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Dog behavior training
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Dog training is a mutually diverse, deep conversation.
By Sherry Clark
A proposed level of language to prioritize happiness and well-being over dog training exercises'.
Preface:
The following dynamic article is a thought experiment for dog trainers.
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I believe we, dog trainers, have an opportunity, to promote meaningful language with clients. A language of essential values that support well-being and happiness in dogs and humans.
My intention is to show respect for each trainer's expertise and create curiosity about exercises other than our standards. I invite discussion.
The ideas presented here are my own, and I do not claim they are based on conclusive scientific evidence.
Summary:​
I'm suggesting we trainers practice a neutral language.
Neutral language is a comfortable way to exchange ideas.
The results may be enriched communication and enhanced standards for canine well-being.
Context:
Approaches vary significantly concerning the most effective and appropriate dog training exercises.
Challenge:
A challenge with dog training language, as I see it, is that our multiple perspectives, definitions, and beliefs are catalysts for misunderstanding between trainers, clients, and dogs.
Perspectives are from:
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Families who seek to increase the well-being of loved ones. Each person, being an individual, can describe their well-being by expressing what's important to them. I call these descriptions "personal definitions".
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Nature, whose language flows freely between its inhabitants without the need for translation.
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Science, whose purpose is to explain nature through observation, studies, and experiments. The language of science has much history and is constantly evolving.
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Academia's language is about sharing educational and research information, including evidence-based guidelines.
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Dog Trainers translate the language of families, nature, science, and academia into a unique language to create dog training exercises.
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And the dog. A furry little creature whose universal language and big personality pull us all together. Dog, with no concern for our success, power, appearance, or fame, can, with one glance, spark instinct and empathy in our brains. Dog can guide us to release the stress of the day. Dog reminds us to play. Dog refuses to let us forget what's truly important in life, which, in general, is the same for all of us, regardless of our definitions.
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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 we understand how important practice is.​
Do we 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 in our specialties and, likely, the ones we enjoy the most.
The information we have to pull dog training exercises from is massive. Between traditional science and psychology, specialties, and our practice, there's a vast vocabulary to share with clients.
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Our vocabulary keeps getting bigger.
Adding to traditional terms, dog training culture expands into dog teaching. Animal cognition, canine communication, and social learning provide information that highlights qualities we share with our dogs.
Other branches of science, such as neuroscience, neuro-psychology, and psycho-physiology, further enrich our language by offering creative methods to measure human and canine emotions. Measuring emotions has been a challenge for traditional science.
But something is missing in the conversation.
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 with common meaning across cultures. A language that stands the test of time and is stable as science evolves.
Our language should be a meaningful vocabulary that acts as a filter between available sources of training information and the exercises we apply to dogs.​
Values as a filter.
Love
Peace
Respect
Understanding
Trust
Freedom
Happiness
Values we have in common.
Common values are the ones we all agree on. With so many perspectives, it's almost impossible to agree on a set of words that describe aspects we all want.
Agreeing on aspects we want less of is fairly easy. Whatever our path, dreams, goals, and ambitions, it's likely, we don't want:
Hate, War, Disrespect, Misunderstanding, Mistrust, Captivity and Sadness.
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Real question:
If you have different answers, can your answer fit into one of these categories?
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The opposite of the things we don't want can be called values. The things we do want:
Less Hate; more Love.
Less War; more Peace.
Less Disrespect; more Respect.
Less Misunderstanding; more Understanding.
Less Mistrust; more Trust.
Less Captivity; more Freedom.
Less Sadness; more Happiness.
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Values need not be "evidence-based science" to be necessary in our lives.
Values are not a scientific way to describe the essential things in life, but they are headings for states of being we want, need, and understand.
Even though we have different definitions, each value communicates a general state of being. A state of being that can be seen as a category of needs. A conversation starter about options to fill specific needs through principles of a source of information.
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The language of values is not always at the top of our consciousness.
One challenge to achieving our definition of happiness in life is the language of our day-to-day tasks, distractions, work, and shorter-term goals. They tend to push our values to the side, instead of allowing values to lead.
By bringing values to the surface, we're more likely to design our daily tasks and actions in a way that supports what we genuinely want and need on a deeper level.​
Values in families.
Peace
Respect
Understanding
Love
Trust
Freedom
Happiness
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Most families acquire dogs for companionship.
Dogs contribute qualities to our lives that are common in human friendships. The qualities we share with humans and dogs can be called values.
After all, clients choose to train dogs to make life better. But what words describe what “better” means to the dog’s family?
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We can ask clients:
When your dog is trained the way you want, what will you have more of?​
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Love, Peace, Respect,
Understanding, Trust,
Freedom, or Happiness?​​
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"More of" is important.
It's a lot more fun to get more of something we do want, than less of something we don't want.
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The answers I've heard are:
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"We'll have more Freedom if our dog stops barking so my spouse and I can leave the house together."
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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 she comes when I call."
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"...more Happiness if we can win at least one agility trial."
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Viewing life from the dog's perspective.
This exercise also helps prepare clients for the next step: Viewing life from their dog's perspective. It helps them imagine what values their dog needs to provide what they want.
Values for dogs.
Peace
Respect
Love
Freedom
Trust
Understanding
Happiness
Thinking in values to change dog behavior.
Balancing values, I believe, is a simple way to sort needs for individual dog's.
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By thinking in values, clients can verbalize the general category of what their dogs need more of to change behavior. This moves their thought process away from stopping an annoying behavior to, starting a new competing behavior their dog may enjoy.
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, freedom or happiness],"
Which would your dog choose?
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Answering for their dog is easy because they've just answered the question for themselves.
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Examples:
Trixie, a shelter dog, is shut down from a previous life. Of the short list of values, her family will likely choose Love to fill in her blank.
As trainers, we can explain how the value may increase by practicing specific exercises. It's much easier for the family to stay on track by remembering a value, such as love, rather than an exhaustive list of words, behaviors, theories, and instructions. Clients remember the exercises by associating their target values.
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Jake, is bouncing off the walls. He may choose more Peace.
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Daisy, a former street dog, guards her food. Her family may think she wants more Respect.
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Sandy, a puppy, hides during fireworks. She needs Understanding.
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Fluffy, a senior dog, is afraid of people. She needs more Trust.
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Rex, a sporting dog, loves to run; he may be asking for activities involving Freedom.
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Buddy, an emotional support dog, looks sad. It's easy to see that he needs more Happiness.​
Sources of information, tools, and exercises.
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A suggested structure for neutral language.
If practicing neutral language makes sense, you may be "in the flow" in the dog training world. By that, I mean always thinking about dogs, how to increase quality, searching for new information, and striving to communicate in a way clients understand.
Consider a modified interpretation of terms that are often used.
Sources of information can be:
Pools of knowledge we incorporate into our training approach such as:
Nature, Science, Psychology, Neuroscience, Behavioral learning theories, Social Learning theories, Specialized methods, Alternative, Intuitive, and Holistic approaches. Other sources include Emerging methods, Frameworks and concepts, Buzzword methods, Cultural methods, Industry-specific methods, Social media videos, and more.
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Tools can be designed based on sources of information.
Many tools can be designed from sources of information. Protocols, Procedures, Sound makers, Collars, Leashes, Treat bags, Talking buttons, Ramps, Body language, Tone of voice, and the Clothes we wear.
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The tools we've designed are just that: tools. No different from the wrench of a plumber, the structure in which a poet writes, or the recipe for sweet potato pie. For the purpose of a neutral language, I see tools as anything we use during a dog training exercise. All have something to offer.
Tools are no
different than the wrench of a plumber, the structure in which a poet writes, or the recipe for sweet potato pie."
Exercises can be the way we use the tools.
The exact recipe (a tool) for sweet potato pie can produce different results depending on how the baker combine the ingredients (the exercise).
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A dog training tool may be a flat buckle collar. The way we use the collar during one training session with one dog, is the exercise.
A protocol to teach a dog to walk by your side is a tool. The way we conduct the exercise using the protocol for one particular dog during one session is the exercise.
We may use the same protocol (tool) and the same collar (tool), but the exercise on day-one may be different than the exercise on day-two. We control the way we conduct each exercise.
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I'm asking, "Why are we judging tools when judging exercises would be more life enriching?
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Don't judge tools; judge exercises.
It’s important to remember that not all reward training makes dogs dependent, and not all corrections cause harm.​
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Why are we judging tools when judging exercises would be more life enriching?"
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Values are a way to filter exercises.
Try it in the app at the end of this article.
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The information you enter will not be saved. Feel free to screen shot the form after you fill it out, for your own reference.
Values between dog trainers.
Values between dog trainers.
Values are not new to dog training.
Thinking in values stimulates curiosity and sparks creativity. Most trainers speak of values in their practice. Putting values into action by using them to filter exercises can build trust with clients and create a safe place to share ideas.
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It's easy to criticize and judge colleagues because, in much of our society, we're programmed to notice what's wrong before what's right.
From my conversations with trainers, it’s also clear that we have blind spots. We don't create an opportunity to see the positive results in methods different from our own.
We often ignore negative critiques of “our practice” from other trainers because we've spent considerable time and effort honing our skills. We're understandably proud of what we've accomplished.
A fun fact:
In American society, we resist change.
Some societies embrace change.
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We may benefit by choosing to look outside our bubble.
For my pet-dog, behavior clients, a needs-based, cognitive learning approach works well in most cases. Dogs pretty much train themselves this way, which is more fun on my part, more stimulating for the dogs, and easier for clients to replicate. That's my way, it may or may not be what your clients need, and I respect that.
I want to know my information, and I want to share and learn with others. That means respecting, listening, and accepting others' freedom of choice, just as we do with the dogs we work with.
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 one of the purposes of:
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Values Based Dog Training.​​
Values are personal.
It's more than just training dogs.
As trainers, we aren’t just teaching sit, stay, down, and jump through a hoop. We're honoring the connection between two species that have walked side by side for thousands of years.
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Looking into the eyes of a dog is a simple reminder that ego, power, money, and fame are sometimes complicated attempts to satisfy simple needs.
I know you have stories about how a dog’s trust in humanity was restored or, because of your patience, a frightened animal found the courage to open its heart again.
Think of the humans whose lives were improved because you took the time to help them understand and lead their dogs.
You did this, and I acknowledge your success. ​
You know it's true. You feel it. I know you do.
You did this, and I acknowledge your success."
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We are in the mists of an age where each human is left with only a fraction of unique knowledge. The bulk of what we know as a species has been given over freely to the mind of technology.
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Values give us what automated intelligence can only imitate: a human connection with each other.
That is important enough to preserve.
As facilitators between two amazing living, breathing species, let's commit to not letting the most important things in life vanish into the thin atmosphere.
What if...
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No one will know but us.
​There’s no need to announce what we’re doing. We just think of an exercise we use and ask ourselves 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.​ Don't let fear, beliefs, and current practices get in the way of positive change. We don't know what we don't know.
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What if we can increase happiness and well-being simply by encouraging clients worldwide 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?
Hang on to values.
Adopt new ones.
Reinforce them whenever you can.
Conclusion:
​​The potential benefits of creating a neutral language of values are:
Between trainers:
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Increases understanding by reducing assumptions.
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Creates commonalities in training goals by neutralizing vocabulary.
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Increases collective knowledge by avoiding the us-versus-them paradigm.
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Increases willingness to try new exercises by nurturing curiosity.
- It creates a language of goodwill and more opportunities to complement each other.
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For clients:
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A simple neutral language builds rapport with the trainer.
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Strengthens important naturally understood concepts.
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Assists clients in understanding life from their dog's point of view.
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Motivates clients to practice by highlighting success.
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​Creates a choice of goals that the client defines based on their perspective and personal definition of their values.
For dogs:
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Increases opportunities for dogs to feel love.
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Increases peace and relaxation.
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Increases a dog's respect as a sentient being.
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Increases understanding of confusing concepts.
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Increases trust with family, trainer and environment.
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Increases freedom to choose.
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Increases happiness and well-being.
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Your exercises from the dog's perspective.
Enter a behavior to brainstorm about exercises.
What tools do you use?
What exercise do you use?
From the dog's perspective, which values are likely to increase or decrease by the way you conduct your exercise?
Slide the dot to select Increase, Decrease or No change"
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Increase
Decrease
No change
- Love
- Peace
- Respect
- Understanding
- Trust
- Freedom
- Happiness
Result
Change is a choice, based on your level of curiosity, creativity, and your personal definition of your values. Are you thinking of ways to alter your exercise to increase values?
Keep the exercise and tools the way they are.
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Toss it out and find a new one, or modify this one to increase more values.
Want to dig deeper?
Schedule a free sample
brainstorming session.
Note: Links above to comment on this article are a new Facebook page for this content only. My client facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/BrainyDog/
Brain
Storming
For Dog Trainers.
One FREE Brain Storming session to spark curiosity about alternate exercises to meet dog training goals. Good for one exercise.
I'm looking forward to relaxing, being real, building trust and sharing perspectives.
Three openings available.
No, of course, I don't know everything.
I do love dogs, respect everyone and have a knack for explaining views from opposing sides in a way that makes sense.
After training dogs since age nine and working in an engineering computer environment for 20 years, I've learned that engineers and dog trainers have a lot in common.
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Both are in the FLOW and enjoy their work. Both want to learn more, and are resistant when standards change.
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The point is that I have a lot of experience increasing peace, when change disrupts habits. I thrive on it.
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I make a great effort to pay attention, understand, and explain views from all sides while maintaining the highest respect for everyone.
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I invite you to take a chance, share some thoughts, and get ahead of the game by viewing dog training from a colleague's point of view.
There will be no judging, criticizing, or put-downs. I know you care about what you do, or you would not be a dog trainer.
I believe there is a place for most types of training. No matter what kind of methods, techniques, exercises, or equipment you are using. I'll listen. Nothing is going to surprise me.
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If you're curious, let's chat. This is not an argument. Nothing will be recorded, and no information will be used against you. I never talk behind others' backs. That type of behavior does not compute in my brain.
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I'm just a friendly dog trainer with over 20 years of experiance, possibly from a different bubble, who's willing to brainstorm, research, and possibly promote your business.​
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Due to the related research, notes, and resources, I can only accommodate about three conversations at a time.
Sincerely,
Sherry Clark
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$125 each.
$250
Add values to two exercises.
$110 each.
$550
Add values to five exercises.
