It’s All About Communication
If you talk to animals they will talk with you
And you will know each other.
If you do not talk to them you will not know them…
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about why I’ve always loved to train dogs (and horses). As a child I wanted to teach something to every dog or horse I encountered. (I tried cats, too, and they remain an enigma to this day; gerbils were somewhat responsive, goldfish not so much). Why? What is it that draws me to this? After some contemplation I realized that quite simply, it is the ability to establish communication with another species, the reward of building a relationship and developing a rapport with the animal. And witnessing all of those moments when everything clicks and the dog “gets it.”
The enjoyment in training a dog, or any animal, goes much deeper than the satisfaction of having an obedient dog, teaching it amusing tricks or impressive feats. It isn’t about compelling the animal to submit to our wishes and whims so people think we’re the ultimate animal whisperer. Training requires us to bridge the language barrier and have a conversation with the dog. Training reflects our ability to communicate. This comes naturally to some and only through patient observation and study to others. I recognized this ability in my daughter from a young age. The Dalmatian at the barn where I boarded my horse, who was known to bite children on sight, and therefore closed in the feed room the instant any children stepped foot on the farm, became her best friend. She also befriended a horse that nobody would go near because it would flatten its ears and bite if you got within striking range. I realized it was her quiet manner, steady confidence, and unthreatening movements that won the trust of these and other animals. The more fluent we become in the language of animals, the more effectively we can communicate (and therefore train), sometimes through signals the average bystander won’t even notice: a shift in your weight on your horse telling him to speed up or slow down, a slight tickle of the leash to adjust your dog’s pace, shifting your gaze and having your dog follow it to look at a particular object, etc.
This communication shouldn’t be a monologue. Yes, we teach the dog how to interpret and respond to our commands and signals, but we must also remember to hear what the dog is saying, to read the dog’s body language and correctly interpret the subtle ways in which they talk to us. By observing the dog, we learn its language and we can use that to communicate: we can use spatial pressure to teach the dog to yield to us and cutoff or calming signals to reassure a dog that is stressed. Dogs are masters at learning to read our body language and overall demeanor, gauging our mood and our intent. But sadly, most people fail to ever learn to read the body language of dogs correctly. This illiteracy in the subject of dog-speak is often the root of many problems – any relationship needs clear communication to be viable and fulfilling for both parties. Failure to read the dog’s flattened ears and tight lips means the dog must be more demonstrative in order to get his point across – chomp! Dogs rarely bite without warning, somebody just missed the signs. Failure to recognize the signals your dog is giving you when he is uncomfortable approaching another dog head on while on a leash often results in a dog that is leash reactive. Clear communication is the foundation of a strong relationship with your dog and it is the key to a harmonious existence.