Dr Dolittle could squeak, squawk and talk to the animals – read why you should too!

Dog training is the IN thing right now. TV shows such as The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan have changed the way we think about our canine companions forever – and it’s a good thing. Dogs are so often misunderstood, and the consequences can be dire, not only for them but also for the humans around them. It’s essential to try to understand everything you possibly can about your pet to truly live in harmony with him. Remember, he can’t speak English, so you have to learn his language. Shows like Cesar’s are invaluable for that, and I encourage all dog owners to watch and learn from them.

In addition to the TV programs, there are many books and DVDs offering sound advice. Or if you like a more hands-on approach, training and behavior classes are becoming widespread – you can even pay an expert to come to your home for one-on-one lessons. Of course pet owners with stubborn or already disobedient pets may be interested in a dog training collar to help speed up their training regimes. Everyone with a dog in their lives will benefit from this proactive knowledge – from people with specific problems that need addressing, right up to puppy owners who can learn to get it right from the start.

But why is all this so relevant today? We need to take a short history lesson to find out.

All dogs evolved from the wolf (yes, even toy poodles!), a wild animal that was drawn into the world of men many, many years ago. The two species learned to help each other for the good of all. Wolves helped man hunt for food and guard his camps. Man offered wolf a little safety and food they didn’t always have to catch themselves. It worked well. But they weren’t treated as pets; and they definitely knew their place in the pack.

Down the ages, of course, while some wolves remained wild, others were domesticated and bred for specific purposes. Some became experts at herding and guarding cattle and sheep; others helped man flush out and catch animals for food; some kept vermin at bay. This evolution has continued to the extent that we now even have “toy” breeds that don’t serve any purpose except as companion animals. But no matter what kind they are, dogs are still dogs, and have certain instincts that cannot be bred away. All this was fine while they lived outside, but these days most of our dogs live inside our homes with us, they rest on our couches and even sleep in our beds!

And that’s where the problem lies, although we humanize them they are still animals and do things that animals do. And that doesn’t always fit with indoor living! Unless they are taught otherwise they will pee on our carpets and chew up our best armchairs. No one wants that so that’s where the training comes in. We can do the easy stuff ourselves, such as housetraining, or teaching them good manners. But sometimes it’s not as simple as that, and problems may arise that need a greater level of expertise to overcome – that’s where the professionals come in. They help us to understand how a dog thinks to get to the root cause of his problem.

The bottom line is to do whatever it takes to learn how to speak “dog.” By getting in tune with what makes them tick, we can all live in peace with our pets!