An Education: Training Humans to be Better Dog-Owners

At college I was fortunate to have one of those amazing teachers that turns your mind and your life right around. I vividly recall him reminding his class of A-level English literature students: "Don't forget that the original meaning of eductation is to lead forth, not to be spoon-fed facts to pass exams!"

It's tough in a culture of target-driven, results-obsessed education to think and act upon this idea. Fortunately,  the Turid Rugaas' International Dog Training Education (IDTE) I am currently engaged with is a vivid reminder of how to take this approach - both in terms of being a student; and in terms of being a dog 'trainer'. Use that term, though, and Turid shakes her head and sighs. "I don't like that word, 'trainer'," she says. "Really?" I thought, initially. Now I understand why. 

When I explain to people what I am doing the word 'whisperer' and the idea that I will have complete command of a dog spring to most people's minds.  The Education is not about that. There's no gypsy mystique or a goal of total compliance. It's simple enough for anyone to learn and apply, if they choose to, and it's about giving dogs choices as often as we can; respecting them and treating them in an ethical manner. Turid's answer to so many of my dumb questions about techniques and equipment was simply: "So, would you do that to a person? No? Then why do it to a dog?"

Turid Rugaas is outspoken in her contempt for the misunderstanding and misapplication of canine behaviour in mainstream dog-training techniques. She views it as a phenomenon that reflects a human obsession with power and control and our compulsion to view animal behaviour through this lens. We might use the phrase 'dog-eat-dog' to describe a ruthless power struggle, but in fact this is how people choose to operate - not dogs!

Turid's book, 'Calming Signals' was my entry-level introduction to the foundation of her approach. We can never truly understand and communicate with dogs unless we make the effort to understand their language, instead of arrogantly foisting our commands upon them. How many times do owners impatiently interrupt a subtle greeting-dance, thus teaching their own dog that a friendly greeting to another dog will be punished with a tug on the neck and a harsh or nagging command. Conversely owners will sometimes try to force an interaction between two dogs, who would prefer not to interact, the equivalent of, "Hey, come over here and talk to this strange man you've never met before. Go on! He looks nice! Go on! Speak to him!"

Understanding how profoundly our mistakes affect the quality of life of our pets can be painful. We do our best, and there are plenty of self-professed experts shelling out advice and criticism, not to mention selling us horrible devices and products that sanitize unethical training shortcuts.  How are we to know any different? But we used to think nothing of wearing real fur, of forcing animals to fight for our entertainment, or shooting wild animals simply for fun. The world is changing its attitudes to such activities, and it's high time we learned more about the best way to treat the animals in our homes. 

The only time Turid Rugaas would insist on not giving a dog a choice, would be when obliging him to wear a harness instead of a collar. 

Why?

Well, that deserves a blog post all of its own.
 

Cave Canem

Beware of the dog. Only because anyone who loves a dog will know how much there is to know, learn and enjoy from a relationship with a canine of whatever breed or background. And, when you commit to a line of work involving these fascinating creatures...well, you can get a bit carried away.

Luckily for my friends, since I began studying to be an International Dog Trainer of Europe with pioneering Norwegian,Turid Rugaas, I can spare them the downpour of my obsession by turning to my twenty dog-geek colleagues.

(Anyone who crosses me will be subjected to a video on loop of dogs doing treat searches.)

After a mere three days into the course, my brain is struggling to assimilate all the new knowledge, and every dog I encounter is a subject for observation and rumination.

So much that we accept as normal and good for our dogs is so misunderstood. The ones holding the stakes in massive media presences such as Cesar Milan, or in selling us products like toys, chews and gear, profit from our ignorance.

 In  many respects we go from extremes - one moment misinterpreting behaviour because we mistakenly impose our human view on a behaviour, the next moment abandoning this to treat the dog in a way we would never dream of treating a person. Education - based on research and facts, not some half-baked theory - is the only way forward in improving our relationships with dogs.

For example, just why are we so hung up on obedience? Yes, we need to manage behaviours to keep our animals and the public safe. But this doesn't mean we have to turn a dog into a command-driven automaton or a clown to amuse us with tricks.

We know full well how intelligent dogs are. How much they are capable of feeling. And yet how often do we give them the opportunity to nurture their brain development? Their emotional well being? It's time we learned their language, their ways. It's time we learned to truly respect them.

One of the first things Turid distributed to her eager students was a short poem by Chief Dan George, summing up her founding belief:

The Song of the Wolf

If you talk to the animals

They will talk to you

And you will learn

To know each other.



If you do not talk to them

You will not know each other

And what you do not know

And feel safe with

You will fear



What you fear

You will try to destroy