dog talk
THE BENEVOLENT LEADER
Why is it important for you and other humans , members of your family to be strong, dependable, consistent, non-confrontational leaders? Those who know, understand and display the posturing and social rituals that make sense to your dog ?
Back in the day 20 to 30 years ago……..
dogs had specific and important roles or jobs to perform in the family structure. Today’s modern convinces have changed the dogs role and job to be surrogate children, no role or job to perform, or a non productive member of the family. As a result, problems have developed do to this role or job change. Behavior issues including separation anxiety, incessant barking, spontaneous aggression are common place in some families. With over breeding and irresponsible breeding; todays dog’s have developed new medical and social issues related to poor breeding.
Training methods have also changed over the years
from a compulsion training method to the positive reinforcement fear free training. We have realized Dog’s have a more civilized method of training or social order that relies on posturing, social ritual, and avoiding confrontation. A dog will always try to avoid confrontation. Dog owners and their families need to learn these postures, social rituals and avoid confrontations to become a Benevolent Leader. What is benevolent ? One who is kind, tolerant, compassionate, sympathetic, altruistic, humane, defines and enforces the roles, rules of the dog and is consistent in the leadership role. Dogs will develop a relaxed and confident behavior and a desire to truly offer those positive behaviors to the leader and family.
Dog Talk
The Role Of Play Behavior
The language of play
Puppies and Dogs learn about other dogs through displays of behaviors; a communication system in a dog language, while engaging in play. They learn when a situation is truly threatening and when it is not. Dogs speak in different languages too. Play gives the dog the opportunity to learn self control; to not overreact to other dogs and to prevent aggressive behavior. Dogs in play may include some of the same behaviors as a “for real” confrontation. Dogs in play practice their fluency in this communication through play to become communicators and avoid aggression, Dogs learn by mimicking other dogs with a more sophisticated language. By copying other dogs patterns of behaviors the dog can become more fluent, polite, confident, and teach other dogs.
Patterns of Behaviors of Play
Stalking/ Chasing Shoulder/ Hip Checks Attacking
Circling/ Pushing Ambushing Vocalizations/ Growling
Boxing/ Sparring Mouthing/ Biting “T” position over shoulders
Play vs Posturing
Posturing is defined by the subtle movements in a behavior that indicates more reactivity when the dogs reaches it’s behavioral threshold
Indications That dogs Are In Play
When the dog can look away from other dogs if something catches its attention
Dogs changing roles in patterns of play behavior from prey/ predator
Both dogs display relaxed body and facial expressions
Vocalizations and Timber of sounds remains consistent
Indications That dogs Are In Behavioral Threshold
Drastic change in vocalizations/ Timber of sound
Displaying signals of alarm
Can not be interrupted
Drastic change in prey/ predator
Play and Older Dogs
Characteristics
Twelve to Twenty Four months and Older
Play becomes less juvenile
It may have ranking order with adult behaviors
They select who they play with
May not tolerate juvenile behaviors
Territory becomes important as personal space
dog talk
Three D’s
Duration (time), Distance, & Distractions
Duration (time) how many fuzzy tails the dog is asked to hold the Stay behavior
Distance the measured length between you and your dog while holding Stay behavior
Distractions the environmental factors which influence your dog and his behavior
- Low Distractions in your home
- Medium Distractions in your backyard
- High Distractions out front of your home, by a road on a sidewalk or unfamiliar environment
While improving performance for the Stay Cue, it is very important to only change one variable at a time. The Circle Patterning Method (exercise) allows you to work in a controlled pattern and introduce the Three D’s. Once the pattern and duration (time) are established add distance and then distractions.
- When increasing the duration (time) you ask the dog to remain in the Stay behavior; practice the “new” increased duration in a familiar position until the dog is comfortable with the longer time.
- When increasing distance between you and the dog set back the time requirement for the dog to remain in the Stay behavior to make it easier and fun for the dog and increase the dogs success rate.
- Start all the way back to partial circle patterning until the dog is successful and slowly build in small increments to a full circle
- When introducing distractions while in the Stay behavior go back to a shorter time and decrease the distance between you and the dog until the dog is successful then in small increments build in the time requirement of Stay behavior and distance of Stay behavior.
