18/10/2025
This is the basis of my work too and beautifully written and explained -not my strength to write what I mean, but can teach the dog easily and show/explain to owners.
We are training our dogs to have acceptable manners so they can live peacefully with us in our homes, we want them to be happy and relaxed, show their fabulous personalities and make decisions which are acceptable by their owners. We are not forcing our dogs to be so drilled to obedience that they are always worrying to not upset us, although many owners do not read their dogs well via their body language and cannot see some of the desperate pleas from their dogs that they sometimes need more from us to suit who they are.
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THE NAUGHTY DOGGE
After training your first perfect dog, and then getting one that is different than what you are used to, we quickly realize that training a dog can be complex. It isn't as simple as saying 'yes' and 'no' and teaching behaviours. We soon realize that our dog's have their own motivations, abilities, desires and work ethic, or lack there of, in addition to physical and temperamental difficulties.
Our job as trainers is to work with our dogs, developing their weaknesses, building their strengths, and using their strengths to help us retrain their weaknesses. We increase work-ethic, teaching them that pleasing us is key to all great things in life. As we do this, we must always aim to keep them happy and enthusiastic.
The more you know, the more you realize how everything affects everything. As you build their desire and drive, your control is no longer sufficient. Or as you build confidence in a fearful dog, you will frequently see aggression emerge. By altering one piece of the puzzle, your entire picture can dramatically change.
You know you are learning and doing things right when things become difficult. If it is simple, you are not getting the most out of your dog. A dog with zero self-esteem is easy to live with. They lie at your feet, never have the guts to jump on a stranger, and plod along behind you on their walks. But low self-esteem isn't right. A dog with full self-esteem and confidence will make his own decisions, sometimes reply 'no' to a request, and must be taught to make the right choices, meaning that first he must be schooled well in what is 'right', and then given the freedom to show his brilliance.
This requires feel and timing, and is complex to get the balance right. Often I see dogs with full-self esteem and no control, or way too much control and no self-esteem.
I believe that many trainers of dogs are excellent at teaching set behaviours, but forget to train and mold the temperament. They will end up with a dog with many great training moments, but no skills to pull them through the times of stress, impossible situations, or over-excitement.
Training the dog, and not just the behaviour, is akin to learning to speak a language. You will start to see things that you previously never saw, and once you are able to 'see' you will never 'not see' again. You will become a master at reading dogs, and will love the challenge of working out exactly what they need, and how to give it to them.
And you will get completely and utterly hooked.... if you are not already.
Monique Anstee
Victoria, BC
