Happy V-Day! Woof!
Read MoreUnderstanding and "Speaking Dog"
It is important to understand how dogs think and learn so that we can teach them more effectively. While humans are mostly visual and communicate primarily through speech, dogs communicate through body language. Additionally, dogs have an acute sense of smell and hearing compared to their Homo Sapien owners. This means that the inputs and outputs for dog communication is wildly different than our own.
This is where the experienced dog trainer comes in. A good dog trainer can be thought of as a translator between the two species. Trainers like myself can read the body language of a dog and we can hold a 'conversation' with them strictly through the use of body language. This is how the effective dog trainer is going to communicate with the dog to achieve the desired results.
It is critical to the understanding of dog psychology to recognize that dogs do not process information analytically like humans do. While some owners may think that their dog is exhibiting a certain kind of emotion, more than likely, it is just a conditioned response. A great example of this is when the human (let's call him Fred) comes home and finds that his beagle (let's call her Sally) has ripped into the couch cushions and there are fuzzies / foam everywhere. Fred comes into the room and says "Sally! What did you do!!". Next, Sally gets low to the ground and looks up at her owner in a way that makes Fred say "Ok I see that you are sorry just don't do that again".
As a person who understands dog psychology and dog communication I can see what likely happened here. Fred spoke towards Sally in an assertive or even aggressive tone. Sally recognized the aggression of her owner and immediately started giving calming signals and signs of submission. Fred saw this as Sally communicating that she was sorry and then he drew back his aggression toward her. Eureka! Sally had just learned that those signals that she sent had decreased Fred's aggression. So, Sally had gotten what she wanted out of the situation which was to reduce human aggression. She had learned through this experience and is now highly likely to repeat those signals in the future when Fred is assertive or aggressive.
This is a bit of an oversimplification, but essentially all dog behavior can be tied to conditioning. That is, if a behavior is rewarding for Sally, then she is likely to repeat it. If a behavior is met with a non reward or a punishment, then the behavior is less likely to be repeated. This is common sense right? Wrong! most owners tend to anthropomorphize their dogs which means to attribute human form or personality to the dog. When this happens their ability to think objectively is compromised and not long after, behavior problems can arise. This is because the owners are no longer 'speaking dog' and are doing counter productive training with their dogs.
Don't fret though because almost all humans are perpetrators of this. It is natural and part of our built in empathic mechanisms. The good news is that their are trainers out there like me who are experts in dog psychology and communication and we can help you 'speak dog' to your companions and return your household to balance.
Unwavering Commitment and Loyalty
If there is one thing I learned from being in the Army, it's that my fellow soldiers and I were committed to our duty and we never asked for anything in return. While it is appreciated that many businesses offer special promotions on Veteran's Day, all we (veterans) care about is that our service and sacrifices are acknowledged. We were trained to do our job and we enjoyed doing it (most of the time).
Ironically, I find that dogs are very similar to this. They don't ask for much in return to the unwavering loyalty to doing their own jobs, whether that is herding, working, or being a household companion. While dogs don't process information and think like we do, the essence is the same. They are a member of a team, your team, and they just want the acknowledgement. In return, we have the duty and responsibility to treat dogs (and all animals) with respect.
I owe my life to my boxer Lulu because she helped me deal with the effects I experienced after returning home from a tour of duty. Dogs have an incredible ability to read body language. In fact, many common behavioral problems that dogs exhibit are a result of their owners sending the wrong signals. But, through the reading of body language and the sending of calming signals (that many dogs do so well), dogs can help a veteran when he or she is at a weak point. I, like many other vets out there are eternally grateful for our K9's.
So let's celebrate November 11th in support of all our veterans who have guaranteed our freedom. But, afterwards let's spend every day of the year respecting animals and especially our K9 companions because we owe it to them.
At Attention Dog Training is an In-Home dog training service that serves in the King of Prussia and surrounding areas.
Here are some great programs that help veterans by pairing them with a K9 companion:
Socializing your puppy during "Howl-o-ween"
Halloween can be a tough time for dogs, especially puppies less than a year old who have never experienced it before. Imagine being a young puppy and confused by the knocks at the door with the strange people showing up in scary costumes screaming words in a language you don't understand. Luckily, we can use this annual event to our advantage. Here are some tips, tricks, and treats that you can use when the monsters come knocking.
- First and foremost, make sure your candy is secure. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and not only can you save a dogs life by making sure the candy is out of reach from a curious puppy, you can save possibly thousands of dollars in veterinary expenses.
- Safety First! Be mindful if your dog is likely to bolt out of the front door when children arrive. Several ways to do this is by making sure your dog is in a safe spot such as a crate or with someone in the house on a leash.
- If you have a puppy, Halloween is the perfect way to socialize him/her to strangers. Have someone assist you, or just hold the leash yourself as you greet visitors coming to your house. The constant and repeated attempts of children to come and retrieve your candy is great exposure for your puppy. This is a great way to start or continue socializing.
Last but not least, here are some quick tips for you this "Howloween"
- Keep power cords from decorative lights out of reach
- Keep chocolate and the leftover wrappers out of reach
- Be mindful of any candles or jack-o-lanterns and make sure your dog cannot disturb them
- If your dog likes costumes, be sure that they don't get too overheated or that the costume is too constricting for them.
Happy Howloween! Stay safe out there.
At Attention Dog Training is an in-home dog training service based in King of Prussia, PA 19406. We serve the following areas: King of Prussia, Norristown, Radnor, Wayne, Strafford, Berwyn, Devon, Audobon, Trooper, Eagleville, Collegeville, Oaks, Royersford, Limerick, Pheonixville and more!
*Photo credit to Lilo's Promise Animal Rescue link here.
Contact At Attention Dog Training to book your one-on-one training today.
Through a new lens
Throughout my life, I have worked with many different photographers whether I was getting married and paying a photographer, or was fighting in a war and being 'shot' by a photojournalist. However, the most recent installment was with a local photographer from King of Prussia named David Balick. I came to know him through our shared interest in giving dogs a second chance. His foster Boone, is a tough case. Boone is a great boy, but seems to take his owners for a walk instead of the other way around. He is a stubborn puller who is not bad, he just has a new found love for exploring the world and getting all the 'sniffs' in. I showed up to meet my first client as a professional ready to go to try and offer some of my expertise to help Boone and David. After 30 minutes of reinforcing good leash walking behaviors with Boone we started to see a glimmer of hope in Boone. I passed the leash off to his foster dad and we finally saw a new dog who was walking in tandem nicely and enjoyably. Finally, we had a plan for Boone and the light was at the end of the tunnel. A new day has dawned for Boone and his owner David Balick and hopefully, just maybe, Boone can soon find his forever home as he learns to walk on a leash!
So, if you are looking to support a man who is honest and true who is trying to do some good deeds in the world then look no further. David Balick is a photographer who loves his work and has a passion for helping those in need. I for one, will be using his services again in the future.
