Dominance and trust are the bases of a successful dog
education. They are bound together inseparably. Dominance without
trust is a reduction to simple authority. A dog can learn through
authority, but it will
never learn joyfully. As a consequence it will try to avoid learning
and it will only fulfil its duties under the use of pressure.
If a dog is to fulfil its future duties
joyfully, there
is no other waybut to establish a basis of trust first. This trust is
usually installed through daily contact. One feeds his/her dog,
strokes it, talks to it and plays with it, too.
Playing with our dogs is extremely important in the
context of dominance and trust. While playing all senses of the dog
are stimulated simultaneously and it learns – as while playing with
members of its kind – understanding our gestures, the different
sounds of our voice and security of the close contact to our bodies.
–Given always that we truly accept an open and free playing with our
dog.
Due to my work at my dog-school I have realised that it
is very difficult for many people to play in an unrestrained way with
their dog. I think this is due to our education: an adult does not run
across a meadow, clapping with his/her hands, throwing a ball or
pretends fighting for an old towel, laughs and cheers “hey, hey, hey”.
Neither does he/she allow his/her dog to ruin the expensive outdoor
jacket or trousers. But: why not?
A dog can’t really understand our inhibition in this
context! If we keep it at distance to remain “clean”, if we stalk
over the meadow where we should play and if we don’t show our dog
through gestures and voice how much playing with it pleases to us, we
make one thing clear to our dog: We are nothing but a bore.
Logically the dog turns away and seeks for more
interesting things, leaving us far behind.
So: why not playing with our dog, lying on the
floor,
fighting for some old rags or fooling around outside, if there is no
easier way to communicate with our dog in its own way, to have fun
with it or to – and this is very important – create an atmosphere
of positive expectation?
If doing
all this helps me creating this kind of “positive expectation”
that makes my dog wonder: “What is going to happen next?”, I have
gathered its attention in an easy and pleasant way. An curious dog
will always be willing to learn, too.
A dog which you only
feed, stroke and care for will
feel well, but it won’t expect anything exciting from human beings.
So everything else, any distraction will be more interesting for it
than we are.
Again: Use any possibility that all day life offers you
to play with your dog. It is nice and important.
One rule should nevertheless be
respected: it should be
always you, the leader, who starts and ends the playing.
In a pack the dominant animal would be very annoyed
being permanently asked to play if it doesn’t want to. As always we
should try to copy on natural behaviours of a pack. This is why you
should clearly say “NO” if your dogs brings in toys and begs for
playing while you sit at the coffeetable.
The same counts for ending the game while our dog would
still like to play on (always leave them hungry!!!). Expectations for
the next play will be great this way.
A very positive side effect of this beginning and ending of
playing is that you show to your dog who the “boss” is, without
using force or punishment, even without using a single harsh word.
The “privileges” of being the leader of the pack,
the freedom to feed, play, stroke whenever you feel like will be a
kind of dominance that your dog won’t perceive negatively. On the
contrary it will trustfully come close to you and wait for all you
want it to do. –Just as a dog would orientate its own behaviour
according to the leader of the pack and its own position in the
hierarchy of the pack.
That’s when life is perfect for a dog.
There are only two ways for a dog to live
happily:
1.)
to dominate 2.) to be
dominated
IF
you offer chances to your dog to dominate it will use
them (naturally). This often happens unrealised.
For
example:
You finally give in when your dog begs for food, play
or a walk outside (just because you want rest....-you will NEVER get
it that way).
Your dog is allowed to defend its favourite place
growling (....off course I can go and sit else where no problem....
THAT’S what the inferior member of the pack would do)
You are no longer allowed to touch your dog’s food
(....well, the dog needs some rest while eating anyway.....-Have you
ever seen wolves “at table”?? No asking for rest...dominance!!!)
When these things happen I must finally realise that I
have lost my leading position in the pack. And I must work hard and
fast to regain it or I might get serious trouble with my dog.
Dogs that show the described above ways of behaviour
are not at all thankless. I often hear this from people who would
really do everything for their dogs (....and then it behaves THAT
way....). No it is not at all thankless, it HAS TO follow its natural
instincts and behave like this.
One last
remark: hectic and neurotic dogs that never
come to rest are often the result of an inconsequent education. The
dog constantly switches between dominating and being dominated for it
never knows if it has to fight for its dominance (...back off!! This
is my food!) or if it should give in to pressure and force (...because
we can’t let everything go through!).
It is important to first think about what a dog is
allowed and what it isn’t. What is allowed once should be allowed
forever and what isn’t should be forbidden forever as well. –For
the sake of you dog!
Offer your dog the peace and satisfaction of a strict
and clear order –as the one of a pack.
Create trust and dominate – and the way for a
successful dog education is right in front of you!
See you soon with the next part (different ways of
positive motivation)
Yours
Ute Ruoff
Hundeschule Ruoff
