Michael Baugh CDBC CPDT-KSA
The biggest challenge in dog training these days is us.
We humans are stressed out. Life is coming at us (coming for us) from all directions. Work pressure is endemic. Social media is a constant mirror to our perceived inadequacies. It’s an election year.
This summer the U.S. Surgeon General actually issued a mental health advisory. Let’s not take that lightly. The Surgeon General reserves health advisories for big stuff, like warnings about smoking or AIDS. This advisory sounded the alarm about the mental health of parents. Forty-eight percent of parents say their stress is “completely overwhelming.” They’re worried about money, safety, their children’s future. And they’re worried about time. They’ve maxed out their schedules. They simply don’t have enough time in a day to do everything they need to do.
One of the more popular theories is that our brain’s evolution hasn’t been able to keep up with all of our technological advancements. We’ve made the world too complicated and fast-paced for our own good. That might be true.
We humans crave joy. I think more than that even; we crave peace. We just want some relief from the cacophony of daily life. So, we get a dog to help.
The trouble is (this is my opinion), our dog’s brain evolution hasn’t been able to keep up with all the changes either. Dogs evolved with us. Nature tied their lives inextricably to ours. The joke online these days is “I got a dog for my anxiety and ended up with a dog with anxiety.” It’s not funny, probably because the truth of the matter is so stark. We are under pressure and, inadvertently or otherwise, we put our dogs under a great deal of pressure, too. Dogs who traditionally hunted, guarded, or herded are now our surrogate children (or, worse, our mental health caretakers). Most do well. They walk tethered to us, wait patiently under tables at our favorite ice house, pass the hours with the mob at daycare.
Some, the ones I meet, succumb to the pressure. They growl, snarl, snap, and bite. We balk. Dogs are supposed to be good. We should know better, though. Dogs are doing the best they can, just like we are.
I can’t address the pressure we humans are under. At a minimum, we all need a good friend to talk to. We’d all probably do well with some therapy, or at least a nice group hug. But your dog’s stress, that I can help with.
Here are some ideas you can start today that take very little extra time out of your schedule. I think you’ll enjoy some of them, too.
Notice your dog. Observe. Watch what your dog does when they don’t know you’re looking. It’s fun. I think it’s fascinating and relaxing at the same time. It can also be downright entertaining.
Spend some quiet time with your dog together every day in physical contact, petting, or cuddling. It’s good for you. It’s good for your dog.
Play. This is how social animals bond. It’s how we can bond with our dog. Every human-dog pairing is different. My last dog played fetch. My current dog loves to play tug. Find the interactive game that works best for you and your dog.
Train. Don’t think of dog training as a chore. Think of it as a way of starting a dialogue with your dog. Communication helps us feel less isolated, more connected. I suspect it feels that way to our dogs as well.
There is good news. Again, this is my opinion. It might be true that our legacy brains (and those of our dogs) are struggling to keep up with the world we’ve created. It sure feels like that most days. But here’s what else is true: we humans are amazing learners. We adapt. Humans can tap into ancient wisdom for comfort and insight. We are rich in philosophy and faith. And, there’s more good news. Our dogs are amazing learners alongside us. We’ve co-evolved navigating change and learning together.
There’s hope for us, I think.
If the pressure feels like too much some days (every day?), that’s okay. I feel it. I think we’re normal. Reach out for help. Reach out to a friend, trusted clergy, a therapist. We are social creatures. Human existence was never meant to be a solo endeavor.
If you see your dog is having a hard time, well, that happens too. There’s help for both of y’all. I’m here for you. At the very least, I can connect you to help for your dog.
The romantic in me wants to shout out: “we can get through this together.” The truth is we are already, day by day. Evolution be damned. You, me, our dogs – we’ve got this.
Michael Baugh teaches dog training in Houston, TX. He specializes in aggressive dog training.