If you like The Dog Files please join our Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/dogfiles

Also, follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dogfiles

Dogs WANT To Be The Best Creatures They Can Be!

By Lon L. Flewelling For The Dog Files

Dogs, as we know them today, are STILL approximately 2% wolf, and they absolutely crave strong, outgoing but fair leaders in us.

The following is a conversation, a Q and A with a client, Shasta M.

Shasta M.: What is and isn’t ‘normal’ pack behavior in a dog? And by that I mean is it normal or altered behavior for a my dog to be all worked up, excited, jumping and going nutty when it sees a new person, or even someone coming in my front door?

Lon: A dog should have some level of curiosity or friendliness, but the obnoxious excitability really isn’t the norm. It is something they learn, or are allowed to get a way with. It can be altered behavior due to improper training. It is often the result of learned or altered behavior from their past, as with a rescued dog. As dogs are highly reactionary to sights, sounds, smells, even the person’s energy when they enter the room, the people she does this to may even remind her of those whom allowed the behavior in the past.

Normal wolf pack behavior is to NOT stand out from the crowd via this type activity but rather an ‘all for one, one for all’ mentality to protect the solidarity of the pack.

It is my recommendation that you control her prior to opening the door by leashing her and presenting a quiet but solid leadership demeanor. People entering the room should do the same, not looking at her, not talking to her and no physical contact upon entry. Only after she complies and calms down should she get rewarded for THAT behavior, not the excitability. If she adds jumping up on you or other people, turn your back on her and reward her with touch, eye contact or talking to her only AFTER she calms down.

Shasta: The other night, instead of my six foot, nylon ‘walking’ leash I used an extendable leash and it proved to be utterly useless for control. It was as if all training didn’t exist. Like with the walking leash I kept it short, didn’t allow it to extend, had the collar up around the jaw line, like you recommend. Even so, i could NOT get that dog to walk properly for anything. I did it as sort of a test and she failed miserably. When I went back to the nylon leash she was absolutely perfect. Also, when I put her weighted backpack on, as you have suggested, I hardly know she’s there she walks so well. Why the big change?

Lon: Ok…she sees the extending leash as an alternative to walking properly, perhaps you most often use it for a ‘quick pee’. She is smart enough to realize that it does not carry the same tension and sensations as her more solid, controlling six foot, nylon ‘walking’ leash and, being the opportunist that most dogs are, she exploited the alleged leniency.

I believe that it is much like people in uniform, when they are in uniform they are on the job, when they are not in uniform they are ‘off the clock’.

Shasta: I really appreciate your help with my dog, Lon! I tell people all the time about your natural ability to communicate with dogs, and their people. A lot of people, however, change their attitude to, “Why in the world would I have someone teach me how to work with my dog?!?”.

Lon: Yes, there are indeed those people who have NO clue what we are attempting to accomplish and ultimately have NO desire to learn how to make changes in themselves or their dog. They are, in essence, wearing their own extending leash in their life ad often do not get it, nor do they want to. The deepest part of their heart needs to be asked if they are willing to admit they have problems with themselves and or their dog, and is it important enough to actually work on those issues. Often the people need more work with their issues than the dogs, because unlike many people, dogs WANT to change and be the best creatures they can be.

Lon L. Flewelling was born the middle and most charming of three boys in rural Minnesota where he spent many formative hours on family farms directly interacting with animals nearly from day one. Since his youth he enjoyed the gift and magic of close communication abilities particularly with dogs. Lon followed his gift into the world of wolf studies to further develop my passion and abilities to understand canines and their communications with each other and humans. He is a perpetual student of canines and sees no end to the absorption of canine knowledge.

“Lon L. Flewelling is the human owner’s manual on how to operate your dog in Denver!”
-Shasta Michaels-