DOG-COLUMNS-2008 IS AN ASSORTMENT OF SILVIA'S BEST THOUGHTS OF THE YEAR!

In Dog-Columns-2008 Silvia writes on a variety of thought provoking and controversial dog topics, and lets you peak into her unique take on training, dog-ownership, leadership and the human/dog relationship. Enjoy!


DOG CHANGED AGAINST HIS WILL

One of my early dog training mentors was a California based fellow with, at the time, more than 40 years experience. Dr. C.W. Meisterfeld was a true t(r)ailblazer; pioneered canine psychoanalysis, psychological dog training and advocated human/dog relationships that are based on mutual respect. That at a time when punishment and force were the flavors of the day.

To illustrate his philosophy, Meisterfeld told his students a story about a little girl who, one day, refused to sit in a chair to eat lunch. After the third request, mom physically grabbed the girl by the shoulders, lifted her up and sat her in the chair with the words: "There, now you're sitting." To which the little girl replied: "Yes, but inside I am still standing."

"Dog changed against his will", Meisterfeld explained, "is of the same opinion still". That phrase stuck, catalyzed more learning and directed me to mindful dog training.

Meisterfeld was the first, but not the only person who taught me that there are profound, fundamental psychological similarities amongst all organisms, including humans. Therefore, scientific knowledge gained, and methods applied that deal with actions, emotions and behaviours, as well as learning and social functioning, are applicable with dogs, people and other social mammals.

Mistakes made when we engage with, and teach others lead to similar consequences. A dog that is 'made' to behave a certain way will unlikely be good once not controlled, and the girl in the story will probably not sit at the table without a fuss in the future.

If we aim for reliability we have to find a way to convince our dog that good behaviour is not only in his best interest, perhaps to avoid unpleasant punishment, but that it is his idea to act in a for us desirable fashion. In other words, if we can cleverly find a way to 'brainwash' Rover into thinking that he pleases himself, when in fact he pleases us, we got it made. Shouldn't be too difficult, since we boast that we are intellectually the cream of the crop.

Behavioral scientists like Pavlov, Skinner, Watson and Bandura, as well as many progressive dog experts set the stage and make this task possible, interesting and enjoyable.

Meisterfeld's philosophy applied accelerates success with straightforward, technical obedience, but is especially important when there is a behaviour problem, for example aggression. The dog who is physically prevented from lashing out, can never be trusted. But you can turn your back to the pooch who is convinced that a stranger is good news. He'll make you proud in any circumstance.



PYRAMIDS?

Most people, when they hear Egypt, have images of pyramids and cats in mind.

Although cats were sacred, a personification of the sun god Ra, the ancient Egyptians also had a thing for dogs. Many of the wonderful sight hounds we have today, for example the Saluki and Ibizan hound, probably originated from the Pharaoh hound, depicted in paintings as far back as 5000 BCE.

Even though they had names, were cared for, and often buried with their masters, dogs did not have the same status as cats enjoyed; were kept because they were useful as livestock guardians and hunting companions. While the revered cat rose to the sky, the dog was associated with the underworld. In the ancient public opinion cats scored 1 - dogs 0.

That was then. Nowadays, cats and pyramids are irrelevant. No, I don't mean that cats are irrelevant. Really, I like cats. What I mean is that cats have nothing in common with pyramids. There is no correlation between the two in our world.

Different story for dogs and pyramids. A solid and broad foundation guarantees a rewarding owner/dog relationship and ensures that a structure doesn't crumble under pressure.

The pyramid approach works great with a new dog or puppy, but is particularly important to solve existing behaviour problems. Usually, when Rover gets himself and his person into hot water, the frustrated owner focuses on that and searches for a fast solution.

The fact is that barking, growling, lunging and other behaviours most people find unacceptable are expressions of deeper issues rooted in the human/dog relationship, genetics, or the dog's past experiences. The dog problem is the tip of the pyramid. If the owner concentrates on that, without working on the foundation first, changes in behaviour are superficial and collapse under pressure.

With the pyramid approach, the problem is initially ignored and focus is directed to the foundation of a good relationship, namely trust and mindful leadership. Practically, the first step is to work with what you and your dog already know and do well. That sets both of you up for success, which in turn builds confidence, which builds trust. Once the foundation is solid, challenges are added in small steps. Better behaviour and faster responses result which each step.

The foundation work takes time and effort, but like a pyramid, each subsequent level comes faster, until the tip is reached. By then, most problems have dissipated.

No ancient Egyptian built a pyramid from the top down, and no dog owner should establish a relationship build on behaviour problems. Constructing from the ground up makes sense and ensures that the results are solid and permanent.


SPOILED COMMANDS

Hubby Mike thinks that our dogs are spoiled. I argue that they are just well loved. Okay, we walk together twice a day, they feast on gourmet dog chow, snooze on the bed and join us on vacation. So perhaps I do spoil the pooches, but I never spoil commands.

Spoiling the command, in dog pro circles, means to utter a request and not follow through when Rover is in a 'talk to the paw' mood. The owner who treats for a lie-down when she asked for a sit; the person who calls the dog in from the yard but won't retrieve him when he doesn't come, and the one who 'barks' heel but allows herself to be dragged to the fire hydrant, all qualify as command spoilers.

Dogs live in a black and white world. If you teach Rover that there is a choice, Rover will choose, generally what pleases him. Although choice is allowed, even desired in certain circumstances, when you tell him to do something, he has to obey, or he will learn to blow you off and listen to you only when it suits him.

You also spoil if you use the same command for different actions. The word I hear misused most is 'down'. The owner uses it for lie-down, quit counter surfing and stop jumping at me. One word for two or three meanings is way to confusing for your dog and she will tune you out. Same result: you are not getting the obedience you are wanting.

We humans like to talk; verbalize what we think and what we want. It'll take some practice to keep the gob shut when we can't enforce what we asked for.

If my Will is off leash and we both spot Nutty, the squirrel, I don't yell 'come', even though I am 99% sure that she'd do a 180 degree turn and fly back to me. But I'm not 100% sure, and I don't want to teach her that come means come unless there is a squirrel involved, in which case it means chase the squirrel.

If I ask Davie to sit and she lies down because she is tired, I enforce the sit gently, and then command her to lie down, aware of her needs.

My dogs have learned all their lives that when I say something, I mean it. They are conditioned to obey. So maybe they are spoiled, the little darlings, indulge in all the luxuries of a New Age Pooch, but one thing they are not: brats.



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