Canine Communication Peaceful Pack
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Canine Communication Peaceful Pack Mia Semuta Canine Communication, Peaceful Pack Mia Semuta Dogs are amazing creatures. From once wild animals to domesticated companions over the course of a few thousand years, they have become such an integral part of our society that they now exist as members of the family. Just as a human member of your family needs to learn the rules and abide by them to maintain a harmonious household, so does your dog. As with all relationships: communication is key. The tricky part is learning how to communicate with your dog in a manner that is understood. Once you unlock that obstacle then the sky is the limit for the joy and satisfaction that you and your canine family member will enjoy. Dogs are primarily concerned about two things: Who’s in charge? What’s my job? Gigi, Stewie and Pony on place waiting to be called to dinner. As a pack animal it is a dog’s nature to strive to live in harmony with those around him. Dogs that “don’t like other dogs” are often afraid and have not been properly socialized. Dogs that “don’t like strangers” have not always been abused but they don’t have a strong sense of security in their pack leader’s ability to lead. Dogs that “only do what I say when I have a treat” don’t really understand what you’re saying. It is totally possible to learn how to be the strong leader your dog needs, how to properly socialize your dog and how to speak to your dog in a language that is natural to him. Chaos, Mayhem, Gigi, Kameo and Pony posing for the camera. I train on six basic commands: 1. Heel 2. Sit 3. Stay 4. Come 5. Place 6. Down Within that framework, it is possible to teach your dog many other commands and suggestions, but the basics are what Peyton, my sweet angel waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge. you need to create a peaceful home. Full disclosure: I can teach your dog lots of great things but it will not last if you do not maintain it. Very much like a professional organizer, I can come in to clean and organize your cupboards and closets but if you don’t maintain it then it will quickly go back to being a disaster. 80% of the training is for the people. I will do my very best to help you as much as I help your dog. I cannot promise perfection but I do promise I will make every effort possible and point you in a new direction if necessary. Gigi and Pony at the playground. ~2~ Canine Communication, Peaceful Pack Mia Semuta Creating an environment Dogs are creatures of habit. They thrive best when they know where they belong and what to expect. They crave security so it is important to create an environment that they understand to provide them with the familiarity and security they need to be their best selves. As humans, we crave the same but in much different forms. People, generally, do not crave small spaces to burrow into; dogs do. Most dogs appreciate having a crate in which to retreat. Offering a crate as a source of comfort and respite, not as a punishment, will help give your dog a place he can call his own. He will learn that he can make better choices if he has a place to go when he’s feeling anxious. You will want to create an atmosphere where the dog does not have to be concerned about being taunted or harmed while in the crate. It should be a place that is comfortable and safe and he is praised for choosing to retreat. How do we create that Pony at his third birthday party. environment for our dogs? It’s different for every dog. If your dog minds the heat then a thick, fuzzy blanket might not be the best choice. For a large dog with a thick coat, a place board with a towel might be the way to go. If your dog gets chilled easily then a plush bed and a blanket to burrow under might be the right choice. If you know you’ll be gone for more than six hours you might consider a water source in the crate. You can get an elevated bowl or a bottle that clips onto the crate so that an excited dog does not dump it and then must lie in wet Gigi avoiding the roofers at home. bedding. These are decisions that can only be made with a little trial and error. Every dog will appreciate a size- appropriate crate. They should have enough room to walk in, turn around and lie down. Nothing more. Again, as humans, we view plenty of space as a luxury but to a dog- especially to a small dog- too much space means a lack of security. How could your pup possibly relax and take a nap when there is so much perimeter to be guarded? The crate pictured here is far too big for Gigi. She has way too much space to feel she can secure it all on her own. Her toys and Kong were left untouched because she could not relax. You can teach an old dog new tricks; your puppy is not going to just grow out of it. ~3~ Canine Communication, Peaceful Pack Mia Semuta One of the most difficult things to do is to In the crate you should give your stop thinking of our dogs as people. Yes, they dog something to do. A Kong filled with treats and peanut butter gives a mental are family. Yes, we love them. Yes, there is challenge with an immediate reward; a nothing we would not do to protect them and long-lasting chew toy, not a rawhide, show our love. They are still not people. offers relief from boredom. Avoid toys that can be ripped apart and avoid too many choices. Crate time should be time to relax. I always leave the television or the radio on for my dogs so they don’t have to concentrate on all the noises outside. When crated, I never put a fan on them directly. A ceiling fan or a fan pointed over the crate is a good choice as it keeps the air moving without leaving him without an escape from the breeze. You are not punishing your dog by offering a crate. You are creating an environment that a dog most appreciates. Think about it this way: You have a goldfish that you simply adore; you love this fish and you want to Sweet Ellie express your affection. Do you feed it ice cream and bring the fish into your bed at night to sleep? Of course not! You give your fish a nice bowl, clean water, a plant or two to swim around and fish food. You create for the fish the best environment that a fish needs to thrive. Keep that in mind when you are Your dog is now creating an environment for your dog. living in a human pack but we still want to create an Establishing Leadership environment for him that is One of a dog’s primary concerns is, “Who’s in charge?” best for a dog to thrive. They need to understand the chain of command and where they rank. In the absence of a clear leader most dogs will step up and take that role. They will do it whether or not they have a natural propensity for it. This often leads to disaster. Trying to convince your dog to do as you want when you have not convinced him that you’re in charge is a lesson in frustration for all parties involved. Your dog wants to trust you, he wants to know that when push comes to shove you are making good choices and strong decisions. It may seem illogical, but it is the most insecure dog that is often the most aggressive. The thought process is this, “I’m really nervous and scared. My person is not very strong so it’s only up to me to make sure that we’re all okay. Better that I get rid of danger before it can get us.” That translates to a dog that incessantly barks at squirrels in the yard, attacks the cable guy, refuses to make friends with strangers, hates anything on wheels and generally makes life miserable for anyone who is not in his little circle. Gigi and Pony enjoying the off-leash freedom that only comes with solid obedience. ~4~ Canine Communication, Peaceful Pack Mia Semuta Once a dog feels safe and secure in the pack leader, YOU, he can relax and accept that leadership. Acceptance means following your lead and not getting upset about squirrels, repairmen and bicycles. A dog’s instinct is to protect his pack. He is in tune with you by monitoring your blood pressure. Much like a seizure alert or diabetic alert dog can sense when the human body is off-center, your dog ebbs and flows with your blood pressure. When you’re excited, either positive or negative, that excitement is contagious. When there is real danger, he will know. I promise. Even if you don’t say it out loud your BP will speak to him and he will react. He will protect his pack. Until then, it is our responsibility as humans and pack leaders to set the tone and lead the Bailey in bloom.