We all know that dogs are domesticated animals. Some people believe that dogs choose their owners. Others are convinced that we choose our dogs. I believe that it is only a matter of perspective, and the emphasis should be on one important word: domesticated. Dogs truly belong to us. They are part of our families. They are our buddies, our best friends. They bright up our children’s lives and put a smile on gramma’s face. Alexandra Horowitz’s recipe is: “So you want to make a dog? There are just a few ingredients. You will need wolfs, humans, a little interaction, mutual tolerance. Mix thoroughly and wait, oh, a few thousand years.”
And what else do we need? Of course, we need to train them. Hang on a minute. But Horowitz suggests that it actually happens the other way round. Dogs start to train humans at a very early age, she claims. Her perception is that puppies, shortly after their arrival, make their families change their habits. “… nothing in the house is safe. Dogs train humans to become suddenly tidy: putting away shoes and socks almost as soon as they are removed; taking out the trash well before it heaps high; leaving nothing on the floor that could fit into the gaping mouth of a teething, exited, unrestrained pups.”
Horowitz also reminds us that “we are known by our dogs – probably far better than we know them.” They are constantly watching us, observing our behaviour, trying to find out what is encouraged by us. They do see our intentions even if we think we show them nothing. How many times we think to ourselves, or say it out loud with a loving smile: How on earth does my puppy know ??? That very question and the realization of the fact that the dog always knows best set me up for the journey so many years ago.
As a child I had all sorts of animals round me: dogs, cats, rabbits, tortoises, you name it, I probably had it. My Dad used to say: “Gaby, you must become an animal trainer. That would be a perfect fit for you.” I guess, it is no surprise, that I ignored Dad’s words of wisdom. I became an economist wrapped up in numbers, figures, margins, trends, marketing and sales, PR and other business staff. It didn’t take me long to realize that rational thinking is worth a lot less without the right people. I started to focus on human motivation, what triggers and drives people, eventually I became a social scientist with a specific interest in the “entrepreneurs in the making”.
Don’t get me wrong, my professional endeavour didn’t make me less of an animal enthusiast. The last twenty something years didn’t go by without pets round me.
I worked abroad, so my dogs travelled with me. Back then, it was a task and a half to find a veterinarian who was confident about how to deal with international laws on pet transport, how to fill in a pet passport, and what are the regulations on blood test for pets.
We got stuck in Calais (France, Europe) so many times before we actually learned what were the exact (minute by minute) rules on administering the required protection measures and on the recording of the process.
Our wonderful Tequila, a little dachshund and God knows what else mix rescue dog practically became “my daughter” for 16 years and a beautiful sibling to my son. Her best mate was Fred, the French Mastiff, the gentle giant. We had kittens, tortoises and fish back then. Sadly, not long after Tequila’s passing, Fred left us too. Lossing these two dogs broke my heart.
Some say that coping with the loss of a dog is easier if you get a new puppy with not much delay. It wasn’t the case for me. Until one day I spotted a funny looking, frantic and seemingly highly intelligent dog in a documentary I was watching. I figured that it was a Parson Russell Terrier (PRT), and I was certain that life can’t go on without one of these cuties. With that my obsession started. It took me nearly two years to find my very own little PRT, “Vincent the Wizard” alias Vinnie. For me, the game changer moment was when Vinnie set foot on our porch.
Many of my dog trainer friends warned me that I should change my technics, that I should get a lot firmer with a terrier. They said that I need to show superiority, dominance because that is just how terriers in general work. They initiated that everything I learned about dogs was to be modified.
They said that if I didn’t change my training routines, Vinnie would take me for a ride, and I would never get anywhere with him. They said terriers rarely get alone with other pets, especially with cats. They said that I might regret that I brought a terrier into my home.
I didn’t follow any of the advice. If anything, I became more aware, softer and more understanding towards dogs and other animals. As Horowitz reminds us, dogs do “human defined wrong things”, things we label as “wrong”. We get disappointed, sometimes angry with them. We have that unmistakable expression on our faces, we get stressed out. The dog can see that, the dog can feel the change of rhythm and of course, the dog can anticipate punishment. But, as Horowitz explains, they don’t know that they are guilty. For them, doing these things is a way of experiencing the world round them, also “testing” us. These are important ways of learning for the dogs. Learning is experiencing new things, so it would be wrong and unfair to assume that they can act purposefully against our expectations. It is our job to teach them what behaviour we expect from them, what behaviour we label as “wrong” and “right”. That is probably one of the most crucial aspects we need to bear in mind before considering the use of punishment in the teaching process.
Vincent the Wizard has just turned three years old. I am so grateful that I can be his owner, and I get to practice with him every day of the week. He is one of the most amazing, agile little dogs I have ever had the chance to be acquainted. He is attentive, always ready to work with me, a cheerful, loving creature.
Our cats and tortoises made peace with Vinnie, and he has got a little sister now, Jazzy Molly, who is the sweetest, kindest Beagle girl. She is only a puppy but her ability to adapt and her willingness to learn are exceptional.
I started my first blog post with Alexandra Horowitz, so I finish it with a citation from her book “Inside of a Dog”: “Vocalizations, scent, stance and facial expression, each function to communicate to other dogs, and if we know how to listen, to us.”
We definitely have an exciting journey behind us and a lot more fun to come.
The love of animals, plants and people. That is where I am in my journey. Where are you in your journey?
For further information, please visit our Pet Toy Gallery, our PinkPups Program and our Cacti and Succulent Gallery alternatively, please contact us via e-mail : gaby@dogandcactus.com or call us: +36-30-5324550
