| Fact 1: Dogs are Canis Familiaris. We must accept them for what they are. They're NOT furry little humans, nor are they simply domesticated wolves. They are "Dog"; more than 15 million years of evolution created a loving, sophisticated, intelligent beings with reel feelings, filled with life's passion. Not only are they dog's but they are PERFECT at being dog's. Even with all of their imperfections they are indeed perfect. Your furry little friend does nothing wrong because everything being done is natural. They are simply trying to survive. Whether they dig up the back yard, bark non stop or even pee on your favorite foreign rug, these actions are nothing more than their way of accomplishing an apparent need. These actions may not be appropriate, but that's where our communication and guidance needs to take charge. Fact 2: Dogs have needs. Their needs are not unlike our own. This is the starting point for my approach. Let’s explore your dogs' needs a little more. ~Some things we know~ OXYGEN: Without it she will suffocate in seconds FOOD: Death is slower without food, but still eminent WATER: Dehydration doesn't take long ~Then we have what most overlook~ Sense of Security: It's only when we are secure that we can have enjoyment. Your dog needs to know without a doubt that she is going to survive, FOREVER. If you felt your security was in imminent danger you may find it hard to follow orders too. Furthermore, you are only secure when the criteria for survival are being met. That means that oxygen, food, water, along with protection, are all needed to obtain a sense of security. Sense Of Being: Dog's of all sizes and color need to feel alive, to feel that they exist. To a dog this cannot happen if it is forced to live in solitude. They need to be part of a unit, a group or pack, quite literally a family. Not only do you perceive your dog as part of your family, your dog too believes you are part of the same pack. How can you feel joyous and happy if your own existence is never validated? Sense of Hierarchy: Packs elect mentors and guides, leaders to follow. An alpha pair would watch over and teach the pack. These teachers are the smartest, the fastest, the strongest; they take charge simply with their composure. As head of household they are charged with the responsibility of providing and protecting the family. There are two ways in which you can become their teacher; the NASTY way, by DOMINATING everyone with your intelligence, speed, or perhaps only STRENGTH to benefit yourself; or by ASSERTING your speed, intelligence and strength to benefit the entire pack, the PAWSITIVE way. Your dog needs to know that there is a leader. Once leaders are established it is their responsibility to teach everyone else the appropriate skills needed to live a long happy life. Sense of Wellbeing: It’s not enough to feel that we exist; we must be joyous in our existence. Happy until the end. They must feel loved by family and friends, engaged in companionships with connections. Of course those are just the essentials. Every dog has its own unique personality too. She may feel a spiritual connection with playing to chase, or retrieving, perhaps even protecting. Maybe she hates going for walks. The majority of her individual likes and dislikes developed through each interaction since birth. Your dog learned her likes and dislikes through association. People, places, and things having a positive association became likes, while those gaining a negative association became her dislikes. There were also a few wolfish desires that managed to stick around, the strongest of these being survival. Bottom line, like snowflakes, no four paws are alike either. Fact 3: Dogs have limitations. Just as you and I, your dog has things she simply can't or won't do. Let's not call her dumb or stubborn, let's call her an individual. ~Some of the limitations we're aware of~ (Their flip side) Your dog is INCAPABLE of learning human language. (They CAN associate action to our movements, sounds, and words.) Your dog will NEVER gain know right and wrong. (They WILL learn what is or is not appropriate.) Your dog CANNOT "think outside the box". (Chewing through it though...) Other limitations are not so obvious, such as a birth defect which could limit her ability, and therefore her desire, to sit. Fact 4: Dogs want to love. They want to follow, they want to be care free, and they want to be joyous. It's because of their needs that they take on the burden of leadership, often acting less than appropriate. Once we allow them to elect us leader, all you have to do is show them what you want while giving those actions value so they bare to be repeated. |
“It's how you raise your puppies” was the statement that started all of this. Just like that a dog daycare manager convinced
me to step out of corporate America and begin scoopin some poopin. There I met a trainer, passionate in her belief that
dogs needed harsh discipline to learn and obey. It was during a heated discussion that I decided to become a life coach for
dogs and their homosapiens.
It's been a privilege sharing my life with dogs. I grew up watching them, raising them as puppies; my grandparents and
their German Shepherds, my mother and her Miniature Schnauzers, and me with my American Staffordshire Terriers. I've
learned from them directly, discovering how they live. I've been engaged in a life long education plan, sharing life's joys
with countless canines.
Since it had always been a passionate love affair, one enjoyed since birth, I decided to make it a matter of study. I’ve since
graduated for the Animal Behavior College and have been asked to mentor their students. They say it’s how I do things…
I'd never thought about what I was doing, it was merely a way of life. I'd never studied animal psychology or training prior
to then, I never had the need.
I was raised with animals all around. Buck, our painted stallion, and I flapped lips all the time. My feathered fellows, the
crow, blackbird and sparrow chicks, were all raise cage free. They enjoyed flights of freedom in the mountains and at the
coast. (It was so funny once, Mom whistled for Mandy, one of our black birds, but the coast was swarming with blondes.
Mary made nest in several hairdos before eventually finding the right one. It was a scene right out of the Alfred Hitchcock
movie.) The feral cats who would hide from others would allow me to pet them (I swear it was my yellow vest that gave
me that special power)… aiding my grandparents with their German Shepherds, giving CPR to a Miniature Schnauzer
puppy to save its life at birth (now I'm even certified by the Red Cross in Pet CPR and First Aid). Championship pigs and a
Grand Champion lamb (campaigning for more humane treatment of our livestock)… My childhood was full of adventure
having tons of fun with all the animals that voluntarily lived by my side.
me to step out of corporate America and begin scoopin some poopin. There I met a trainer, passionate in her belief that
dogs needed harsh discipline to learn and obey. It was during a heated discussion that I decided to become a life coach for
dogs and their homosapiens.
It's been a privilege sharing my life with dogs. I grew up watching them, raising them as puppies; my grandparents and
their German Shepherds, my mother and her Miniature Schnauzers, and me with my American Staffordshire Terriers. I've
learned from them directly, discovering how they live. I've been engaged in a life long education plan, sharing life's joys
with countless canines.
Since it had always been a passionate love affair, one enjoyed since birth, I decided to make it a matter of study. I’ve since
graduated for the Animal Behavior College and have been asked to mentor their students. They say it’s how I do things…
I'd never thought about what I was doing, it was merely a way of life. I'd never studied animal psychology or training prior
to then, I never had the need.
I was raised with animals all around. Buck, our painted stallion, and I flapped lips all the time. My feathered fellows, the
crow, blackbird and sparrow chicks, were all raise cage free. They enjoyed flights of freedom in the mountains and at the
coast. (It was so funny once, Mom whistled for Mandy, one of our black birds, but the coast was swarming with blondes.
Mary made nest in several hairdos before eventually finding the right one. It was a scene right out of the Alfred Hitchcock
movie.) The feral cats who would hide from others would allow me to pet them (I swear it was my yellow vest that gave
me that special power)… aiding my grandparents with their German Shepherds, giving CPR to a Miniature Schnauzer
puppy to save its life at birth (now I'm even certified by the Red Cross in Pet CPR and First Aid). Championship pigs and a
Grand Champion lamb (campaigning for more humane treatment of our livestock)… My childhood was full of adventure
having tons of fun with all the animals that voluntarily lived by my side.
| Copyright 2007 Pawsitively Pawssible 503.285.PAWS (7297) pawpaw@pawsitivelypawssible.com All Rights Reserved |
| I've learned that it's the ability to listen to our dogs that matters most. |
| Your dog needs to be LOVED, not dominated. They need to be GUIDED, not forced. They need to be UNDERSTOOD. |
| Lets explore at the FACTS my technique is based on. |
My approach looks at obedience from a very non-traditional point of view. You see, your loveable Fido knew how to sit
and lay down before ever coming home. They did it when they wanted and when their parent dog wanted… So why
wont they do it for us? Well, if they look at us like a dog that can do a cool trick (walk around on our back legs all day
and open doors and dog food containers) no wonder we have a problem. Or what if they simply see us as a big bully,
through eye’s of frustration? But what if they actually saw us as their parent? Dog experts everywhere already agree that
dogs accept us as kin, what if we can get them to accept us as parent? Not as disciplinarian or “alpha”, but as a loving,
caring, forgiving head of the house…?
Do you want a dog that obeys when asked, or a dog that doesn't need to be asked? Do you believe your dog should
always stay seated after being asked to sit, or should you need to demand “stay” too? When you say your dog's name are
you not asking for her undivided attention, or should you have to ask for that too by requesting “focus”? I know it's a
subtle difference, but I believe that's the difference between having an obedient dog and a well mannered one. That's
what makes a Super Dog.
My approach works with your current schedule, no need to search your schedule for “training time”. It's about HOW you
do what you already do. Think quality, not quantity. Have you ever seen a wild pack sit their young down to have a
structured discussion about what to do or not to do? No, and all trainers know this. That's why you’ll routinely hear or
read “that's what her litter mates would do”, or “that's how her mom and dad would handle it”. Dogs learn everything
during play, with their family. That’s what play is all about: learning. This is exactly what we’ll be doing. I’ll teach you
how to have so much fun with your dog that you'll forget you've become a trainer
My lessons are your perfect opportunity to ready yourself for success by ensuring you are properly educated on what’s
truly happening from a perspective that will shine light on your situation; from your dog’s point of view. You are then
given goals, a plan to help you achieve those goals, and lifetime support for all the “what if’s” in life. We’ll explore and
discuss the relationship in detail and depth. You will learn to understand your dogs individual needs, drives, and
sensitivities. You will learn how your dog accepts intellectual stimulation.
and lay down before ever coming home. They did it when they wanted and when their parent dog wanted… So why
wont they do it for us? Well, if they look at us like a dog that can do a cool trick (walk around on our back legs all day
and open doors and dog food containers) no wonder we have a problem. Or what if they simply see us as a big bully,
through eye’s of frustration? But what if they actually saw us as their parent? Dog experts everywhere already agree that
dogs accept us as kin, what if we can get them to accept us as parent? Not as disciplinarian or “alpha”, but as a loving,
caring, forgiving head of the house…?
Do you want a dog that obeys when asked, or a dog that doesn't need to be asked? Do you believe your dog should
always stay seated after being asked to sit, or should you need to demand “stay” too? When you say your dog's name are
you not asking for her undivided attention, or should you have to ask for that too by requesting “focus”? I know it's a
subtle difference, but I believe that's the difference between having an obedient dog and a well mannered one. That's
what makes a Super Dog.
My approach works with your current schedule, no need to search your schedule for “training time”. It's about HOW you
do what you already do. Think quality, not quantity. Have you ever seen a wild pack sit their young down to have a
structured discussion about what to do or not to do? No, and all trainers know this. That's why you’ll routinely hear or
read “that's what her litter mates would do”, or “that's how her mom and dad would handle it”. Dogs learn everything
during play, with their family. That’s what play is all about: learning. This is exactly what we’ll be doing. I’ll teach you
how to have so much fun with your dog that you'll forget you've become a trainer
My lessons are your perfect opportunity to ready yourself for success by ensuring you are properly educated on what’s
truly happening from a perspective that will shine light on your situation; from your dog’s point of view. You are then
given goals, a plan to help you achieve those goals, and lifetime support for all the “what if’s” in life. We’ll explore and
discuss the relationship in detail and depth. You will learn to understand your dogs individual needs, drives, and
sensitivities. You will learn how your dog accepts intellectual stimulation.
| I'm proud to be an: Animal Behavior College Alum (ABCDT) Animal Behavior College Mentor Trainer |
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