The Same Side

Training a dog can seem like a very difficult task, particularly if you’ve never done it before.  When we have new students who have never actually trained a dog, they can come in with tons of misconceptions about dogs in general, and about how the process actually happens.  If you are an instructor working with newer trainers my first bit of advice would be to get the person and the dog on the same side. If you are the one struggling through the training process yourself then think carefully about this concept of being on your dog’s side.

What does it mean to be on the same side?  It means that you are working together and that both parties are getting their needs met.  It means you are developing teamwork rather than rote obedience. It means that you are both actively engaged in the process.  

Way back when in the dark ages of animal training (1950s or so, though sadly some trainers still seem to be living in that era) the accepted approach was to do whatever it took to make the animal conform to the trainer’s wishes.  No one cared how the dog felt about the process (or what he might want or need) as long as the dog did as he was told. The term obedience means just that; obeying commands without question.  

When one member of the team has all the power and authority and the other has none it’s a very unbalanced relationship.  This approach promotes conflict rather than cooperation. For the human to “win” the dog must “lose”. Luckily, the cooperative approach is not only much more pleasant for everyone involved, it is also highly effective.

So how do you build this type of teamwork?  Think of enlisting your dog as an ally rather than treating him as an adversary.  You don’t have to be at cross purposes and on opposite sides. You and your dog are in this training relationship together and you can work towards common goals.  Most dogs are very happy to go along with the training program if it’s fair and reasonable and fun. It’s our job as the human half, with the larger brain, to set up our training sessions so that our dogs want to do what we want them to do.  There is a lot we can do to get our dogs on the same page and working on our agenda.

Where do you start?  I begin with two basic concepts: focus and zen work.  Focus sets us on the path of mutual engagement, which is the foundation of a great working relationship.  Zen work helps our dogs learn that they can control their own behavior, and that when they do, really good stuff happens for them.  If you lay the foundation with these concept first then the rest of your training will be so much easier! You’ll have a training partner who works with you to figure out what you want.  

I approach focus and zen work with the utmost respect for my dog.  I treat my dog as a thoughtful sensitive creature who will make good choices when the options are clear.  And not so surprisingly, when we take this approach then dogs respond with interest and eagerness.  

All this might sound really good in theory.  You are probably wondering though, “where do I even start?”  I’ve got that covered! This week I’m teaching an FDSA Pet Professionals Program Workshop titled Zen Focus. It is a one week targeted short course that combines concepts, ideas, and exercises from my classes and books, distilled into easy to apply pieces.  

Watch the one hour recording that includes lecture and demonstration videos.  Spend the week practicing the exercises, take an online quiz to test your understanding (results are anonymous!), submit a video for review and feedback (optional), and ask any questions you might have. I’ll respond in a follow up recording at the end of the week.  It’s a very quick and effective way to jump start your training.  

Here’s a short video trailer from the workshop:

And here’s the link if you want to know more about registration:

https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/courses/25285