Aspen Payne Senior Project: Dog Training 1

Everyone knows that the neighborhood pooch is the descendant of a wolf. But

what many people dont know is that wolves and dogs are so closely related that DNA

tests are incapable of differentiating the DNA of one from the other. That in mind, it

should come as no surprise to learn that wolves and dogs share a similar social

structure. Both species crave the leadership of an Alpha figure that keeps them out of

danger. And yet, many dog owners shy away from this responsibility, failing to provide

their dog with proper training despite the overwhelming benefits of doing so. The act of

training not only strengthens the bond between an owner and a dog, it allows a dog

owner to prevent potentially life threatening situations before they happen, as well as a

better chance at being adopted should they ever need rehoming. Until the dog is

trained, it cannot be expected to ignore its natural instincts and behave how we want

them to (Sanders, David). Any owner can and should take advantage of proper training

techniques and behavioral studies to provide the best possible future for their dog.

A trained animal comes with many benefits, a great many of which are

overlooked. A well trained animal can be both physically and mentally beneficial to their

owners. Contrary to popular belief, households that contain dogs are less likely to

develop allergies towards dogs and similar animals, especially in young children and

infants (Davis, Jeanie Lerche). Furthermore, studies have even shown that those who are

already allergic to dogs find themselves less sensitive to the animals presence after

living with them for an extended time. Owning a dog is also shown to lower an owners
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triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Lower levels of these chemicals decreases the

chance of heart disease in people. It has also been concluded that owning a dog

decreases the frequency and severity of outbursts in Alzheimers patients, so much so

that several insurance companies ask clients whether or not their elderly clients own a

dog (Davis, Jeanie Lerche).

The mental benefits of owning a dog are also noteworthy. Those who suffer from

depression, anxiety and similar mental illnesses often struggle with motivation to exit the

house and socialize with others. Walking a dog can provide such a person with much

needed purpose, encouraging them to go out on walks with their animal (Davis, Jeanie

Lerche). Dogs also provide conversation starters between people who might not normally

feel comfortable starting a conversation with a stranger. Owning a dog can chemically

help those who suffer from substance abuse. Studies show that owning a dog increases

two chemicals in the brain; serotonin and dopamine (Davis, Jeanie Lerche). These

chemicals correspond directly with how happy and relaxed a person is feeling.

Unfortunately, many people resort to addictive substances like alcohol, marijuana, and

nicotine to increase the levels of these chemicals. Owning a dog allows someone to not

only get a chemical mood boost, but also allows them to do so in a healthy way, without

the dangers that come with drugs and alcohol. The closer a person is with their dog, the

more prominent these chemicals are, and the more present the neurological effect is.

A healthy relationship between a dog and owner is not very different from what is

needed for a healthy human relationship. The keys to both are communication and
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trust- two things that can be tainted when a dog is left untrained. An owner who does

not take the time to train their dog has not established strong communication with the

animal (Sweetnam, Mandie). Similarly, an untrained dog cannot be trusted to behave the

way an owner wants them to (Sanders, David). Once both of these things have been

established, you will not only be able to train your dog easier, but you will be able to

enjoy your dog even more than before. It is important to remember that even simple

problems can be fixed through training and human dog communication (Sweetnam,

Mandie).

Until the point is reached when dog and human have established this healthy

relationship through social and basic training, the dog poses a danger to itself and

everyone around it. Social training involves making a dog accustomed to as many

different stimuli as possible. While fairly open ended, social training is extremely vital to

the dog training process (Margolis, Matthew). Social training is best explained as

comparing the dog to a young child. A child who has not been exposed to loud noises

before might become nervous or afraid during the next thunderstorm, just like a dog

would. To a child, the comfort comes from the spoken words of an adult. While dogs

cannot be comforted through verbal explanations like the child might, the solution is not

very different. Instead, the owner should simply keep a calm demeanor and comfort

their dog through gentle petting and occasional treats. By showing that you are not

afraid, the dog can infer that they too should be unafraid. The more often the situation

occurs and the more often the dog is shown that it is safe, the less likely they are to
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respond with fear in the future. In behavioral situations like this one where a dog looks

to their owner to see how to behave, it is important to be as diligent as possible to avoid

fear. Avoiding fear is extremely important, as fear is met with the instinctual fight or

flight response in dogs. If a dog sees fit to flee from something frightening, they might

unknowingly choose to flee towards a danger such as a moving car (Sweetnam, Mandie).

A dog who chooses to fight can be even more dangerous, as even small dogs can

cause harm with their teeth and claws (Margolis, Matthew). For example, a dog might be

unaccustomed to having their fur pulled and, while harmless, the dog perceives this as

scary. They might choose to bite whomever is doing the pulling, even if the human in

question is just a toddler who did not know better. Or, the dog might choose to run away

and knock down any number of people in the process. In both situations the dog acted

not out of malice, but of fear. The only way to avoid this fear is to accustom the dog to

these situations in a safe environment so they are not faced with the fight or flight

instinct in the future. A ten pound lab puppy who jumps up on their owners when they

come home is quickly dismissed as being cute, and the puppy is never corrected. Over

time, the dog is then conditioned that jumping up on people is right since they get

pleasant greetings and pets every time they do so (White, Ellen H.). The next thing the

owners know, the ten pound puppy has grown into an eighty pound dog that leaps on

people when it greets them. This is dangerous because if this dog jumps on an elderly

neighbor, there could be a lawsuit.

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It is important to remember that dogs are not inherently aware of right and

wrong like people are. It is the responsibility of the owner to teach their dog exactly

what is expected of them (Margolis, Matthew). Keeping an untrained dog around is very

much like keeping a loaded gun on the dining room table- everything could be just fine

and perhaps no one will get hurt. But is that really worth the risk? ( Margolis, Matthew).

Rest assured, training is not just about socialization. Even basic commands can quickly

save a dogs life. That dog who has always been allowed to eat crumbs off the floor

wont know that that spilled bottle of aspirin is poisonous to them. Teaching a dog to

respond to the command of leave it can keep them from inhaling every pill scattered on

the kitchen floor, saving the dogs life and the owners wallet from expensive vet care.

Similarly, a dog who begins a mad dash towards the other side of a busy road is likely

far too fast for any owner to physically stop. Making sure your dog responds reliably to a

come or stay command can save them from being hit by that oncoming truck.

Training your dog in this manner doesnt just save their life when they break

away from the leash. Unfortunately, any dog owner might be forced to give up their

canine to a shelter at any time. An unexpected move, job loss, or any number of

reasons might cause this unforeseen event. However, you can begin planning as soon

as your dog comes into your life for the first time. Studies have shown that dogs who

are well socialized and able to follow basic commands (such as sit, stay and lay down)

are far more likely to be adopted- almost 1.5% likelier than those who are not (Jacqueline

Nielson). A dog owner should always keep in mind the prospect of their dog having to be
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rehomed. Perhaps the dogs owner never minded having their shoes being chewed or

being jumped on, but actions such as these could be a deal breaker for many potential

adopters, and not in the dogs favor. A study conducted showed that 64% of trained

dogs were successfully rehomed, that just with 20 mere minutes of training a day

(Jacqueline Nielson). Keeping a well trained dog helps assure that should the worst ever

happen, the dog is as appealing to a potential adopter as they are to their original

owner. It is equally important to note that the primary cause of surrendering an animal to

a shelter is poor behavior, something that could easily be fixed through proper training

(Sweetnam, Mandie). In the unfortunate circumstance that a dog finds themselves in a

high-kill shelter, even those twenty minutes of training a day could be the difference

between finding a new, happy home and being put down.

Facts like these can quickly become discouraging to a new dog owner. However,

training your new pet does not have to be an arduous task and there are many things a

dog owner can do to make the task of training easier on both them and the dog. For

example, it is important to become acquainted with a dogs body language to maximize

the amount of communication you have with your dog (Millan, Cesar). This often seems

tedious and unnecessary to most, but these same people likely wouldnt want someone

behind a moving car who has no idea what traffic lights mean. Thankfully, a dogs body

language can be easily read to those who take the time to learn, and you might find you

already know more than you previously thought. The body language of canines can be

broken down into four main parts; ears, tail, muscles and direction (Sanders, David). Ears
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that are forward and perked indicate that the dog is engaged in their current situation,

while ears that are lying flat backwards indicate that the dog desires to be out of the

situation (Millan, Cesar). Similarly, if a dogs ears are lying loosely, they are in a relaxed,

passive state. A dog whose tail is wagging is engaged in their current situation. It is

important to note that a wagging tail, contrary to popular belief, does not necessarily

indicate happiness (Sanders, David). Dog owners should use this knowledge to read into

their dog's emotions at all times, so that an uncomfortable or fearful dog can be

removed from the situation before they feel they need to defend themselves. In addition,

owners should note that dogs learn best while is still young, and in a relaxed, happy

mood (White, Ellen H.). Use this information to read into your dogs body language and

know when the most effective time to train them might be.

Training is a vital responsibility of dog owners, with strong benefits; safe

behavior, stronger bonds and increased adoptability rates. With an increased

understanding of canine body language, dog owners are encouraged to take the

measures needed to keep their dog happy and healthy through training.