By Chris Straigis
As anyone who’s owned one can attest, there are not many things more fulfilling and heartwarming than a happy dog. By nature, a dog will express joy and contentment completely and without filter. As humans we revel in those moments for it is then that we feel the pure joy of “man’s best friend” in its truest form. The most effective way to insure this kind of life with your pet is through dog training.
It is common for a dog to be confused by the human world around them. That confusion often leads to stress, anxiety and even aggression, all of which bring a harmful imbalance into your dog’s life. When you train your dog however, he better understands not only what is expected of him, but his very role in your world. When you clear up the confusion, a dog feels stable and is therefore free to be happy.
While some form of dog training is usually better than no training, there is a wide range of proven techniques and potential results, and not all programs are created equal.
Some of the more popular techniques like clicker training and treat training can be effective, but have their limitations also. The premise behind these programs is to provide an outside stimulus to reward a dog for doing what you’ve asked of him. In clicker training, a small handheld device is used to make a ”click” noise as a marker. You ask the dog to sit, he sits, you ”click” and the dog recognizes that he did something right. This is often followed by a treat as a reward. With treat training, the treat itself is the sole motivator. He learns that if he sits when he’s told, you say “good boy”, and he gets a treat. The marker in this case is “good boy”, but the motivation is the treat. While either of these methods can be very effective, they are only effective when you provide the stimulus (i.e. the “click”) and the treat.
There is however a different and more effective way. Similarly, outside stimulus is provided in the form of a verbal marker, such as saying “good boy” when the dog does something right. But with this method the reward comes from within, at a deeper psychological level, not in the form of a treat.
This method is effective because, to varying degrees, dogs are working animals; they want to be a productive member of the pack. When you give a dog a job to follow as part of a training regimen, teach him what is expected of him, and show him that you consistently will fulfill your role as pack leader by providing food, water, shelter, etc., you eliminate confusion. The dog recognizes that there is balance and stability in his world. That balance and stability is the dog’s reward. He learns to feel good about doing what is asked of him and he wants to obey. By tapping in to that will to please, you are able to bond with your pet on a much deeper level. Plus, you reap the rewards, not just of obedience, but also happiness, lack of stress, and stability; all of which lead to a longer and healthier life.
When your dog is truly and deeply content with his role in the world, his joy and happiness will flourish and, with it, your joy will flourish as well.
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