It is Sunday afternoon; the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and I’m at home because there is a nasty virus out there keeping me in the house more than usual on the weekends. My three dogs, Tank (a ten-year-old boxer), Bear (an almost two-year-old English bulldog), and Millie (my 5lb, seven-month-old rescue), are surrounding me. They have all been very happy to have their humans around more than usual. Our dogs have seen us more than ever thanks to the stay at home order. This is great for me because my dogs are calm, well-balanced and happy dogs. What if you are like others whose dogs do not fall into this category? Some dogs are anxious, fearful, aggressive, constantly barking, or just plain annoying to their humans. Some people say they are just bad dogs. What? Dogs are not born bad; they just haven’t learned the proper way to act. It is in this way that dogs are like humans. If you do not teach your children how to behave when they are small, they will grow up to be annoying teenagers and awful adults. Dogs are no different. This is where the likeness stops. Dogs are born with natural behaviors. These behaviors vary based on the breed. Nature gives our dog certain instincts while nurture teaches our dog certain behaviors.
You may be experiencing difficulties with your dog because you are denying him his natural instincts. One example is that you have a Labrador retriever that never gets exercise. Retrieving is part of his genetic code. Without the ability to run, chase, or play fetch, this will be an unhappy, unbalanced dog. This will result in unwanted behavior, like excessive barking, destructive behavior, chewing furniture, anxiety, and the list goes on. We as humans must recognize that our dogs have to be able to do as nature intends and give them the ability to be a dog.
Some of the most popular breeds in the U.S. are the German shepherd (herding group), beagle (hound group), bulldog, poodle, French bulldog (non-sporting group), Labrador retriever, golden retriever (sporting group), miniature Schnauzer (terrier group), and Yorkshire terrier (Yorkie) (toy group). As you can see, all of these dogs fall into different groups. This means they do not all share the same genetic code or natural instincts.
The working group breeds are generally large and powerful. They were bred to help with jobs that made use of their strengths, such as guarding people, pulling loads, and rescuing people. These dogs will become restless if they spend their day lying around with nothing to do. Something as simple as putting a weighted vest on them will help them fulfill this need to work.
The herding group was bred to work with sheep or cattle. In the household, these dogs will tend to try to control the movements of their humans, especially children. They make great companions due to their strong desire to please, but many are stubborn. You must make sure a dog in this group gets adequate exercise, both mentally and physically.
If you get a new dog, take the time to read a book about the breed so you can learn his natural tendencies and ways to help make sure his needs are met. This will help him become a long-lasting part of the family.
Dogs in general are extremely observant. They take cues from their owners on a continual basis. They do not understand our language; therefore, they get visual cues from us to try to understand what we are trying to tell them. When we are not consistent with the cues, the dog ends up confused and not sure what we are saying. Consistency is the key when trying to train a dog. Cues as subtle as raising an eyebrow can get a response from your dog. They are responding to our movements and postures, and as humans, we should be aware of our bodies at all times around our dogs. Walking tall with broad shoulders tells your dog that you are the leader and displays confidence. Turning your head away from an anxious dog will help calm him. Greeting a new dog by standing sideways and not giving eye contact will tell the dog that you are not a threat. There are many things we can do to talk to our dogs without ever speaking. Humans greet each other by a direct approach, like reaching our hands out or even hugging, and by giving direct contact. Trying to greet a dog this way is considered rude behavior to a dog and will be threatening.
We must consistently teach our dogs what is theirs and what is ours. Dogs will naturally see everything their way unless we educate them differently. This needs to be done in puppyhood before behavior patterns and unwanted habits develop. This is not always possible in a world where rescuing unwanted or abandoned dogs is on the rise. Often times, these dogs are in this position because the original owners did not take the time to properly train their new puppy and didn’t understand dog language or dog behavior.
Dogs understand pack behavior, and in every pack, there is a leader. In the household, every human needs to be the leader, even the children. Your goal as the leader is to keep your dog polite, calm, and balanced. This will only work if every member of the house is on board. If you greet your dog as a leader, requesting the dog to be calm and submissive before acknowledging him, and your spouse greets him in an excited, high-pitched greeting allowing him to jump up, these signals are confusing to your dog and he will have a hard time learning how to greet properly.
Dogs are social by nature. There is nothing worse than a human that decides to get a dog and then locks him up in a kennel in the backyard or in the house or chains him up outside. This is torture for a dog. Dogs want to be around humans interacting with them. They crave socialization. An isolated dog will have trouble becoming a well balanced dog without the proper guidance from his human. He will learn how to survive alone, and this is not the kind of existence that is natural to them. Please don’t be that kind of human. Just don’t get a dog if this is how he will be treated. Be kind enough to allow the dog to go to a home where he will be welcomed and loved in a way that will bring out the best in him.
I have had a dog, and at times many dogs, in my home for over 40 years. I simply don’t know what it means to not have a dog in my life. Over the years, I have become very aware of dog behavior and the language that they speak. My home is a dog heaven, and they are definitely my babies; however, I don’t confuse them with being my actual babies. I do allow them on my couch and on my bed because I enjoy it as much as they do.
If you love your dog, as I’m sure you do, but do not have a calm, well-balanced dog, do yourself and your dog a favor and get some help. Educate yourself by reading books (there are a ton of books out there). Learn what your dog is telling you with his body language. Learn what you are telling your dog with your body language. Get your puppy in daycare so he can begin socializing. This will help your puppy become less fearful of other dogs and humans as he grows. Daycare is also a great way to get exercise and attention while you are working all day so you can come home to a dog that will be more calm and enjoyable at night.
Let your dog be a dog. Just teach him how to be a dog in a human world. He will love you for it. 
Licia Langley
TallyWags Play + Stay
