The Brilliant Dog
Jeanne Perciaccanto
Ultimate Dog Training
Every day, as a dog trainer, I have the privilege of helping
dog owners unlock the beauty and brilliance inherent in their dog.
This brilliance is found in them as part of the nature of their
species. We as humans are gifted in possession
of the only animal in nature that can live with us as companions and choose to work
with us in service.
Unfortunately, in recent years, we have begun to cheat our
dogs, preventing that brilliance from shining through as intended in nature.
When they hunt for food in our homes, we correct them.
Seeking activity and action outside the confined boundaries
of a limited space of existence, we stop them.
Pragmatic endeavors to satisfy natural drives cause them to
be crated and confined.
We have created a very confusing dichotomy within our
dogs. We love them, but, we hate for
them to be dogs.
Dogs were much better off as working farm dogs. In shared service with us as guardians,
hunters and caretakers over livestock, food stores and family, they were able
to utilize their own personal brilliance daily.
They thought and problem solved and made choices that impacted their livelihood
and safety as well as those in their charge.
As partners and working companions our need of their help fulfilled
their lives with us.
Our companions were once an artist creating a brilliant canvass
of nature and nurture towards and with those they shared life.
The suburban dog of today is bored, confused and confined
from the very life in which they need to participate.
There are certainly things we should never allow our dogs to
do unless they are trained with the proper know how for safety. Are we however, teaching those skills or
finding it easier to never address what our dogs truly need for a complete life
as a dog and companion?
Barking, biting, digging in garbage and the yard is a cry
from your dog that they are bored with the life you offer. Trying very hard to please you but unable to
satisfy their own basic needs and drives cause conflict in many of our homes.
My goal is to find ways to unlock that brilliance with many
different tools.
I train dogs to off leash control and safety so owners can
hike and allow them off leash to think freely in nature but still maintain that
connection that keeps them safe.
Bringing thought provoking games into routine training
programs to enhance their learning beyond the typical basic training keep dog
mentally active. Games designed as
training for hunting and scent work so dogs can use those scent drives in and
around their homes. There are many ways
to teach adaptable skills but by doing so will keep them thinking and utilizing
that brilliant brain and preventing boredom.
Teaching owners how to see their dogs think and learn enable
them to keep building difficulty levels forward and keeping them mentally
active.
This type of thought training is incorporated into the basic
skills learning but it changes how our dogs learn their skills.
I don’t train dogs, I teach them to think and learn how to
make the right choices.
What have you done to see your dogs’ brilliance today?
