I have come to respect what silence and body language can do to shape dog behavior. Activity, is what I love the most, silence can be incredibly boring to me, and not fun. However, first and foremost in my mind is what best supports my client's and my own dogs. The art of silent calm interaction can make a quick end to oncoming behavioral problems such as fear or timidity, which can become an extreme. It is more likely that you are going to be bitten by a fearful dog, than a confident one. I also don't like to trap my or my client's dogs within a fearful period of their lives, especially since I know that trapping them there is completely unnecessary, and has more to do with the owner and the place they are in than their dog.
Behaviorists have scientifically shown that body language and attitude of the leader dogs positively affect the pack. You don't see dogs treating each other or squealing in high voices to calm other members down. You may occasionally see comfort, such as licking and being close to distressed member going on. Not that I put much clout in behaviorists that have also not trained thousands of dogs. A dog trainer that has lived 24/7, and trained that many dogs and their owners, is, essentially, the real dog behaviorist, unless they are ring training only.
The beginnings of classic or traditional training (as I define it as a wealth of knowledge in dogs, with a variety of methods and tools in it's tool box) normally deal with calm and assertive behavior of their leader. This is only the beginning, but it has a profound effect on the dog and is the foundation for training a dog for real world activity that includes freedom, enjoyment, and fun.
I fought this for a long time myself. How could something so mundane make that much of an impact on a dog? It wasn't active enough or fun enough for ME. Therefore, it must not work. Course since I am interested in anything dog training, I had to check it out for myself and become knowledgable about it. Not simply sit through lecture series or read a book, but hands on true knowledge. Now I am still a baby at this really, but I have been instructed under some of the best in their field of dog training and I might add behavior!! People who don't look at their dog under a microscope as simply eating and humping machines, by which their entire lives are defined. People who know how badly something can go, if you don't put the needs of the dog first and foremost in your training plan. People who also know that behaviorally challenged dogs are able to live and thrive with their loving families. People who actually work with these cases, and don't claim liability as a reason not to help clients with a specific breed or specific personality set. People who know how to teach trainers, clients, owners, et, AND are the very tops in dog training. They do exist no matter what others of a more fanatical sect may say, although not always easy to find.
Recently a young lady, interested in dog training, contacted me for a bit of direction in the business. Additionally, she let me know her Vizsla, Tanner, was having a bit of a problem with nail trimmings, and the noise of a dremel. It was getting worse instead of better. The young lady and her boyfriend came up one day with their two very nice dogs, who have some off leash skills already but need polishing et. Now normally on an obedience plan, you don't start with the symptom right away. However, the "sit on the dog" exercise, part of Margot Wood's Bedrock Training Method, is where my training always starts. It's a very simple exercise that uses no conflict or physical force on the handler's part, and instills the aura of calm quiet and assurance to the dog. Usually within the half an hour of the first day, you begin to see a change in the demeanor of the dog, although you aren't doing anything other than sitting with him (without acknowledgement, praise, or Dog forbid food to muddy the waters) and letting him choose between standing and lying down. Later on this becomes so helpful when you go places with him be it to your sisters house or the crowded obedience arena.
Shortly afterward, Tanner's nails were cut without any stress on his part. Not that day, but within a few days of the beginning training process. We didn't even try it that day, Tanner's work was done after a little loose leash work. It also starts the process of the dog learning that tension on the collar is not desireable for THEM, sans any jerking or pulling whatsoever. We combined this with someone holding the nail clippers and just opening and closing them around Tanner. The dremel wasn't at my house, so that was done afterwards. And voila, if someone the dog trusts and respects isn't afraid of the clippers and dremel, then Tanner becomes unfraid of the clippers and dremel. In nail clipping, it is also helpful if you clip them off with assurance and quickness, rather than dragging the moment out and appearing fearful yourself. This, as one can imagine, sends out the wrong vibe to the dog. You don't need to flood the dog, and sit on him on the floor and force him to have his nails clipped. This can go slowly, and I also usually use a paw command with my dogs as well.
These are not the directions to this exercise, but it's truly an amazing thing to see it's affect on dogs. If one is truly interested in behavior, and modifying behavior, you could only see the wisdom in this method once it has been tried.
Behaviorists have scientifically shown that body language and attitude of the leader dogs positively affect the pack. You don't see dogs treating each other or squealing in high voices to calm other members down. You may occasionally see comfort, such as licking and being close to distressed member going on. Not that I put much clout in behaviorists that have also not trained thousands of dogs. A dog trainer that has lived 24/7, and trained that many dogs and their owners, is, essentially, the real dog behaviorist, unless they are ring training only.
The beginnings of classic or traditional training (as I define it as a wealth of knowledge in dogs, with a variety of methods and tools in it's tool box) normally deal with calm and assertive behavior of their leader. This is only the beginning, but it has a profound effect on the dog and is the foundation for training a dog for real world activity that includes freedom, enjoyment, and fun.
I fought this for a long time myself. How could something so mundane make that much of an impact on a dog? It wasn't active enough or fun enough for ME. Therefore, it must not work. Course since I am interested in anything dog training, I had to check it out for myself and become knowledgable about it. Not simply sit through lecture series or read a book, but hands on true knowledge. Now I am still a baby at this really, but I have been instructed under some of the best in their field of dog training and I might add behavior!! People who don't look at their dog under a microscope as simply eating and humping machines, by which their entire lives are defined. People who know how badly something can go, if you don't put the needs of the dog first and foremost in your training plan. People who also know that behaviorally challenged dogs are able to live and thrive with their loving families. People who actually work with these cases, and don't claim liability as a reason not to help clients with a specific breed or specific personality set. People who know how to teach trainers, clients, owners, et, AND are the very tops in dog training. They do exist no matter what others of a more fanatical sect may say, although not always easy to find.
Recently a young lady, interested in dog training, contacted me for a bit of direction in the business. Additionally, she let me know her Vizsla, Tanner, was having a bit of a problem with nail trimmings, and the noise of a dremel. It was getting worse instead of better. The young lady and her boyfriend came up one day with their two very nice dogs, who have some off leash skills already but need polishing et. Now normally on an obedience plan, you don't start with the symptom right away. However, the "sit on the dog" exercise, part of Margot Wood's Bedrock Training Method, is where my training always starts. It's a very simple exercise that uses no conflict or physical force on the handler's part, and instills the aura of calm quiet and assurance to the dog. Usually within the half an hour of the first day, you begin to see a change in the demeanor of the dog, although you aren't doing anything other than sitting with him (without acknowledgement, praise, or Dog forbid food to muddy the waters) and letting him choose between standing and lying down. Later on this becomes so helpful when you go places with him be it to your sisters house or the crowded obedience arena.
Shortly afterward, Tanner's nails were cut without any stress on his part. Not that day, but within a few days of the beginning training process. We didn't even try it that day, Tanner's work was done after a little loose leash work. It also starts the process of the dog learning that tension on the collar is not desireable for THEM, sans any jerking or pulling whatsoever. We combined this with someone holding the nail clippers and just opening and closing them around Tanner. The dremel wasn't at my house, so that was done afterwards. And voila, if someone the dog trusts and respects isn't afraid of the clippers and dremel, then Tanner becomes unfraid of the clippers and dremel. In nail clipping, it is also helpful if you clip them off with assurance and quickness, rather than dragging the moment out and appearing fearful yourself. This, as one can imagine, sends out the wrong vibe to the dog. You don't need to flood the dog, and sit on him on the floor and force him to have his nails clipped. This can go slowly, and I also usually use a paw command with my dogs as well.
These are not the directions to this exercise, but it's truly an amazing thing to see it's affect on dogs. If one is truly interested in behavior, and modifying behavior, you could only see the wisdom in this method once it has been tried.
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