Understanding our dogs as a different species makes us better handlers and trainers

We love our dogs. They are part of our families, share our homes, travel with us, and often seem to understand us better than anyone else.

But there is one important thing we sometimes forget:

Our dogs are dogs. And dogs experience the world differently than we do.

If we want to be great handlers and trainers, we need to learn to see the world from their perspective—not just expect them to see it from ours.

Dogs have different urging needs

Dogs don’t need the same things we do to feel happy and fulfilled.

They need opportunities to sniff, explore, move, chew, play, rest, socialize appropriately, and make choices. They communicate through body language, and they often tell us very clearly when they are uncomfortable, overwhelmed, excited, or worried.

A dog who is pulling toward a smell isn’t necessarily being “stubborn.”

If he doesn’t want to greet another dog, he isn’t necessarily being “antisocial.”

A dog who backs away from a stranger isn’t necessarily being “bad.”

These behaviors are communication.

When we take the time to understand what our dogs are telling us, we can respond to the reason behind the behavior instead of simply trying to stop the behavior we don’t like.

Respect doesn’t mean letting our dogs do whatever they want

This is an important distinction.

Respecting our dogs doesn’t mean having no rules or boundaries. In fact, good training gives dogs clear, predictable boundaries and teaches them what we do want them to do.

But there is a difference between:

“You have to do this because I said so.”

and

“I’m going to teach you how to succeed, help you when something is difficult, and listen when you’re telling me that something is too much.”

Our job is to guide our dogs—not simply control them.

Look at the world through their eyes

For example, imagine being taken somewhere completely unfamiliar where you don’t understand the language, the customs, or what is expected of you.

Then imagine someone becoming frustrated because you didn’t immediately do what they asked.

That is sometimes what we ask of our dogs.

Instead, we can ask ourselves:

What is my dog experiencing right now?

What is my dog trying to communicate?

Is this behavior meeting a need?

Have I taught my dog what I want them to do?

How can I make this easier for my dog to understand?

Those questions can completely change the way we train.

The best handlers become ambitious students of their dogs

Great training isn’t just about teaching a dog to sit, stay, walk nicely, or come when called.

It’s about learning who your dog is.

What motivates them or makes them uncomfortable?
How do they communicate?
How much sleep do they need?
Which environments are difficult for them?
What activities do they enjoy?
When do they need a break?
How can we help them feel safe and confident?

The more we understand our dogs, the better we can communicate with them.

And the better we communicate, the stronger our relationship becomes.

At 307HappyDog, we believe training should be a conversation—not a battle.

We use positive, reward-based, force-free methods because we want dogs and their people to learn together.

Respect your dog. Learn their language. Meet their needs. Then teach them the skills they need to successfully live in our human world.

That’s how we become better handlers—and better partners for our dogs.

307HappyDog
Helping dogs and their people understand each other, one conversation at a time.