Dear desperate dog owners

A personal view by Diana Kastner, co-founder of Affective Dog Behavior

The first Facebook post that caught my eye this morning was a bit of a frustrated, maybe even hopeless cry for help. A dog with arthritis and liver issues sleeps peacefully through the day, but come evening, he "... seems to go to pieces. He wants constant fuss and stroking, and if he doesn't get it, he does this awful sounding moaning". The anonymous poster goes on to explain that the dog won't just sit next to them and relax but continuously paws at them. Unable to identify a trigger, the poster appears rather helpless and stressed.

Needless to say, I added my explanation about endogenous opioids and social emotional needs to a list of comments, many of which were talking about setting boundaries, the benefits of Thundershirts, anxiety, the lack of mental and physical stimulation, you name it.

The more I read through these comments, the more I longed for meaningful change.

The general dog-loving community seems lost, and the dog training industry bears at least some responsibility for this. As canine professionals, we play a crucial role in shaping society's expectations of how dogs are supposed to be and behave. With an industry-wide hyper-focus on traditional training methods rather than the dog's biological processes that underly needs and thus behaviors, we are doing a disservice not only to the dog but their humans as well.

But there is hope. Not all suggestions offered to the helpless anonymous poster were training related. Rather, the commenters tapped into their own emotional responses, which put them on the right path for a possible solution without even realizing it.

Unfortunately, this post with its mostly training oriented comments isn't an isolated case, which should be a red flag for all of us. Dog training isn't binary, yet, the dog training industry is dominated in a binary sense: balanced vs. R+, and clients as well as their dogs are left confused and scrambling in the middle.

What does it mean dog training isn't binary?

The answer is simple: there is more than just balanced vs. R+. Dogs may learn extraordinary human centered skills under the influence of corrections or treat rewards, but that doesn't mean they are thriving. Learning happens best through lived experiences. How you engage with your dog, how you explore together and show interest in what interests your dog. The way you support your dog during a life challenge and then recover together afterwards. All these are lived experiences that allow you to teach your dog and learn from your dog.

One key reason why Free PLAY - such as roughhousing, zoomies, etc. - is crucial is that it helps develop social skills. As the wonderful Dr. Jaak Panksepp used to say: "Social animals are born without social skills, and PLAY is the most joyous way to acquire them." (paraphrased)

During engaging, reciprocal play, dogs take turns chasing each other or wrestling each other to the ground. If they fail to take turns, play becomes one sided, which can quickly lead to frustration. Living with a dog is quite similar; while some of us accept the importance of "taking turns", others don't.

Where does Affective Dog Behavior fit in?

Affective Dog Behavior is one of a select few programs that transcends traditional binary boundaries. Through its CARE First approach, ADB shifts focus from achieving behavior change through training to identifying and fulfilling the dog's immediate needs. As a result, behavior change occurs naturally and automatically.

Where does this leave dog owners?

The dog training industry, with its conflicting techniques, creates significant confusion for the average dog owner. along with the added strain of high financial costs and time commitments.

If you are a dog owner reading this, ask yourself: What type of relationship do you envision with your dog? Would you like to be the person who controls every move and activity, or do you just want to have a good life with your furry companion? But whichever path you choose, always remember to CARE First. Balanced and R+ are not your only options!

Learn more about Affective Dog Behavior

Please visit us at www.affectivedog.com or join us on Facebook or Patreon.

Our ADB Academy is up and running, featuring online courses tailored for dog owners who choose the CARE First path and canine professionals who want to improve their knowledge.