Measure your training by the happiness and

well-being it brings to dogs and their families.

 

by Sherry Clark

www.brainydog.com

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We, dog trainers, do a good job.

Well, we do.

We meet our client's needs, understand dog behavior, and adapt our approach to unique situations. We’re skilled at refining dog performance through various exercises and know how important practice is.​

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Can we all train the same way?

Of course not.

We’re individuals with different beliefs, upbringings, mentors, and choices. We practice and teach the most effective exercises for our specialties and, probably, the ones we enjoy the most.

 

The information we have to pull exercises from is massive. Between traditional science and psychology, specialties, and our practice, there's a vast vocabulary to share with clients. Our glossary will become even more colorful when we train; based on predictions, upcoming research will show that dogs understand a deeper level of concepts. This may explain why we say, "Dogs are smarter than we think.

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But something's missing...

 

The most essential things in life.

There’s a gap in our vocabulary between what clients want and what dogs need. A rich vocabulary is great, but the terms can overwhelm clients. Categorizing exercises by the source of information they came from doesn’t always align with what clients are looking for.

 

We need another level of language.

A natural language, one that’s common in diverse cultures and stands the test of time. This language should be a meaningful vocabulary that acts as a filter between available sources of training information and the exercises we apply to dogs.

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Values can serve as this filter, guiding our actions to enhance the most essential aspect of life, which I'm saying is happiness.​

After all, clients want their dogs trained to make life better in some way. But what word describes what “better” means to the dog’s family?

 

We can ask clients...

What will you have more of once your dog is trained the way you want?

Will you have more:

 

Love, Peace, Respect,

Understanding, Trust, or Freedom?

How can this increase your

Happiness?

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Clients answer quickly because they think in a language of values. They know their definition of each value (which may be different from ours). They know their dog, their resources, and what they’re willing to do (or not do) to provide value for their dog.

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The answers I've heard are:

"We'll have more Freedom if our dog stops barking so my spouse and I can leave the house together. Someone always needs to be here so we don't bother our neighbors."

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"I'll have more Respect if he stops biting me. I'm starting to dislike him, which makes me cry."

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"I'll feel more Love if she lets me pet her. I don't think she likes me very much. I'm a good person."

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"I'll have more Peace if they stop fighting."

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"...more Understanding when she hides..."

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"... more Trust if I can let her off-leash..."

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"...That's how it will add to my Happiness."

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This approach creates a clear, motivational image in our client's mind. It helps them imagine what value their dog needs to provide what they want. Now, at least, the client knows what they want.

 

Then the dog...

Fill in the blanks.

If your dog could say:

 

"I’d be willing to (stop or start) doing:

[blank behavior], if I had more

[love, peace, respect, understanding, trust, or freedom],"

Which would your dog choose?

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Answering for their dog is easy because they've just answered the question themselves.

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Examples:

Love, Peace, Respect, Understanding.

 

If Trixie, a shelter dog, is shut down from a previous life, she could use some Love. We’ll focus on exercises that boost trust and bonding.

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If Jake, a high-energy pet dog, is vaulting off the walls, he could use some Peace. We’ll practice calming exercises and maybe sport dog training.

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If Daisy, a former street dog, is guarding her food, she needs Respect so we don’t push her to the point of biting. We’ll work on building trust and resolving underlying conditions.

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If Sandy, a puppy, hides during fireworks, she could use some Understanding to learn what noise is. Sandy can also build her resiliency to other fear-related challenges.

 

What exercises would you use for these challenges?

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More examples:

Trust, Freedom, Happiness.

 

If Fluffy, a senior dog, is afraid of humans, we’ll work on building Trust. We’ll focus on confidence-building and independence, showing her that not all humans are bad.

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If Rex, a sporting dog, loves to run, we'll focus on Freedom and safety. We'll teach Rex a solid, non-negotiable recall so he can run and stay out of trouble.

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If Buddy, an emotional support dog, looks sad, we’ll increase his Happiness by checking all possible underlying conditions. We'll ensure his values (the components of happiness) are balanced and part of his life.

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The process sparks anticipation for positive results and motivates clients to engage more deeply. By thinking in values, training becomes more meaningful.

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Which values would you increase to mitigate these challenges?

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Thinking in values stimulates curiosity and sparks creativity.

I'll bet you already think like this.

When we prioritize values before exercises, our minds take a different path to understanding the dog's mind. If we say the values out loud, the decreased ones will stand out. Focus on those values first. Choose exercises to increase them in a way that puts them in balance.

 

The hierarchy is:

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Happiness

Happiness is the result of balanced values.

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Love, Peace, Respect,

Understanding, Trust, Freedom.

Values, the components of happiness, are used to filter exercises.

 

Science, psychology, ethology, education, experience, innovation, creativity, cognitive learning, operant conditioning, classical conditioning, social learning, neuroscience, relaxation, breed standards, kindness, our style, etc.

Information to pull exercises from.​

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What about methods?

Is there a kinder way?

It's a common challenge in our society to notice what's wrong before what's right. But that’s okay—we’re all doing our best, and there’s always more to learn.

 

It’s important to remember that not all reward training makes dogs dependent, and not all corrections cause harm. Solid behaviors, such as emergency come-when-called, can be trained in several ways. All work, and there may be differences in associated variables to consider.

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From my conversations with trainers, it's clear that we all have blind spots. We don't typically create the opportunity to see with our own eyes the positive changes in dogs trained with methods different from our own. We also tend to ignore critiques of our methods from other groups. It's much easier to think, "They are wrong," than, "What part of what they say is right?"

 

To learn more effective and ethical methods, let's set our egos aside and ask trainers who profess to know. Let's hope they are willing to share and promote their methods.

 

Understanding increases knowledge.

Curiosity is an effective tool when faced with opposition. It motivates us to choose to understand. As far as I know, we don't have access to a peaceful forum to increase understanding with those who train differently than we do. This is my hope for Values Based Dog Training.

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We're all talented professionals and have great success. Still, it takes effort to look outside our bubble. Should we choose to do so, I'm confident we'll grow in a worthwhile way.

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Change is a choice for dogs, and change should also be a choice for us. When we actively seek options, we naturally choose the most effective, pleasant, and respectful exercises that appear before us. There’s always a kinder way to achieve results.

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I'm trying to develop a habit of asking myself: "Is there a kinder way?" every time I start a session. Although (from my perspective) my exercises are incredibly thoughtful, the practice often sparks an answer... or more questions.

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Can dog trainers lead the pack?

Absolutely.

We’re already doing this by sharing information, listening to each other, and staying curious about new ideas.

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We have a unique opportunity to increase values:

Our place in society is between two incredible species that could benefit from the other's perspective.

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• We have access to dogs everywhere.

• Dogs are great subjects to work with and learn from.

• There’s always a human connected to the dogs we work with.

• We know dog behavior and human behavior have a lot in common.

• We’re passionate, ethical, and guided by our values.

 

As trainers, we have a unique opportunity to promote conflict resolution techniques. Consider how many people are connected through dogs. The audience is enormous.

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But let’s go deeper.

As trainers, we aren’t just teaching sit, stay, or fetch. We’re sculpting the connection between two species that have walked side by side for thousands of years. Each session, each moment, is a chance to honor a bond built on trust, love, mutual respect, and companionship.

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Every time we work with a dog, we influence not only that animal’s life but also the lives of its human companions. We can create harmony, bring peace to homes, and soothe emotional discomfort.

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Think of times when a dog’s trust in humanity was restored or when a once-frightened animal found the courage to open its heart again because of your patience and kindness. Think of the humans whose lives were improved because you took the time to help them build confidence.

 

These aren’t just training successes; they’re victories in life. There are moments when we, as trainers, become a bridge between fear and love, chaos and peace.

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This can be a private thought experiment.

There’s no need to announce what we’re doing. Just think of an exercise you use and ask yourself which value it supports.

 

If it strengthens a value that promotes happiness and well-being, keep it. If it doesn't, toss it out and seek a new one.

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What if it becomes a habit?

What if we can increase happiness simply by encouraging clients to practice values with their dogs?

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What if the side effect carries over to human-to-human interactions?

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What if it's that easy?

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