinary office, store or other (not so safe) area? Only to see the dog looking around uncomfortably, and then even more uncomfortable that his owner is getting upset at him. Remember, if your dog is refusing to do something you know they know – there’s probably a reason, look around and cut them some slack.

I struggle with the term dog training because it’s so much more about communication than training. I might be reminding a dog not to chase a cat but really I’m communicating to him or her not to follow thru on that impulse he or she just had. When I’m teaching a behavior a dog doesn’t do naturally (going through a tunnel, standing on a balance disc, walking on a treadmill, etc) I’m teaching – which I suppose can be referred to as training, but perhaps I just see myself as more of a teacher than trainer. After all, once they learn what we’re looking for, it’s our relationship and love of playing together that gets them to follow thru time after time.

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