FINDING A BALANCE: Issues of Power in Healthy DogHuman Relationships by Suzanne Clothier

Author:Suzanne Clothier [Clothier, Suzanne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-9765489-7-3
Publisher: Flying Dog Press

7

A Trust Fund Puppy?

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Some dogs remind me a lot of the famous socialites notable for — well, for what? Let’s just say the fame has not resulted from these folks being hard working members of society. If anything, they appear to be utterly free of the responsibilities that shape most people’s live. These “trust fund babies” are people who grow up with their every material need provided for, without expectations or even consequences for what they do or don’t do.

Trainers know that there are Trust Fund Puppies. Like their human counterpart, the Trust Fund Puppy neither toils nor does he spin. A Trust Fund Puppy is one who has no real obligations to behave in particular ways. No matter what the dog does or does not do, life rolls right on. Ignore your handler? No worries, there won’t be any consequences. Feel free to keep doing whatever you like. In fact, your handler might provide repeated signals, then help you follow through and then be sure to provide a tidbit and praise as well.

This is a lot like telling a trust fund kid to clean his room. Repeatedly. And when that doesn’t work, do it for him. And then tell him how good he was to clean his room, and see if you can add a cash bonus too. That doesn’t sound too sensible, does it?

Most readers understand that their behavior has consequences. Fail to show up for work? You soon won’t be drawing a pay check. Do sloppy or inaccurate work? If your boss has any sense, you won’t be her employee for long. Unless we are independently wealthy, we understand that we have to earn the good things in life that we want.

But when it comes to dogs, we lose all this common sense. Surprisingly often, well intentioned and loving dog handlers teach their dog that the dog has no real responsibility in the relationship. Whether he cooperates or not, all good things still come to him.

It comes as a shock to many handlers to discover that their darling dog is a Trust Fund Puppy. It is a bigger shock to the handlers to learn that they created the Trust Fund Puppy.

Here are some common ways handlers teach their dogs to be Trust Fund Puppies:

• The dog learns that he need not pay close attention to his handlers unless he chooses to.

How it happens : the handler does all the work of keeping track of the dog, sometimes following them wherever they go.

• The dog learns that signals will be repeated with no consequences for slow or inaccurate responses.

How it happens : the handler repeats commands, wait for the dog to be ready, accepts slow or inaccurate responses as being the same as a prompt, accurate response. The handler might even reward the dog after repeated signals and helping the dog complete the task.

• The dog learns that he may be physically controlled by leash and collar; no need to control himself.

How it happens : the handler will attempt to physical restrain or wrestle the dog as needed.

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