As a dog trainer I meet as many dogs as I do canine parents, human companions, and handlers. Just as there is not one style or cookie cutter method for teaching our canines, the human’s ability to learn is just as diverse and different among people that I encounter on a daily basis. The biggest obstacle is that of matching what the canine needs to the ability and understanding of the human on the other end of the leash. Things that make sense to me may not translate very well to the human that I am trying to provide guidance to and educate. This matter is further complicated by “trainers” who lack the knowledge base needed to explain canine behaviors or carelessly throw around terms which are then
passed on by other handlers or owners. It is a perpetual cycle of misinformation.
I want to help eliminate the bad information floating around, which is why my first blog article covers specific definitions and language I use as a dog trainer. To me, being a trainer means doing your homework, which often entails spending long hours researching, reading and watching videos to further your own understanding of canine behavior. It is learning from mentors and putting the work in and I believe that starts with a basic understanding of training terminology. I always try to break teaching behaviors down into the smallest steps possible for clear understanding by our canine companions. In turn, I have compiled a list of definitions that I use almost daily for their humans to better understand their canine’s behavior.
1. Motivation is what compels an animal to do what it does.
2. A Drive is a force, an urge onward, a basic need, a compulsive energy.
3. Fear is the drive that motivates the individual to react to an incoming threat.
3.1 A threat is everything that may harm, inflict pain or injury to the individual, or decreases its
3.2 Fear elicits flight, immobility or distress behavior.
4. Aggression is a drive directed towards the elimination of competition.
4.1 Fighting involves risk. Evolution has developed mechanisms to restrain the intensity of
chances of survival.
4.2 The reutilization of aggressive behavior is another genetically programmed restraint during conflict.
4.3 A hierarchy or a rank-order is a dominance-submission relationship established and
aggressive behavior. One of these mechanisms is a genetically programmed tendency to
establish territories. maintained by means of ritualized behavior. Its structure depends on: (1) species, (2) individuals, (3) available resources, (4) the constitution of the group, and (5) the environment.
5. Dominance-submission relations limit the use of aggression or fear, thus diminishing conflicts
that might decrease the individual’s chances of survival.
5.1 Dominance and submission originated as an evolutionary necessity. They establish an evolutionarily stable strategy for highly aggressive social animals.
5.2 Dominance and submission behaviors evolved partially as secondary sexual characters.
5.3 Dominance, or social-aggression, is a drive directed towards the elimination of competition
from a mate.
5.4 Mates are two or more animals who live closely together and depend on one another for
survival.
5.5 Aliens are two animals who do not live closely together and do not depend on one another
for survival.
5.6 Social-aggression usually elicits ritualized aggressive behavior, where a mate is not injured.
It may consist of body postures, facial and vocal expressions
5.7 Submission, or social-fear, is the drive that motivates the individual to react to an incoming
social-threat from a mate.
5.8 A Social-threat is everything that many cause submissive behavior or flight, without the
individual being harmed.
5.9 Social-fear usually elicits submissive behavior following the mate’s threat or flight. It may
also elicit vocal distress or displacement activity.
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