The number one problem I see today is dogs that never learned how to be a “dog” cause they haven’t been around dogs to learn from. So trainers focus on trying to train dogs – that don’t know they are a dog – and end up failing repeatedly. Humans cannot teach a dog how to “dog”. When dogs learn “dog”, so many problems melt away on their own.
How many trainers bring their own dog to assessments and sessions? I’ve haven’t heard of it for years. Well, there is a reason for that – because so many trainers have problem dogs of their own that they can’t fix. But yet, they are going to charge you to fix your dog with protocols that didn’t work for them.
This is why I use Monty – he’s a mentor for other dogs. Monty is a dog, and he reads dogs intentions far faster than I, he’s communicating with them on a level that I can’t understand. A fearful dog will come to trust another dog far faster than a human. Why? It’s likely a human that put the dog in that situation in the first place. Dogs are the most honest animals there is – they don’t lie. If I enter a back yard alone – generally dogs react badly and run away barking – this isn’t aggression by the way. Depending on the severity of the dogs fragility, I’ll bring Monty in – and that is always a game changer. All of a sudden the dogs nose is going, they are curious.
Monty tells me if the dog is ok to be around – yes, we communicate. If he wants to get down, I put him down, he’s telling me that all is good. He wanders around the yard just being a dog, sniffing and peeing – ignoring the other dog completely. He will not engage a dog until they calm down, he ignores them – and that’s a lesson we should all learn. When the dog we are assessing goes calm, he will engage them – generally meeting nose to nose. Quick meet and he’s off doing his thing again. Now bear in mind, most dogs are following him closely, sniffing him, trying to figure him out – he’s just being a dog.
Monty will bring these dogs to me. Monty trusts me, and he’s showing the other dog that I’m not bad. Monty is passing the trust torch to me, he brings the dog to me.
I’ve met dogs that were so fearful, they were shut down in a crate and wouldn’t come out. Monty walks into the house, does his default. He doesn’t approach the other dog, he wanders around sniffing and such but I’ll tell you – the other dog is watching and it doesn’t usually take long for that dog to come to investigate. Leave them alone, let them bond, give the dog a chance to learn. I’ve seen female dogs that were so fragile learn to lift their leg to pee – just through watching him.
When the dogs have had their time, it’s time to use Monty as a monkey in the middle. The owner can give him treats, give him love and affection – and I guarantee, the other dog is watching all this positive. There is almost a point where they want to engage that positive interaction so badly that they forget to be scared. Nothing bad is happening to Monty, he’s getting food and affection. They join in pretty quick – and that’s the start of building trust.
We are gaining trust through Monty.
Don’t be afraid to bring in a balanced dog to help your dog. If you can find one balanced dog that your dog gets along with, bring them over and let them be. Don’t interfere. You will see a difference very quickly.