| What is a "Dog Whisperer"?Plenty of people call | | | | the outward signs of inward emotional states in |
| themselves a dog whisperer, usually for commercial | | | | canines, you can do much more than someone who |
| gain. Since the success of Monty Roberts, the Horse | | | | does not understand dog behavior and cannot read a |
| Whisperer, it seems to be a title almost anyone can | | | | dog.Dog Whispering really comes down to three |
| brand themselves with - so long as they are not Horse | | | | things:1. Experience2. Education3. EmpathyExperience |
| Whisperers (that one is owned and trademarked by | | | | is nothing without Education, coupled with some clear |
| Monty Roberts).I'm yet to see anyone "whisper" to a | | | | and critical thinking. The flip-side is that Education is |
| dog (or a horse) and have the animal magically do | | | | nothing without Experience. A bit of both will greatly |
| anything that it wasn't trained to do.I remember one | | | | enhance your "dog whispering" abilities!Empathy is |
| occassion where some people had bought a horse | | | | necessary. A dog whisperer is not heavy-handed, |
| and were collecting it from the property where we | | | | abusive, or even authoritarian. A dog whisperer is |
| kept our horse. This horse was terrified of being | | | | understanding of why the dog is behaving as he is, and |
| floated (trailered), made all the worse for the | | | | seeks to balance the dog's needs with the owner's |
| desperate new owner's heavy-handed techniques for | | | | needs in a complementary fashion.Leadership is the |
| attempting to force the horse into the trailer.In a few | | | | name of the game here, but we've moved on a bit |
| minutes I taught the horse to touch my hand, then had | | | | from the old "alpha-roll, show 'em who's boss" |
| it follow my hand into the trailer. Problem solved.What | | | | domination style and tended towards a more empathic |
| do you think they called me? A "Horse Whisperer"! I | | | | and co-operative approach. This does not confuse the |
| thought it was funny - I was simply using Operant | | | | dog as to who is the leader, in fact, a more predictable |
| Conditioning, positive reinforcement for the behavior of | | | | and compassionate owner is usually one that is easier |
| horse touching my hand with nose in exchange for | | | | and more fun for the dog to follow!So get out there |
| carrot.There are also many times I have been faced | | | | and learn how to be a dog whisperer. Read books. |
| with a nervous, fearful or aggressive dog. In true "dog | | | | Watch your own dogs. Go down to the dog park and |
| whisperer style", I have been able to approach the | | | | watch other people's dogs. Attend seminars. Read |
| cautious canine and befriend it where others have not | | | | articles. Join email lists. Try to understand your dogs. |
| been able to.I do not attribute this to any magical | | | | Combine education with experience and empathy and |
| powers of animal communication, I simply understand a | | | | you will be well on your way to becoming a bona-fide |
| little (just a little) dog body language and I am able to | | | | dog whisperer!Aidan Bindoff is editor of Positive |
| communicate some of that back to the dog.Once you | | | | Petzine, , an ezine for all aspiring dog whisperers! |
| understand a little about dog behavior, and can read | | | | |