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What Makes A Happy Dog?
I sometimes say that we should refer to dog
training as “parenting the dog” because good parents usually make good dog
trainers. Dogs, like children, are happiest when they understand the rules and
boundaries that are set for them by those people who are responsible for their
safety and welfare. Dogs do not like ambiguity. Even the most creative breeds
still want to know the limits in which they can have their fun. They also want
to know that they can count on their leaders to set the guidelines for behavior
by providing prompt and fair feedback about their conduct. Without this
information the dog feels helpless and out of control of his own destiny.
Dogs that do not recognize who is in charge and
the expected modes of behavior can become terribly distressed. Dogs will
display a variety of behaviors when they are confused about their role in the
pack and the rules of the house. Most of these behaviors are considered
“bad” by their humans. When a dog is displaying many “bad” behaviors
it can be a symptom of a “sick” household; one where the leader is missing or
misaligned with his charges’ needs, or one where the leader is not taking
seriously his responsibility for the dog’s needs, wellbeing and security. A dog in this
sort of environment is not happy.
A happy dog is one that can count on his owner to
be responsible for both setting the rules and providing the feedback about his
behavior. A happy dog feels confident in his leader’s strength. A happy dog
knows that he is in charge of his own destiny because he knows the rules and the
ramifications of breaking the rules. A happy dog believes that his leader is
fair in her method of providing both negative and positive reinforcement
regarding his behavior.
So, to make a dog happy, we must provide
meaningful, fair, consistent, appropriately timed, appropriately measured
feedback to our dogs about their behavior. To make a dog happy we need to
interact with him. We need to demand things of him; simple tasks like to sit on
command, or more complex tasks like to herd sheep for us, or search out a
missing person.
We must remember that we are our dog’s center,
his sun, his everything. He has been genetically designed to be our
subordinate, not our slave, not our toy, but our loyal subject and he takes this
role very seriously (he cannot do otherwise, for he has been programmed to need
us to this level). When we do not recognize this; when we do not realize how
highly he regards us, how much he demands of us, how much he expects us to be
strong, willing, gifted and capable (for this defines the word Leader), we do
not do him justice.
Leaders are not cruel, but they are not feeble,
either. They may be tender and caring, but they are not uncertain in their
convictions. They are good communicators, both timely and with the right amount
of intensity for the message. Leaders adapt their communication style to their
audience, having assessed their charges well before a time of crisis or
intervention. Real leaders do not have any trouble securing followers.
If your dog does not look up to you, both
literally and figuratively, then you need to hone your leadership style to meet
his needs. We are the more intelligent of the species. It is our job to learn
how to communicate with our canine companions who truly had no choice in
selecting the home in which they now reside. Only then will our dogs be truly
happy.
© 2005 Tammie Rogers - all rights
reserved. For permission to reprint
email Tammie.
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