The Human Dog

We may dress him like a human, but we do not treat him like one

The number one biggest mistake dog owners can make with their dogs is to treat them like humans. The human race is such a kind, compassionate species. We tend to look at our canine companions as little humans, when in reality, they are animals. In a dogs world, there must be an order, a leader on down to the last follower. Everyone has a place. The leaders are the strength of the pack. The followers need the leader to guide them. This primal instinct keeps the pack secure and happy.

Dogs instinctually need rules, boundaries and limitations. When dogs live with humans, the humans become the dog's pack. For the relationship to succeed, humans must become the dogs pack leader. The mistake is made when the humans in the pack only give the dog affection, and the other factors are overlooked. To a dog, constant affection, without rules, boundaries and limitations goes against every grain in a dog's instinct. Affection does not make dogs happy, fulfilling their instincts make them happy. You need to provide a proper balance in order to achieve this. Giving your dog affection is important, however it must be done at the correct time.

A dog is an animal, which does not possess the same reasoning skills as humans. They are simple creatures, with instincts, who go in and out of different states of mind. They do not premeditate, do not plan ahead. They live for whatever is happening at the moment. When a human shares its affection with a dog who is in any other state of mind but a calm submissive one, (for example aggression, obsession, shyness, skittishness, fear or hyper activeness) and you give him a hug or pat him on the head and tell him it is ok, it is comforting to the human, but feeds that state of mind for the dog, making it more intense. While a human feels they are comforting a dog, the dog sees it as the human being weak. If your dog has a traumatic experience and you show him affection during that time trying to comfort him, rather than letting him work it out in his own mind, you leave him stuck in that state of mind. Later when your dog faces this traumatic situation again, you then comfort the dog, intensifying the situation even more. You are creating the problem. Dogs do not see comfort and affection in the same way we humans see it.

On the same note: When a dog is constantly leaning on you, putting his paw on you, or touching you in some way, this is not your dog loving you, it is your dog displaying dominate behaviors. In the dog world, space is respect. A dog who is constantly nudging you and leaning on you, is not only disrespecting you, they are being the alpha dog.

Here is a video clip which shows a perfect example of humans giving a dog affection at the wrong time. This is a result of many years of being treated like a human. The dog is terrified of the thunder and fireworks she hears outside. This dog is in a weak state of mind. The humans in this clip are comforting the dog in a way humans understand, but not in a way a dog can understand. The comfort means two different things to the human and the dog. The dog sees it as everyone around him being weaker than she is. For a dog to be in a weak state of mind, then be surrounded by pack members who are in an even weaker state of mind, well this really messes up a dogs psyche and intensifies her fear. Watch the clip. While watching keep in mind how the humans feel they are comforting, and how the dog's instincts do not see it that way.  Keeshond being treated like a human.

If you show weakness to your dog, the dog instinctually, in his own head, takes over the role of leader. Whether he wants the role or not, because there must be a strong leader and an order in a dog's pack. Humans often give the dog mixed leadership signals, which throws the dog off balance, confusing his psyche, causing many of the psychological / behavioral problems we see in dogs today. Mental tension and energy build up within the dog, which lead to many of your common canine misbehaviors. Eliminating in the house, obsessive behaviors, neurotic behaviors, chewing himself, over excitability, excessive barking, whining, not tuning into his owners commands, not coming when called, running off, getting into the trash, destroying things in the house, obsessive digging, chewing the furniture, tail chasing, scratching, aggression towards other dogs, aggression towards other animals, aggression towards humans, snapping, biting, growling, and just plain old uncontrollable (just to name a few). You name it, we can more likely than not trace your problem back to the way you treat your dog. In some cases it starts to appear the dog is just nuts, or psycho, and there is nothing one can do about it.

This is also the number one cause of separation anxiety. In a pack, the leader is allowed to leave, however, the followers never leave the leader. If your dog is instinctually seeing you as their follower and you leave him, it causes so much mental anguish that a dog often takes it out on your house or himself.

Taking your dog for a walk is an important ritual in keeping your dog balanced. Dog's are walkers / travelers by instinct. Packs of dogs get up in the morning and walk. Simply having a large back yard is not going to fulfill this instinct in your dog. To your dog, your back yard is like a large fish bowl in which they are trapped inside. For a dog to be balanced you as an owner must take your dog for daily walks to release mental and physical energy. The proper way to walk a dog is the dog walking either beside you, or behind you, never in front of you. This may seem petty in a human's mind, however it means a lot in a dogs mind. Instinct tells a dog, the leader goes first. The dog is not to sniff the ground and relieve themselves where they please, they are to concentrate on their handler while walking. The person walking the dog decides when the dog is allowed to sniff or pee, not the dog. A lack of exercise and the mental energy a proper walk releases can cause many behavioral problems in a dog. Getting a dog to walk properly on a lead is not as hard as it may seem, yes, even for your own dog(s).

Dogs pick up on the energy of their humans. They can tell if you are hyper, nervous, scared, or calm. You will be able to communicate successfully with your dog if you use your bodies energy rather than excited words. For example, if your dog does something wrong and you yell and scream at the dog or beat the dog, it confuses the dog. This is not the way a pack leader corrects his followers. However if you calmly and assertively correct the dog at the moment he is doing the unwanted behavior with an assertive touch to their neck... this they understand, because you are mimicking the way dogs correct one another, with calm assertive body language. If you want your dog to do or stop doing something, you need to first convince yourself it will happen. Stay calm and get assertive. Your dog will pick up on this energy. Remember, the dog must be doing the deed at the moment of correction in order for you to successfully communicate.

We humans have successfully domesticated the dog, but we will never be able to de-animalize a dog and remove their natural instinct. We cannot change a dog into having human characteristics. Sure, we can pretend we can, and fulfill ourselves in doing so, however this is where your behavior problems arise. While we think we are treating a dog in such a way that will make it happy, we are in fact doing just the opposite. By not fulfilling a dogs natural instincts we create confused and unhappy dogs. To happily coexists with mans best friend, we need to understand our fellow canines and fulfill THEM, rather than fulfilling ourselves.

Dogs do not live in the past or the future as do humans. They live for the moment.  Because a dog lives in the present, and not in the past or future, it is much easier to rehabilitate a dog, than it is a human. If you begin treating your dog with calm assertive energy, sharing affection at the right moments, and correcting your dog at the correct moments, you can change your dog into a happy and well balanced dog. The more balanced your dog is, the more calm and submissive he will become and the more you can share your affection with him. It's a win, win situation.

To help you learn to do this, we strongly suggest Cesar Millan DVD's and or Cesar Millan Books to every dog owner, from Chihuahua to Pit Bull. An excellent guide to communicating with, understanding,  and controlling your dog.

© Dog Breed Info Center® All Rights Reserved

 

The Human Dog Why did my dog do that? Top Dog Establishing and Keeping Alpha Position Guarding Furniture The Walk Puppy Temperaments A Dog Fight - Understanding your Pack Understanding your puppy or dog Raising a Puppy Should I get a Second Dog Separation Anxiety Is your dog out of control? Jumping Dogs Top Dog Photos Dog vs. Child Housebreaking Are You Ready for a Dog? Breeders vs. Rescues Find the Perfect Dog The Gangs All Here Caught in the Act

 

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