Natural dog training does not need dog-training devices, unless you are into
agility or something similar. Devices like shock collars are not necessary,
while devices like dog clickers can be useful additions.
Having a shock collar might be easier in those
first few incidences, but is the antithesis of natural dog training. The
experience of you not being happy that s/he ran away is a bonding experience
with long-term benefit. By playing around and doing things together, your dog
will learn as it would in a natural pack, to be well behaved, and you will
develop a harmonious relationship based on willingness to be led, trust and
respect and not on obedience and control. My dogs are obedient, but it is based
on their natural desire to follow their leader.
The key to natural dog training is
understanding the similarities and differences between dogs and us humans.
While dogs are not humans on four legs, they do share many traits with us. Even
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Dogs are:
- Social and develop emotionally in sociable company.
- Dogs feel relaxed and comfortable when they know where they are in the social hierarchy.
- With few exceptions dogs are willing to accept and follow a leader.
- Dogs feel empathy. This is important in the cohesive bonding in a pack.
- Dogs are good at communicating and understanding body language.
Develop a bonded relationship with
your dog and take advantage of our similarities, then natural dog training
becomes … well, natural. Dogs can understand quite a large vocabulary, but
mostly pick up cues from the tone in our voices and read our body language.
This is similar to people. We think the words we utter are what we have said,
but that is only a small part of the message we convey.
The basic words we say make up only
7% of a message. A letter or an email written in a formal style says very
little.
“Do you think that is a good idea?”
“Yes.”
Extra words and wordless sounds
together with our tone adds another 37% to the message we give:
“Do you think that is a good idea?”
“Ummm … yees.”
Now this gives more depth.
Body language and facial expressions
complete the message weighing in with a hefty 56%. A raised eyebrow, down
turned or pursed lips, or a frown, all these and more could replace the “Ummm …
yees.” And give even more information.
Dogs, since they have a subtle body
communication are quite good at understanding our body language.
I have a little trick. People think
my dogs understand English because I give instructions in sentences. What they
do not notice, but my dogs do, is that I emphasise key words the dogs recognize
as commands. I then make small hand, body or head gestures which the people
watching do not notice, but the dogs respond to as they have been given a cue
by the word.
Training
a Puppy
Natural dog training starts with the
newly arrived puppy. This should preferably be at 7 to 8 weeks age. At this age
they are able to learn complex behaviors. During the next two months the puppy
goes through a critical socialization period. The experience your puppy has
with you in this very important phase will set the tone for your relationship
for the rest of your lives together.
This is analogous to the attachment
phase in human babies. A child that does not “attach” to an adult during this
critical phase later suffers various psychosocial problems, these are called
“attachment disorder.” This lack of early attachment is one possible cause of Borderline
Personality Disorder.
The puppy needs to attach and
socialize in these eight to nine weeks or there is a risk that behavior
problems may develop later, due to insecurity, low stress tolerance and even
aggression from fear or anxiety. It is recommended to socialize the puppy with
as many animals as possible during this phase. This helps the dog to socialize
with new kinds of animals s/he meets later in life. These firs couple of months
can influence the young dog for the rest of its life.
A young dog that is socialized with
you and accepts you as its leader will be a confident and happy dog. As you
play there are constantly opportunities to teach the puppy obedience. There are
times your dog may run away in youthful exuberance when you are calling it
back, but after a few of these episodes, s/he will understand that running away
does not make you happy. When that hurdle is passed, and it should not happen
many times, then you have a dog you can start to trust that you have under
control, even off a leash.