This blog is part of a series. If you missed the earlier one, scroll down and have a look! In the last blog we looked at the theory behind teaching your dog a command in a way he understands: That is what I am going to call the happy-dog-approach from here onwards. So today, how to teach your dog his name according to the happy-dog-approach: A dog’s name is thé most important command. We usually assume that a dog automatically understands what his name is over time. This will indeed usually happen, but we can certainly reinforce this process and create a stronger bond between you and your dog. First of all: Why is your dog’s name so important: If you call your dog and he responds to this, you are in contact with your dog. At that moment you can communicate with your dog. If there is no contact, there is no possible way of communicating with your dog. His name, the command of his name is your link to a connection with him. It opens the communication. And communication gives you the means to make your dog understand you. So now we know that calling his name is about establishing contact. Right, so now we just need to know how to get to listen to his name. Back to our happy-dog-approach: A dog is happy when we play with him, when he gets food, when he gets cuddles, when we simply talk to him. If we do any of the above and our dog comes to see us or looks at us. It is then that we pronounce his name. The combination of 3 things is there: happy dog, attention on us and the command. And this gets anchored in your dog’s brain: Happy things happen and this gets combined with his name. Very soon, in your dog’s mind, hearing his name will be equivalent to happy things happening with my owner. He will run to come and see you!! More episodes soon!!! In the meanwhile, stay safe, stay close to your home!
Pawsible uses video conferencing to assist you and your dog during lock down.
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In this special lock down series, I would like to help you think like your dog. The essence of seeing to your dog’s needs is knowing how he thinks: So over this lock down period I will help you to think like your dog. Today: The essence of learning. A big chore for us at the beginning of our life with our dog, whether it is a puppy or an older adopted dog: teaching our dog commands for what we want him or her to do. To us, humans, this is a moment of learning. We try to get and hold our dog’s attention, we talk to him, we make movements, and we tell him a happy yes or a low no depending on whether it is well executed or not. To Fido this is however a whole different concept. He wants to run around, play and be happy. He has no concept of learning commands and what purpose that would serve. He listens to us speaking to him, but has no idea what is happening. He continues to pursue the action that makes him happy. That is his main trigger, not us talking to him. Therefore the efforts soon end in frustration. You tell your dog no...he loses interest even more and the communication is non existent for the moment between you and your dog. But by realising what Fido wants to do, you can adapt the way you open communication and reinitiate learning. We need to let go of our concept of wanting to teach something. Instead we need to adapt to the way our dog perceives it. Only then can we communicate with him and consequently teach him what we want him to do. So you need to drop your human concepts and become creative: play and happiness are your dog’s drives. Next blog I will give an example of teaching effortlessly the most basic command: listening to his name, in a way that your dog understands. More episodes soon!!! In the meanwhile, stay safe, stay close to your home!
Pawsible uses video conferencing to assist you and your dog during lock down. In this special lock down series, I would like to help you think like your dog. The essence of seeing to your dog’s needs is understanding what he thinks: So over this lock down period I will help you to think like your dog. Today: Let’s go walkies!!.... An expression that will make every dog jump through the ceiling! “Yes, out, smells, seeing friends, running around, having fun with my boss.” All good associations So what do we need to understand about your dog’s thinking? A human goes to walk Fido the dog thinking: “I could walk out this street and around this corner and then go around that block that way Fido has had a maximum of activity, even in these lock down times…..Frustrated thought: Oh, come on Fido, stop sniffing, we need to keep moving to pack in a maximum of exercise” But how does Fido interpret this “Let’s go walkies” ? Fido is dying to catch up on his social media that he has been deprived of whilst being inside. Checking his Facebook page, rechecking his Instagram and sending his WhatsApp messages to his closest friends….. I can hear you thinking: “What is Pawsible talking about ? We were talking about going walkies…” Let me explain: Your dog is not in the slightest bit interested in a circuit to complete or an extra kilometer to walk. For him going outside is….: “Wow, sniffing that corner. Yes, of course I checked that corner yesterday, but I have not had time to get to the bottom of the smell” (Seen the instagram post yesterday, but not yet had the time to click on the link and watch the video, shall we say....). “Oh, and there is a new smell on this lamp post that needs to be added to the repertoire of dogs in this area.” (New friend request on Facebook, did you know your dog had Facebook?..) “Need to have a pee here, so Florence, the French bulldog, knows I am still thinking about her” (let a friend know via WhatsApp that you are still there for her..Yes, your dog has WhatsApp too!!.) “Yes!! this little park, this is where I need to sniff endlessly and pee in a few particular spots” (this is my group of mates on messenger….what did Loulou the Labrador do yesterday...any news from Joe, the Jack Russel? He has not posted for a few days….and how is Adam the Australian Shepherd doing? He seemed a bit fed up with the cat at his place...Right, I had better tell everyone my latest news too! And the latest news that Fido will be posting to everyone: “You know what...my boss seems to understand me a lot better nowadays… I get sooo much time to sniff around these days, it’s amazing!!!”) Activity is good for us, but connecting socially is essential for our well being. Exactly the same applies to your dog. Give your dog time to socialise, he is better equipped than we realise for this confinement: Dogs leave messages that last for days, weeks, just out there on the street corner. Dogs can meet each other and catch up without seeing each other for weeks! Give your dog the time to catch up on the local gossip! More episodes soon!!! In the meanwhile, stay safe, stay close to your home!
Sociable dogs of all ages are welcome. The training is set up to -reinforce the bond between dog and owner through exercises and games: -reinforce commands under diverse circumstances -give your dog time to socialise and make new friends. A great hour of bonding for you and your dog and a great chance for your dog to meet new friends! Get in contact if you want to join. Classes in different locations: Draguignan, Grasse or Valbonne This is one for you Dutch dog owners or those who can understand Dutch of course. A whole website full of dog friendly holiday accomodations: so if you are planning a holiday, hope this helps!
Deze post is voor Nederlanders en hen die Nederlands begrijpen natuurlijk ook! Een hele website vol hond vriendelijke accomodaties: wellicht een handig hulpje voor de vakantie planning? http://www.dogsincluded.nl En laat graag jullie reacties horen naar aanleiding van de site. Veel vakantie voorpret gewenst! It was a lovely walk this Saturday in Mougins. The dogs had a great time! And a great opportunity for the owners to exchange and ask questions. Keep an eye out for the next dates: More walks will be announced soon on Pawsible's facebook page: Walks in Draguignan area, Valbonne area and soon the first walk in Nice!
C´etait une promenade très agréable samedi dernier à Mougins. Les loulous se sont régalés! Pour les propriétaires une bonne opportunité de se parler et demander des questions. Soyez attentifs sur la page Pawsible sur Facebook. Des nouvelles dates seront annoncés: autour de Draguignan, autour de Valbonne et prochainement, première promenade à Nice! |
Orna de VriesPsychologist, Canine behaviour counselor. I love teaching you about your dog and help you train it using dog friendly techniques. Archives
May 2020
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Photos used under Creative Commons from @bastique, mhester, marneejill, andreboeni, blumenbiene