Dog Training, A Look Back

Each generation stands on the shoulders of the last. I remember thinking about that statement with gratitude as a young woman. Then my thoughts were about quality of life issues for women.



Now, I reflect on changes in dog training over the decades. We’ve come from a harsher way of being in general to a respect that includes other beings.


After World War II men who handled war dogs came home and opened up dog training schools. Training of war dogs required the dog to be more “respectful” of the handler than afraid of bombs bursting. That, of course, is the mindset these guys brought home with them. Sadly, “If you want the dog to respect you, just roll up a newspaper” can still be heard.


By the fifties our dog training heroes became the fellows training dogs for the movies. Old Yeller, Big Red, The Shaggy Dog were movies that made us laugh and cry. “How did they do that?” was answered in books by Bill Koehler.


As families made their way to cities, so parents could find work, we lost our connection to nature. A dog in the backyard was the only animal most kids had to relate to any species other than our own.


Lassie, Rin-tin-tin and Bullet were regulars on tv. Dogs were thoroughly romanticized by Disney in Lady and the Tramp. The natural ability of our species to connect to others was being lost, while it was being idealized.


Jim Pearsall was the gentler trainer of the sixties and seventies. He wrote about technique from a perspective of a relationship with the dog. When it came to dog trainers, Koehler was king.


In the eighties along came a lady with a funny voice and a British accent. Barbara Woodhouse hit the talk show circuit with her, ”Walkies” and “What a good dog.” America fell in love with her and positive reinforcement.


Tell a dog it did right; what a concept. As people started telling the dog it was good, kids started complaining that they never heard praise from their parents. It was a revolution.

Have You Pulled a Tail?

Hi,
Shaker met his first goose yesterday. As cute as that was, that's not the topic of the day.
All morning I have been thinking about that neglected part of the canine anatomy, the tail.
In puppy class I taught students to grasp the tail firmly (no death grips) at the base. Talk to the dog in a happy voice. Let's not get stressed out about this, smile darn it we're going to have fun.
Slide your hand from the base of the tail to the tip. Talk to the dog, who is probably looking at you like,"What the......" Reassure your dog that you haven't lost your mind. Do it again. Good job; repeat. Finish with a big happy praise. Thump or pet the dog else where. Don't get him thinking you have a tail fixation. You know how upset they get when they think they have a nut case for a human.
What was your dog's reaction the first time you did it? When you did it the second time was the response different? Which time did he gently put his teeth on your hand indicating that he was a little wierded out by your interest in that appendage. When this happens, stop pulling. Keep your hand on the tail, try loosening your grip if the dog still objects. My experience is if I just hold my hand there for a few seconds while comforting the dog that I do know what I am doing, I am not stealing his tail; he will calm down and let me continue.
Reassure in happy tones. Are any of you old enough to remember Barbara Woodhouse? I loved hearing her British, "What a good dog!" That lovely lady taught me the value of praise. I've be hooked on ever since.
I'm still waiting to hear some, then I'll know I've taught well!! My motto has become when in doubt praise. I digress....
If you have the right tension or pressure in your hand, while gliding slowly down the tail by the third pass your dog will look over his shoulder at you. I always find that expression priceless to use the now trite phrase.
Now, that you've pulled your dog's tail three times; how did he like it? What was your dog's response?
My favorite reaction is when a dog gets all wiggly. They may race around the room.
There is so much to be learned by pulling a dog's tail gently. By the way; DO NOT RELEASE QUICKLY. You do not want the tail to go thunk!
If you guys are interested in learning more about how to relax your dog, comment and let me know how your first tail session went.
Here at Carrvilla clients will tell me, "My dog won't let anyone touch his tail."
It always makes me chuckle when they say how surprised and amazed that the dog allows me to handle the tail and likes it.
For about twenty years I have studied soft tissue therapy. I have to thank my friend Cheryl Kirkus for the role she played in my path. She has been an angel in my life. Blessings to you. As I write this I can hear her sarcastic grumblings.
Another angel is Linda Tellington Jones, whose ground breaking work came into my life at just the right time, blessings. 
Over the years I've learned how to relax dogs by manipulating tails. I started working tails in canine body work sessions, then in handling my own dogs. Dogs love tail pulls. I have gotten so that when I meet dogs, I do it as part of a greeting ritual, temperament permitting. It amazed me how many street dog tails I've pulled. Oh my, that sounds dirty. 
Anyway, if you're interested we'll continue this conversation.

 Don't you think something is wrong, when you can't touch your dogs tail?