Surprising Dog Psychology Info
Dogs are our closest allies in the animal world, but never forget that even your goofy Pug, or affectionate Shih Tzu is just one evolutionary step removed from the wolf.
We may have domesticated the dog, but at heart he retains his animal instincts. It's up to us to recognize this and modify our behavior, rather than expecting him to modify his.
A Dog's View of the World
A dog's thinking is based on drives and instincts. Their basic needs are food, a place to sleep, and a strong pack for protection. This means they need a strong leader – one they are prepared to follow without hesitation. This is the role you need to fill in your dog’s life.
The next key to understanding dog behavior is to remember that dogs do not understand words. This idea confuses many people because their dogs seem to understand every word the say. But, what you are seeing is merely word-association.
The truth is, that dogs have no capacity for understanding words, they mainly interpret body language. They learn to associate actions with actions, so if you praise your dog when he obeys a command, he understands that when he obeys, you react by being pleased with him.
As part of this chain of action and reaction, most dogs learn to react to single words, so he may for example learn to associate the word "walk" with going out, but most likely it is the "pre-walk rituals" – putting on his lead, for example – that he recognizes.
Learn to Think Like a Dog
The most important thing to remember is that dogs respond to body posture and tone of voice, rather than words. By understanding that your dog thinks in images and responds to actions, you will have a much greater influence over him.
Dogs pay a lot of attention to regular routines. If you always return home at a certain time your dog will anticipate and expect your arrival at that time. If you are caught up in traffic or otherwise delayed the dog may become anxious.
This is because your past actions have led him to expect a certain outcome. When you fail to arrive he begins to fear that something has happened to you and that you may never return.
How to be the Pack Leader
In the wild, the Alpha Wolf controls all the activities of the pack – when they eat, when they move, who receives affection. These are the same things you control in your dog's life. By controlling when he receives food, walks, and attention you reduce frustration and anxiety.
Where does affection come into this? Excellent question. A strong pack leader knows when and how to reward a pack member with affection. Get this wrong and your dog will see you as weak. And dogs are great at exploiting weakness.
The right time to give affection is when your dog is calm and well behaved, so that you re-enforce that behavior.
Discover more about dog training, dog care, facts about dogs and other helpful dog information at www.dogsanddogtraining.com
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