I am coming in the front door with Deuce in tow. Rio was home and had just finished a play date with a pal of hers. Deuce also used to play with Dash prior to Dash exhibiting a full-blown case of testosterone. For now, Deuce does not join in on these play sessions until Dash is altered since Deuce was beginning to target him as many unuttered males are by neutered ones. In essence, it's as if the unaltered dog is wearing a target on his back that reads: Hit me! Hit me!
In any event, as I walk through the door with Deuce, a bouncy Rio comes to greet us. I am watching her say “hi” to Deuce and I noticed Rio licking Deuce’s muzzle with Deuce reciprocating as well. All kissing out of the way we are now in the kitchen, which is adjacent to our living room. Rio body blocks Deuce by swiftly and comically moving in front of him while she nudges him on the face - this time with more determination thus preventing him from continuing to move forward directly to one of their beds located in a corner of our kitchen area.
Dogs are masters at managing each other via use of space. Their signals and body language are oh so subtle for the untrained eye that if you do not know what you are looking for, you will miss it all together.
I am amused by Rio’s reaction to Deuce. I realized now that it makes sense that she is once again trying to manage his whereabouts since we are in the kitchen – a quasi “sacred” area for Rio - all things food captivate her! Come to think of it, the fact that John and now I were also in the kitchen makes it even more probable that goods are going to be dispersed, but only if they are lying on their beds.
Just like how Rio controlled Deuce’s movements by taking up his “personal” space, we can learn to do the same with our dogs when we need them to move in a certain direction. Think, for example, of using your own body to block the front door from your dog as he makes a beeline to the great outdoors. Or moving your dog away from where you prepare food in the kitchen and back to their beds.
Not only is this way of managing our dogs and their whereabouts more humane than the ubiquitous grabbing of the collar or the scruff (ouch, who would like being moved that way) but also your dog will get it!
We humans are also sensitive to our personal space and we would most likely respond as our dogs do when someone (especially someone we do not want close) moves too close to us. I think the difference is that dog’s have a much more subtle body language.
Now back to our dogs. I am not much of a proponent of exercising “control” over our dogs. I try to not use this phrase much because it has a negative connotation for me.
Animals as sentient begins and individuals need to also have their needs met and controlling them does not support this.
This is one more reason why I encourage people to move their dogs when needed in a manner that the dog can understand. Your dog might be just so impressed by your good manners that he will comply oh so readily!
I am working with a client who has mobility issues and a very exuberant strong dog. One of the exercises we have been working on is teaching his dog to back up when my client needs to walk without having the dog jump on him or block his path. On our session yesterday, the dog was responding nicely to me when I asked him to back up after I had taught the dog what that meant. Now it was my client’s turn to work with his dog as I watched.
Initially the dog would either look at me for a reinforcer (treat in this case) instead of moving back as requested. After a little troubleshooting my client was able to successfully use his body to request his dog to move back giving him ample space to move safely. I too got my reinforcement when I saw my client’s expression of success as I heard loud and clear his cheerful good boy!! directed at his dog.
In any event, as I walk through the door with Deuce, a bouncy Rio comes to greet us. I am watching her say “hi” to Deuce and I noticed Rio licking Deuce’s muzzle with Deuce reciprocating as well. All kissing out of the way we are now in the kitchen, which is adjacent to our living room. Rio body blocks Deuce by swiftly and comically moving in front of him while she nudges him on the face - this time with more determination thus preventing him from continuing to move forward directly to one of their beds located in a corner of our kitchen area.
Dogs are masters at managing each other via use of space. Their signals and body language are oh so subtle for the untrained eye that if you do not know what you are looking for, you will miss it all together.
I am amused by Rio’s reaction to Deuce. I realized now that it makes sense that she is once again trying to manage his whereabouts since we are in the kitchen – a quasi “sacred” area for Rio - all things food captivate her! Come to think of it, the fact that John and now I were also in the kitchen makes it even more probable that goods are going to be dispersed, but only if they are lying on their beds.
So here is a fun challenge (or called it a game) that you can play with your dog:
- Stand in front of your dog.
- Make eye contact and gently move ever so slightly to one side.
- Watch your dog closely and see if he mirrors in any way your sway motion. Perhaps he will rotate his eyes or an ear, move his hips in the same direction (opposite since he is facing you but same direction you moved).
- Try swaying to the other side. What now?
- See if you can observe the tiny movements your dog makes in response to your own movements.
- You can step it up a notch and lean (feet remain on the ground) towards your dog, again very slightly. Observe your dog's response.
- Try the same, but leaning backwards…
Just like how Rio controlled Deuce’s movements by taking up his “personal” space, we can learn to do the same with our dogs when we need them to move in a certain direction. Think, for example, of using your own body to block the front door from your dog as he makes a beeline to the great outdoors. Or moving your dog away from where you prepare food in the kitchen and back to their beds.
Not only is this way of managing our dogs and their whereabouts more humane than the ubiquitous grabbing of the collar or the scruff (ouch, who would like being moved that way) but also your dog will get it!
We humans are also sensitive to our personal space and we would most likely respond as our dogs do when someone (especially someone we do not want close) moves too close to us. I think the difference is that dog’s have a much more subtle body language.
Now back to our dogs. I am not much of a proponent of exercising “control” over our dogs. I try to not use this phrase much because it has a negative connotation for me.
Animals as sentient begins and individuals need to also have their needs met and controlling them does not support this.
This is one more reason why I encourage people to move their dogs when needed in a manner that the dog can understand. Your dog might be just so impressed by your good manners that he will comply oh so readily!
I am working with a client who has mobility issues and a very exuberant strong dog. One of the exercises we have been working on is teaching his dog to back up when my client needs to walk without having the dog jump on him or block his path. On our session yesterday, the dog was responding nicely to me when I asked him to back up after I had taught the dog what that meant. Now it was my client’s turn to work with his dog as I watched.
Initially the dog would either look at me for a reinforcer (treat in this case) instead of moving back as requested. After a little troubleshooting my client was able to successfully use his body to request his dog to move back giving him ample space to move safely. I too got my reinforcement when I saw my client’s expression of success as I heard loud and clear his cheerful good boy!! directed at his dog.
"Animals as sentient begins and individuals need to also have their needs met and controlling them does not support this."
ReplyDeleteI just love that statement...I hope the day comes when more humans can understand and live by that rule. We will all be better off.