The Essence of Obedience Training
"Obedience training is a skill developed by a group of people who deeply love dogs, through long-term observation of canine behavior." This is a phrase I have remembered until now and would like to share with you.
The true nature of training is love. Without love, none of this would ever need to begin.
Understanding Dog Training: A Compassionate Approach
Training is not about oppressing dogs, nor is it about using violence or a superior attitude to demand that they obey everywhere and at all times, leaving no space for them to express their natural instincts. This kind of relationship is not something I endorse.
The training I envision is one based on communication and guidance, helping dogs understand the "human world" way of life. It allows them to feel safe and trusted in this complex environment, ensuring their safety at critical moments and assisting in solving challenges we face together in daily life.
But first, you must understand a dog's behavior and needs. Otherwise, it's easy to fall into the misconception of "treating dogs well from a human perspective." Wouldn't that be betraying the very original intention of doing what's best for them?
Training: Who Are We Really Training?
Who exactly are we training? Although it is commonly referred to as dog training, I am not very fond of this expression. Dogs live with humans, and most of their behaviors are directly related to their families.
If you want to train a dog well, you must first train yourself. How can you expect the dog to change if family members are unwilling to communicate in ways the dog can understand? Training begins with the conscious attitude you express—through your eyes, tone of voice, and body language—before any training techniques come into play.
Communication with dogs is different from human conversation. We understand words, so speaking doesn't always require fluctuation in tone; however, for dogs, changes in tone are crucial. If you always interact with a flat, monotone voice, the learning process can become difficult and frustrating.
When you are constantly aware of your own state and understand how it affects the dog's feelings and comprehension, half the training battle is already won. Of course, changing yourself is never easy. Whether training yourself or your dog, it requires time and patience to build up.
Understanding Dogs as Social Animals
Dogs are social animals, and when a group lacks discipline or rules, it will ultimately fall into chaos or even face destruction. This applies not only to humans but also to dogs. We all need to follow rules to coexist peacefully within a group.
When we bring dogs into human life, it is inevitable to encounter many conflicts with their natural instincts. If you cannot become a leader that they respect and trust wholeheartedly, how can you guide them to live safely in this complex environment?
If dogs are anxious, worried, and confused every day, forced to rely solely on instinct to face sudden situations, even if those scenarios seem ordinary to us, dogs might mistakenly believe that "the owner is ignoring the situation" or "the owner is powerless to handle it." Over time, they might even feel they must take on the responsibility of leading and protecting, much like children taking care of their parents.
Is this kind of pressure too heavy for dogs to bear? When they stay in a state of tension, anxiety, nervousness, or excessive excitement for a long time, they cannot calm down properly or relax to enjoy life. This instability will eventually be reflected in their behavior.
Training with Love: The True Purpose
Training is absolutely not about waiting for abnormal behaviors to appear or only starting when it causes trouble for your family. I have heard someone say before, "Why train a dog that has no issues?" However, the truth is, the primary purpose of training has never been to "correct problems." Instead, it comes from a place of love.
Our training is about understanding, ensuring that our dogs can stay safe, secure, and happy by our side. Because of love, we are willing to invest significant effort into each other, even challenging and changing our usual ways of interaction. It is this love that motivates us to learn and grow together.
