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Nature's Template™ - John's Training Philosophy |
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The most common thing I hear from dog owners is that there is too much conflicting dog training information. Dog owners are told that to train a puppy from playing too roughly with its mouth they should distract it with a chew toy and give it a treat, or give it a time out etc. Unruly behavior at the door is to be met with shaker cans, water bottles etc.
In nature, there is no representative equivalent which is why these approaches so often fail and ultimately confuse the dog and owner. No mother dog puts her puppies in a time out for playing too rough with their mouths, or tells her puppies to lay quietly until a danger has past by promising a food treat. Their relationship is based on a balance of love and respect, encouragement and discipline. The relationship between mother and puppy begins from the moment of birth. Part of the nurturing process is the development and reinforcement of her role as teacher. Her speed, strength, agility, maternal drive, the use of tone and body language, diligent supervision from their birth to young adulthood, all work in concert to develop attention span, and the ability to exert self control without which the learning of life skills would not be possible. This is how dogs learn. My job as a dog trainer is to show dog owners how Nature's Template™ applies to day to day interactions with their dog. Dog owners find with this knowledge they easily train their dogs to come, heel, stay etc. Almost all of my customers have been referred by veterinarians, other clients and even other dog trainers. Many of these dog owners have had their dog enrolled in other dog training courses without success teaching even the basics, beyond a few seconds of focus.
My approach is based on what I call Nature's Template™ or natural behavior. Try to circumvent Nature's Template™ and dogs rarely learn more then the trick equivalent of Come, Heel, Stay etc. Most cannot be walked easily and so are walked less. Most cannot come reliably so cannot get the sort of useful exercise that keeps their bodies fit and their minds calm in ways that a walk cannot accomplish. Excessive barking, jumping, destructive behavior, anxiety, aggression and other behavior problems abound. In order for a dog to live a full life and for dog owners to fully enjoy the companionship that dog ownership offers there is no need to re-invent the training wheel. Nature's Template™ provides a balance between love and respect, which with a little guidance is easily enough tapped into by any dog owner.
Ethological observations in behavior indicate that 'discipline' has a place in the teaching/learning of animals like, dogs, wolves, apes, humans etc. If an approach is not "all positive" it does not mean that it is all confrontational or abusive or need have any lasting negative psychic affect. Nature seems to indicate the opposite is true. Discipline provides a contrast to the equally essential positive aspect of teacher/student relationship. Learning life's lessons comes through both positive and negative experiences. It helps us choose our paths. The skill, wisdom and supervision of our teachers whether they be our parents, mentors, employers etc., tempers the way they wield discipline and reward and not surprisingly seems directly proportional to our long term successes and failures. Teachers of the aforementioned species discipline and reward their young. The former comes with far greater vigor then from the vast majority of trainers not married to the idea that "all positive" is the only humane way to train a dog. With supervision and clarity via a balanced message, a good parent or a good teacher will temper the number and severity of mistakes ultimately unlocking a wealth of freedom and experience. A bad teacher slams that door shut. Nature determines what happens at that door, not a rigid adherence to a training philosophy.
I believe in nature's template and I would no more subtract discipline from a dog's life then I would an essential ingredient in its diet. Ignoring discipline's role is the scientific equivalent of the world is flat, the sun revolves around the earth and thalidomide is good for morning sickness.
If your goal is learn how to train your dog in a way that comes naturally, get mind boggling results from the perspective behavior improvement and time line. Book an appointment for an in-home or enroll your dog in the Butt-Head day camp.
Regards,
John Wade
Dog Training with John Wade
London, Ontario, Canada
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