Getting back to communication with your dog. We humans don’t ask for much. We just expect that our Canine friends will understand the language we use, regardless of if they were born into an English speaking country or German or French or Chinese or whatever human language you wish to pick.
We also expect them to understand human customs and the specific customs for the culture that they find themselves in. We also assume that the way we communicate, is the way they communicate as well.
Many times the example is given of a lost tourist that thinks if they just repeat themselves louder and louder suddenly all the people around them will understand the language they are speaking.
So we see the plight our dogs are faced with. Especially the louder and louder approach. The good news is that dogs are very good at reading us and given the right context and meaning dogs get to know what we are communicating, and from that form a better more cohesive relationship. The problem is that humans don’t always say and do things consistently – which leads to confusion – which the dog then gets blamed for.
So why do the (good) Dog trainers always talk about the relationship and communication ?
Well a trap many fall into is that you can teach someone what the words or another language means BUT that does not mean that the person (or Dog) will follow them.
It is one thing to teach a dog a command it is quite another to get them to follow that command reliably and under distraction. (kids running around, someone bouncing a tennis ball, someone dropping a juicy steak or sausage at a BBQ)
Remember it is a human custom that you don’t just go and take someone else’s ball or grab their food, and we are teaching the dog to live in our world.
With communication you can guide a dog constantly in “real time” so to speak, and deal with situations that you and the dog have not come across before or that there is no set command for.
So the upshot is that we are asking a tall order of Dogs, understand us, react correctly and reliably, live in our world and don’t muck up. All the while a lot of humans will not display even a hint of leadership or consistent (or coherent) communication but expect the dogs to “know” what to do.
This is where the communication and relationship becomes so important, and the establishment of the owner as the leader becomes paramount. But that is a whole other topic….
These are some of the areas we provide dog training for in Sydney – if you are not listed, please still contact us ! The Hills – Annangrove, Baulkham Hills, Beaumont Hills, Bella Vista, Box Hill, Carlingford, Castle Hill, Cherrybrook, Dural, Glenhaven, Glenorie, Kellyville, Kenthurst, Maraylya, Maroota, Nelson, Northmead, North Rocks, Rouse Hill, West Pennant Hills Blacktown and surrounding areas – Acacia Gardens, Dean Park, Doonside, Glendenning, Glenwood, Kellyville Ridge, Kings Langley, Kings Park, Lalor Park, Marayong, Marsden Park, Oakhurst, Parklea, Quakers Hill, Schofields, Seven Hills, Stanhope Gardens, The Ponds, Toongabbie, Vineyard, Riverstone
