How To Be a Dog Whisperer

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