by Liz Mahony
I receive a regular online blog from a dog trainer. It’s a great way of giving me food for thought by reading other trainer’s topics or opinions. Even if I question her point of view, I feel that’s good because it makes me look at my own beliefs about dog training. Can I do better? Do I need to have a re-think?
So I was really interested when her blog came in entitled ‘Let Dogs be Dogs’. Her argument was that we bring dogs into our lives and then proceed to coach them out of all their innate canine traits. These include chewing, chasing, jumping up, digging, sniffing, stealing food. I could feel my hackles rising as I imagined all the difficulties that would occur if we allowed our dogs to do as they pleased without putting in any boundaries.
If you translate this into human terms, it would mean that we would allow our children to be ‘free spirits’, able to do as they pleased on a whim with no moral code or behavioural responsibility towards others.
Many years ago, I was called out to a man who had a number of Cocker Spaniels. All of them, bar one, were reasonably well-behaved. But, that particular one was becoming a liability in that she was aggressive to other dogs and people. She was beginning to even be confrontational towards her owner. She looked rather unhappy too. I began to talk to him about training and boundaries and watched as the man’s eyes glazed over. His counter-argument was that dogs should be allowed to do as they pleased. Shortly after this conversation, I made my excuses to him.
After all, our views were so far apart that there was no point in continuing it. But, I knew she was an accident waiting to happen.
And sure enough, about a week later, he called me again in a bit of a panic.
The dog had attacked one of the other dogs in a determined fashion. I called out again and we had another long chat. This time, he was listening. I don’t recall this with any sense of satisfaction. It was just sad that it had taken a disaster for him to be open to the fact that there might be another way.
As she had attacked one of his other dogs, it was highly unlikely that there would be a perfect solution and they’d all live happily ever after. Fortunately, he was able to give her away to someone who could look after her and was experienced in that breed. And the owner went on to do a bit of training with the other dogs too.
But back to the blog and dogs being allowed to be dogs. As you read this, you will probably believe that I’d be totally against this premise. That’s not true. However, I do believe that first of all, it’s important to teach your dog to live happily with you and to be able to be relaxed and well-behaved in company. A lack of training leaves you at odds with your dog if he doesn’t know about your ‘House Rules’. And, from experience, I see dogs without training who keep pushing boundaries looking for them and to understand what you expect of them.
I also believe that knowing what’s needed or expected allows your dog to develop its character. In other words, you allow him to make choices. He can choose to do as you ask or otherwise. The rewards for conforming to your way of life are
huge. He gets to be a trusted member of the family that you can take anywhere and any time. That fulfils the need to socialise and encounter all sorts of different people, dogs and situations.
However, I’m fully in agreement that there are times when dogs just have to be dogs. Therefore, all my dogs have been allowed to have big, ‘growly’, play fights with me. If anyone heard me ‘growling’ with them at those times, they would have me committed! But, the important point to mention is that I can end the game at any time before it gets out of control.
At other times, I’ve always encouraged all my dogs to just run free for as long as they want – the effort flapping their ears, jumping in and out of long grass or performing zoomies; sniffing for as long as they want and following scents; the chance to run and play with other dogs until they drop! Develop their scenting potential by affording them opportunities to find treats you’ve dropped along the path or find hidden toys. That special sigh of satisfaction when they return and flop down in perfect relaxation is something special and to be appreciated! You know you’ve given them exactly what they want. But, it’s all done within certain boundaries. In my opinion, that’s allowing a dog to be truly a dog.
