The DOG’S PERSPECTIVE
The Dog’s Perspective is a biology-based dog training approach that focuses on who dogs are and how they think/perceive the world. The main tenets of our training philosophy include:
- Dogs are predators
- Order Carnivora
- Predators naturally exhibit prey drives
- Dogs evolved to be friendly and cooperative with humans
- Dogs should love petting and praise
- Handling, petting and massage therapy
- Petting and praise are healthy and easy for everyone
- Petting and praise are initial and permanent rewards
- Food treats are initial and temporary rewards
- Mental capacity of dogs similar to 2-year-old human toddlers
- Dogs are naturally reactive/mature humans are cerebral
- Dogs live in the present/now
- Dogs neither reflect on the past nor project into the future
- Dogs naturally den
- Crate = dog den
- Fundamental in potty training
- Dogs learn relaxation/reduces anxiety
- Crates provide safety, including travel in cars
- Dogs “see” their world through their nose – Olfaction
- Different levels of dog sniffs
- Respect and manage the magnificent dog nose
Dog play is critical for their development
- Play using teeth and bodies/rough and tumble
- Fun and relaxing
- Socialization skills and observational learning
- Importance of Observational Learning
- Natural and easy
- Monkey See, Monkey Do
- Good and bad behaviors
- Novice dogs learn faster working with trained dogs
- Includes socialization and play
- Importance of Associative Learning
- Classical and Operant Conditioning
- Reward and correction/punishment systems
- Focus of psychology-based dog training
- Slower and subordinate to Observational Learning
- Positive Discipline for humans and dogs
Our gentle, guiding training techniques are practical, fun and successful. Our training goals are to make your dog dreams reality.
Kathryn R. Gubista, PhD is an evolutionary biologist, college biology instructor, former zookeeper, author and certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA) with Lucky Dog Training Asheville and has over 30 years of dog training and human educating experience. The Dog’s Perspective is a training philosophy based on how dogs think.