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The Human Learning Side of the Dog Training Equation
We’ve all heard the phrases “emotional control” and “self control” in dog training. Many people assume that this only applies to the dog. But, when you think about it, it should go both ways. We expect our dogs to be able to control their emotions and impulses in all sorts of different scenarios. But are we, as their trainers, able to do the same?
EMOTIONS CAN BE TOUGH!
Training our dogs can bring out the best in us and the worst in us. Let’s face it — it’s not always easy! In order to successfully train our dogs to live harmoniously with us in our human world, we need more than just good intentions. We need to develop a relationship with our dogs that is based on understanding, communication and leadership. We need to clearly understand how they think and why they do what they do (keeping in mind that anthropomorphism is a dangerous thing). We need to be able to communicate with our dogs in a language that they understand. And, we need to be good leaders for our dogs. While the theory of “pack leadership” has long since been discredited, we still need to provide leadership and guidance for our dogs, and to set boundaries for them.
YOU’RE LEARNING TOO! IT’S OKAY TO MAKE MISTAKES
As trainers, we are learners. Whether we’ve trained countless dogs in our lifetime or we’re training…
