Monday, August 29, 2011

Call Of The Wild

By J.T. Steele


Call of the wild Calling a dog aggressive seems to be absurd. Though the dogs were once wolves, creatures of the wild, one must remember the ancestor of man also was once a creature of the wild. Hunting was a passion and guarding what little they gathered during the course of the day made it possible for existence for both the species. Resource guarding can thus be traced back to those days before dogs and men really understood each other.

Attachment to things around the house Finding dogs chewing on old shoes and socks is something that anyone takes for granted. This is normal behavior for dogs. This behavior develops when the dogs are small, when they bury bones and seek to keep their things away from prying hands. Resource guarding develops over the years and sometimes makes dogs overtly aggressive. Man has the same tendency; resource guarding has made man what he is. He has evolved from being a hunter to a cultivator of land. Dogs will find something or the other to safe keep and thus foster that behavior.

Finding the place in the hierarchy Bringing in the power factor is an emotion rarely exhibited by dogs which are all by themselves. It is only when they feel their position among the members of their family is being threatened that they become aggressive. Humans will tolerate others who are lower or higher than themselves because of their innate power to reason. The correct position in the hierarchy will be determined by the sense of togetherness rather than by the sense of hierarchical structures as in the case of dogs. The call of the wild is superseded by the sense of belonging and the dogs will follow those who seem to have a higher sense towards the cal of the wild unlike men.

Sense of belonging Since dogs only recognize supremacy in the show of strength, whenever the dog feels that he is slipping down the ranks he will try to do something which is a show of his power. In the world every animal exists because of the order to which it is assigned or it assigns itself. In the normal house there is a certain respect for each and every member of the house. The dogs are more attuned to this kind of order and will, react vigorously whenever they feel there is a shift in the balance of power.

Use of trainers The best trainers will have a very close relationship with the dogs. They will have a stepped kind of program which will help the dogs and provide them with the necessary exercise as well. Doing things a little a day is very necessary as only then will the dogs enjoy themselves. Use of incentives is effective for dogs which are very young or which are really friendly. Stricter measures like putting the dog in a corner for some time will work some times. If you are able to get under his resistance to obedience then you have found a way to correct things and bring them the way it should be. Bring them into the family circles and teach them the order in which the various members are. They may not understand it at first but gradually will begin to understand how the entire thing works.

Dog trainers are useful Training is important but remembers the dog itself is more important. They will become aggressive if you start off training the wrong way or use very harsh methods. Professional dog trainers will not mistakes that the novice makes. This is because they have the knowledge of how the various breeds react to certain situations. If you are knowledgeable about training then you may proceed with it. Other wise wait for someone who has some knowledge in the field to deal with the situation. Remember choosing the correct trainer is important as the training itself.




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