There is a difference between a dog laying down and a dog laying down calmly (Photo: white Siberian Husky laying down in front of a lake and mountains)
Do you have a well-trained dog? A dog who comes when she’s called, heels on the leash, and listens to you when you say “leave it?” That same dog, who is very well trained in a number of commands, may still be unbalanced.
What does that mean?
Although your dog can do many things that you ask of her, she is stressed out while doing the tasks. She whines anxiously almost all of the time. She shakes in fear when you move the furniture. She barks at everything that passes your front window and can’t seem to stop — and won’t listen to you when she’s in that state of mind.
Dog training sometimes focuses on the mechanics more than the state of mind. Some trainers will teach you sit, down, stay, and come and show you to feed your dog for compliance into these positions WITHOUT REGARD FOR WHAT STATE OF MIND YOUR DOG IS IN.
What state of mind are you feeding/rewarding? (Photo: person holding a treat up high, encouraging a black Lab to jump up for the treat)
Your dog may come, but gallop to you with too much excitement, smacking into your legs. If you say, “Good come,” and pay them with food, you’ve just taught your dog to greet all people with excitement. That is how they will greet your mother, your grandmother, and toddlers.
Dog psychology looks at the state of mind that the dog is in and rewards calmness. Who doesn’t love a calm dog? Calm dogs don’t knock your cute children over. Calm dogs don’t bound through someone’s picnic in the park. Calm dogs don’t bite your hand when you’re trying to take their toy out of their mouth during fetch.
Calm dogs don’t chomp your fingers off while you’re playing fetch (Photo: person gently taking a tennis ball from a Rottweiler’s mouth)
Calm does not equal boring.
Can you still play with a calm dog?
Absolutely! Calm dogs are more fun to play with, because they are playing with YOU not just the toy in your hand.
We’ve all seen that excited (and LOUD) dog at the park who is BARKING, BARKING, BARKING at the Chuckit! stick in the human’s hand — “Throw it! Throw it! Oh, my goodness, throw it! They’re NOT throwing it. I will try jumping on them. I will try…jumping up and biting the Chuckit! Maybe more barking.” <person throws the ball>
“Yes! It was the barking they liked! THAT got me the ball.”
Be mindful of what behaviour you are rewarding. Often it is a behaviour we don’t love (like barking) that we are paying the dog for.
It’s more fun to play with a balanced dog. Balanced dogs aren’t obsessed with toys. (Photo: Tan and White Pitbull mix lays on a beach with space between his human and his toy AND between himself and his toy
Is it wrong to have your calm dog get excited while playing fetch?
No. Of course not. As long as YOU are in control of the excitement. Think of your dog’s excitement like a bonfire. You can bring up the levels of excitement, just as long as you can also bring them back down again. You need to control the flames.
What to do:
Teach your dog to look at YOU instead of the ball. When he looks at you and gives you one moment of silence, say “Yes!” and throw the ball.
“Yes,” is a command given to communicate two things:
You got it right.
You’re free to go play now.
What will help you achieve this goal faster?
Your own energy. If we use the fire analogy, your excitement is gasoline on the flames. The more you amp up your dog with words: “Ready? Ready? Are ya ready, boy?” the more excited they will get.
Try playing silently and being two things — calm and confident. That’s all you need to bring to the fetch game…that and a whole lot of JOY!
Playing in a more structured way keeps the game challenging and fun for everyone (Photo: Rottweiler holding a ball jogs toward his person)
Can you have a well-trained dog who is also balanced?
Yes! This is what we’re aiming for. A well-trained and balanced dog FEELS good about the work they are doing. FEELS good about the world around them.
Instead of forcing a fearful dog to learn to sit, work on achieving calmness and trust FIRST before caring about whether or not they can sit on command. A nervous, fearful dog sitting beside you, isn’t any better than a nervous, fearful dog standing beside you. They are still nervous and fearful.
By learning dog psychology you will help your dog learn there’s nothing to be afraid of. Once they have confidence and aren’t afraid of leaves blowing, strollers, and skateboards THEN work on simple dog training commands. When you do it in that order (dog psychology and THEN dog training), suddenly dog training commands are insanely easy. WHY? Because your dog is calm, confident, and balanced. Can you learn when you’re shaking in fear? Nope. Neither can your dog.
If you’re terrified of clowns and find math difficult, will I sit you in a room full of clowns to teach you math? No. I’ll help you overcome your fear of clowns and then teach you math once you’re calm. (Photo: scary clown)
Be patient. Be calm. Never set a stopwatch to training a dog.
Do your very best to become the calm and confident person that your dog needs. All they need is a leader (plus love, food, water, shelter, physical exercise, and mental challenge — those are givens, as you’re likely already providing all of those things.) The last puzzle piece to fall into place for many, many people is being calm and confident themselves. It’s harder than it sounds, but the ripple effect to your dog and other human relationships is well worth the effort.
Your dog needs someone who can show them the world isn’t as scary as they think. That person can be you!
Reward calmness more often. Give affection to your dog when they are in a calm state of mind, and they will begin to show you their calm self more often.
If you pet them when they are hyper, they will show you hyper more often.
Be mindful of what state of mind you reward. This is the way to a balanced dog (and a more balanced life for you as well!)
Have a fantastic Friday, Dog Leaders!
Alyssa
Photos by: Jf Brou (white Siberian Husky laying down in front of a lake and mountains,) Chewy (person holding a treat up high, encouraging a black Lab to jump up for the treat,) Chewy (person gently taking a tennis ball from a Rottweiler’s mouth,) Laurie Gibson (Tan and White Pitbull mix lays on a beach with space between his human and his toy AND between himself and his toy — that is respect,) Sinitta Leunen (Rottweiler holding a ball jogs toward his person,) and Tom Roberts (scary clown.)