07/09/2024
“He (she) doesn’t….”
“She (he) won’t….”
“My dog escaped…”
What if we change our thinking to “I have not built a relationship with my dog where he (she) understands and respects boundaries?”
People so often put the blame on the dog but have not taken the time to communicate effectively through consistent and clear messages to the dog. When we communicate to a dog as though it is a human and not a canine, the dog is often put into a position to guess what words and actions mean rather than to know the use of the word for a singular action.
For example, “down” cues the action of the dog to lie on the belly with paws and legs on the floor. However, people will also often say “sit down” or “get down”. This blurs the image of the “down” command in the dog creating inconsistency and, therefore, confusion for the dog.
No one wants to work with a wish/washy leader or be in a relationship where the rules continually change and keep us guessing. It causes us to live in a state of anxiety, confusion, frustration, etc.
Setting and keeping clear guidelines with a dog not only builds trust, but, to not do so, is actually unfair and, depending on the situation, can be cruel. Boundaries help not only build relationship, but maintain safety for the dog.
Be consistent, clear, and fair. Please own the responsibility rather than placing the blame on the dog when not providing clarity.
Dogs are wonderful and can do so much! Let’s rise up in our communications with our dogs to bring out the best in both of us.