Dogs: Let’s Think Beyond Their Training
There are many ways in which we coexist with dogs. We might care for a dog that lives outside, we might live with a dog who is part of the family, we might look after a friend’s or relative’s dog when needed—or we might simply be “loving from afar” types. Regardless of the category we fall into, our attitudes and choices affect the well-being of everyone around us. The more aware we are of this idea, the more we’ll pay attention to and reflect on our own behavior.
Furthermore, when we recognize the wide variety of living conditions dogs experience—whether roaming freely in an urban setting, living in rural areas, or being “owned” by someone—they are all sentient beings, highly social, and they all share the same basic needs. With good cooperation—among us humans—we can help meet those needs. Doing so also helps us become more humane ourselves, which is why I personally believe that dogs truly deserve the title of “man’s best friend.” They teach and remind us of the importance of kindness, gentleness, and collaboration.
To coexist harmoniously with dogs, it is essential that we understand how they communicate and that we are able to communicate effectively with them. Too often, suppression and intimidation are considered necessary tools to ensure dogs conform and live safely with us. Thankfully, we now have ample evidence showing that there are much gentler and kinder ways to train dogs effectively!
The symbiotic relationship between humans and dogs began thousands of years ago, with each offering companionship and safety in their own way. Dogs are part of the ecosystem, incredibly social and highly adaptable. Their natural history reveals that they had already developed all the skills needed to survive long before they were “domesticated” by humans. In fact, the more we discover, the more evidence we find that dogs and humans likely co-evolved in parallel, creating a collaborative relationship where both parties benefited.
As a result, dogs developed and refined not only communication skills but also skills to be “useful” to us by making the best of their natural talents.
Based on this natural symbiotic relationship, there are professionals around the world—trainers, behaviorists, myotherapists, veterinarians, and more—who focus on communication with the dog to understand their condition and needs, without trying to suppress or simply control their behavior. In doing so, dogs are allowed to “speak” and communicate, which also enables us to offer them more well-defined choices and, in turn, to collect valuable information from the dogs themselves, helping us care for them more appropriately. There’s still so much we don’t know about them—and the more they “talk” to us, the more we discover!
As unbelievable as it may seem to some, we can effectively set boundaries and guide a dog simply by understanding how they communicate—without any need for violence or coercion. In fact, just as with children, there is growing discussion around the role of rewards—particularly when they may hinder a dog’s independence, their right and need to act autonomously, and the extent to which they might become overly dependent on the person influencing their behavior and choices.
By adopting a holistic approach, we can care for dogs in the best possible way—and that care will reflect in their behavior! Taking into account their body language, ethogram, basic needs and how well those are met, stress levels, habits, environment, sense of safety or threat, health, daily life, and of course, the role of genetics—we can better understand and care for each dog individually. Training, in this light, becomes simply guidance and communication, as part of a beautiful partnership.
It’s extremely important to understand their body language so we can respond appropriately and help them feel safe with us.
Without this essential knowledge, humans can’t truly understand what is natural for a dog, nor the complexity of the animal itself. And this is where misunderstandings and problems arise.
The simplest way to make a dog feel safe (aside from not causing distress in general) is to use gentle body language. That way, we help make the world feel safe—for ANY dog we encounter!
When we humans share the same values, methods, and ethical codes, our environment becomes so much more beautiful and peaceful.
Additionally, it’s vital not just to try to manage a behavior, but to think about why. Why do we choose something specific for the dog? Why do we ask for certain things? Or why does the dog choose—or not choose—something? We need to always consider the purpose behind our actions. For both ourselves and the dog. And we should remember that dogs are now inherently “programmed” to be “helpful” and “likable” to us! When we are genuinely friendly toward them and cooperate with each other, we create a safe environment for everyone. That, in turn, makes dogs more “friendly.” It’s important to reflect not just on how scarcity or abundance of resources affect a dog’s behavior, but also on the role we play in the availability of those resources. What role do we play in how safe an environment is? How supportive are we to those around us? How generous? How friendly? How peaceful? How well do we collaborate with others to co-create the best possible world around us? Everything we do affects everything else around us! Even the way we perceive another living being significantly influences how we behave toward it!
So, when we start seeing dogs as highly capable beings with the right to choose, self-regulate, and act independently, we can let go of many demands we place on them—and instead, find ways to simply let them be dogs. What do we need to do? First and foremost, we need to make the observation of dogs central to all we do. We must be willing to learn from them and to trust them. A dog can start trusting us in just a few minutes—if we understand what they’re telling us, mind our own body language, and respond appropriately. We must also ensure they get enough rest, good food, bathroom access, safe relationships, a safe environment—and keep their curiosity alive! Allowing dogs to remain curious means they’ll be more capable of handling different situations, making it easier to coexist with them.
References:
Communication in Dogs, M. Siniscalchi et al., 2018
The Genomics of Selection in Dogs and the Parallel Evolution Between Dogs and Humans, G. Wang et al., 2013
On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals, Turid Rugaas, Wuf Wei Editions, 2022
