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