Hello, Bay Woof readers, it’s Ian’s wife Kelly here. I’m filling in for Ian this month because at deadline time he’s just wrapping up his final day of lecturing in the UK for a total of 57 hours in nine days.
I’ve joined him for the second half of the tour because I couldn’t get away for the entire thing. Someone’s got to look after our three dogs at home, after all! So, usually, while Ian is off sharing his knowledge, experience, and our SIRIUS® Puppy Training philosophy with dog trainers and veterinarians around the world, I’m at home applying it with our furry crew.
While in England, where one sees dogs everywhere and they really are a part of people’s everyday lives, I’ve been pondering the application of dog training in real-life situations and how, if people know how to apply it, just a little bit of basic manners training can go such a long way.
As it happens, Ian’s birthday fell during this particular trip to the country of his origin. Beverley Cuddy of the UK’s Dogs Today Magazine was kind enough to throw him a birthday tea party – dogs welcome, of course. It was a lovely event with tea, sandwiches, and cakes for the humans and dogs alike.
After tea, Ian gave an evening lecture where he reminisced about growing up on a farm in the English countryside and talked about the dogs (and cows) that touched his heart and ultimately shaped his career choice and lifelong passion for teaching people how to gently and effectively communicate with animals.
There were about 30 dogs in attendance, of all ages, ranging in size from a tiny 4.5-pound Chihuahua to two particularly enormous Great Danes, weighing in at over 125 pounds apiece. In between there were Border Collies, an Australian Shepherd, Whippets, Corgis, a Standard Poodle, and even a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever! There were many gorgeous one-of-a-kind mixed-breed dogs, too. The youngest dog at the party was twelve weeks old.
Even with such variety and so many dogs in relatively close-quarters, there were no incidents, no potty accidents, and no Hollywood-like antics such as a dog landing on the dessert table and knocking over the four-tier doggy-themed birthday cake. All of the dogs behaved like little ladies and gentleman.
Of course the reason the dogs could hang out at the party without incident is because they were all well-socialized and well-trained. Most importantly, their owners knew how to apply basic training exercises to real-life situations. No dogs jumped up to greet other revelers, there was (almost) no begging at the banquet tables, no wild, rambunctious play just because they were in the presence of others of their kind. All dogs used their indoor voices, if they made any sound at all, and minded their well-taught manners.
At one point, I noticed a large Australian Shepherd eyeballing a Kelpie. Both dog handlers noted the emerging tension and simple requested their dogs perform a well-versed behavior incompatible with crankiness. In moments, the potential problem evaporated. The Aussie sat and made eye-contact with his owner and the Kelpie was recalled to her owner’s side and responded with gleeful, lightening-fast speed.
This is real-life training at work and what it’s all about. Will your dog sit calmly in the vet reception area? Can you take her to the local pet store without embarrassment? Will she remain safely in the car until released when you open the door? Can you take your furry friend for a stroll down the street without carrying an entire sack full of training implements and gear? And without throwing out your back?
Sometimes people forget to apply the very skills they have learned in class. It is situations such as public events or trips to the groomer that remind us that training exercises are life skills, not parlor tricks. If taught properly and practiced even occasionally, they make life easier at both ends of the leash.
Mastering simple skills – such as unwavering eye-contact, a rock-solid sit-stay, and a speedy, reliable recall – allows our dogs to take part in our lives more fully, welcome to join us at cafes, picnics, and even birthday parties.
Thanks for letting me share some insights. Ian will be back to share his own next month!
Kelly Gorman Dunbar is a Certified Nose Work Instructor and a Director and instructor at Sirius Puppy & Dog Training (www.siriuspup.com). Currently she is focusing on bringing enrichment to companion dogs via continuing education classes such as K9 Games® and Fun Nose Work. She is also the co-founder of www.DogStarDaily.com, an online training resource for people and their dogs, and President of Open Paw (www.openpaw.org), a shelter-based educational non-profit that provides people and pets with the tools they need to build a lasting relationship.
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