Our Pets Can Talk
Do you ever wonder what it would be like if your pets could talk? To some, this would be a joy to communicate each other’s feelings and needs, while others may feel they would be constantly nagged to play and go outside. Though they can’t hold conversations with us, our pets do use body language and behaviors to show their personalities and opinions about the world around them. Taking the time to notice, understand and react appropriately can enhance your relationship with them and make life easier at home and on the go.
“Having a good relationship with your dog means providing for them in the way they need and not want. Dogs need physical and mental exercise and clear communication in order to be truly satisfied in life. They need to have a clear understanding of rules, boundaries and what is expected of them,” explained Kelly Orris, owner of Balanced Dog Training. Orris, who has a degree in zoology and animal behavior, has studied and trained with many different animals like cheetahs, kangaroos and police and military dogs. Her passion, though, lies with building relationships between humans and animals, and she now specializes in training pet dogs to optimize their relationships with their owners.
“Dogs are domestic animals that have been bred through the ages to work and/or be a pet or companion. They are bred for specific traits and characteristics to have the desired outcome, and it tends to be overlooked that they are still animals,” she said. “We are fitting them into our lives and have certain expectations of them. Their minds and how they work are important when talking about social dynamics.”
While she sees common mild behavioral issues like puppy nipping, jumping, not listening and leash pulling, Orris also addresses more significant problems such as ‘leash reactivity,’ meaning that dogs exhibit aggressive behaviors while on the leash, and resource guarding. The most serious issue she encounters is separation anxiety, which she said has become increasingly more common in the past few years.
“My dogs come back walking better on a leash, listening when we call them, staying in a down, hanging out on place and are just overall better-behaved dogs,” smiled Nicole Barnes, who has trusted Orris to train three of her dogs.
There are three specific “drives” that a dog has while it handles different situations and external stimuli: defensive drive, which entails fight, flight or freeze responses; prey drive, which encompasses chasing, herding and hunting; and pack drive, which is being in a group – often that ‘group’ is the owner or family.
It is up to the human to recognize these drives, find out what the dog needs, observe their behavior and read body language, according to Orris. Learning commands and communicating are tools that can guide them and rewarding behaviors – rather than punishments and telling dogs ‘no’ – will set them up for success.
“For example, a dog who is always pulling on the leash, nose to the ground, may be excitable when they see a squirrel or dog. This means they are in prey drive and have difficulty managing it,” Orris suggested. “So you work on leash training and pressure. They learn to follow the leash pressure, and learn it corrects and guides them. A correction isn’t to hurt them, but to make them pay attention. Dogs don’t respond well to pain or intense stress. It’s not practical or humane. They respond well to rewards. Then you can use alternatives to satisfy that prey drive, like playing with toys or playing games.”
Remembering that every dog’s personality is different is important when trying to understand your pet. Just like humans, some dogs are limited in their comfort with other dogs, pets and people, and heavy socialization is not always the best choice. Forcing them into situations they are uncomfortable in can often trigger unwanted behaviors and break the trust they have in their owner. Dogs’ personalities and behaviors also grow and change through the stages of puppyhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age – not so different from their human counterparts.
Ultimately, Orris says the relationship between dogs and their humans goes beyond being well-trained. “Some of the truly great relationships I have observed are people who have accepted every aspect of their dog’s personality. They treat them like a dog and are fair and advocate for their dog when needed. They read their dog’s body language and can predict their response or know what they need.”
“I have a better relationship with my dogs since training,” Barnes said. “They are happier and healthier when we put them to work. With proper training, dogs live a happier life.”
By Anne Toole
