People are so human! During almost every behavior counseling and private lesson I do, I am reminded that the main reason the pet owners have called for my assistance is to learn how to communicate with their animals. Sometimes, it is especially tough for me to convince the people to think “outside the (human) box.”
My latest tactics are to use the people’s experiences to point out the similarities of needs between themselves and their dogs (and/or cats). For example, the “artificial den” concept is very controversial for many people. Let me illustrate by creating the background of the problem:
The owner leaves the recently acquired dog/puppy loose in the house during the owner’s absence.
While the owner is gone, the animal shreds the couch, chair, etc., or gnaws the wooden furniture. Perhaps it crashes through the picture window and roams the streets.
The owner has serious issues with the damage done during the absent time and calls me in for advice.
My first question is something like, “Do you crate your dog?” The pet owner’s face takes on a look of absolute horror. “Oh no! That is simply too inhumane!” About that time, I consider packing up my equipment and fading into the sunset.
So, what is my latest secret technique in dealing with this very typical pet owner? I point out that we all live in houses, apartments, houseboats or other accommodations which provide us with a floor, a ceiling and at least three walled sides. History books tell us that our ancestors lived in similar places called caves. Of course, not everyone had access to caves, but most would find some kind of shelter to protect themselves from the elements and likely predators. Believe it or not, canine and feline ancestors did the same things. In fact, even today, the distant relatives still prefer the security of a den. And if they cannot find a ready-made cave, many will begin excavation to dig their own dens. The bottom line is – we and our pets do similar things for the sake of warmth and security. Our houses and apartments are merely bigger dens. The problem for the pet who is left alone is that he or she has too much space to roam, which effectively removes the pet’s sense of security.
Typically, the humans who are open-minded enough to consider my notion of den security will then argue that they still feel it is inhumane to leave their best friends confined in the crate for long periods of time. Of course, the easier to convince clients are often crating their pets overnight. I merely point out that Phydeaux is probably making it through the night already with no adverse reactions. Carrying the idea over into daytime is then a more amenable concept to them. My final point also draws on the similarity to human experiences. Parents spend the first 18 years of their children’s lives teaching them to be responsible adults. If done properly and consistently, the same can be done for our dogs in about a month, give or take a year, depending on the breed. And we all know cats are ready-made citizens of the realm with usually no extra training necessary!
The toughest thing in dealing with our pets is to learn to think the way they do. Once we do, we can actually begin to open communication lines. One of my favorite reminders is that dogs learn 24 hours a day. So we should make every interaction a learning opportunity.
