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The ability to communicate is the mark of intelligence, the gift of language defines who we are as it gives us the freedom of expression and speech we in the free world hold so dear and defend so vigorously. What a strange thing to say, why do we assume the ability to speak denotes intelligence? Just because we can speak that makes us the supreme beings?
If that is the case and we are so wonderful, why have we lost and forgotten how to communicate with our most loyal and loving member of our family? Why do we babble on, often in silly, high pitched voices and expect our dear friend to actually make sense of it all? The art of communication is a rare thing among humans, even with our ability to listen, think and reply, how good at real communication are we? Not good enough!
What would happen if we lost the ability to speak? Not on a temporary basis but permanently. How on earth would we cope? We are bad enough when we encounter a person who merely speaks a different language, we speak slower and louder because that might mean they can understand us!! Inspirational isn't it? Might as well not speak at all. But the how would we get our message across? How would we convey our needs?
We can learn so much from the other animals we share our lives with and in particular the dogs with whom we share our lives.
When man domesticated the wolf and began the selective breeding programme which has led us to have the myriad of breeds we have today, he understood the canine language, and he learned how to interpret what he was being told by his dogs. This relationship continued throughout history and all over the world as man used dogs to help him in his work. Dogs were viewed as tools, very useful tools that became an invaluable member of the team but at no time were they treated any differently than what they were, dogs. In the modern age where man no longer needs dogs to help him in his work, he has taken them into his house as a pet, a companion, a member of his family.
The dog is not designed to be any of these things. The more dogs reside in families, living with humans; they are being increasingly treated as humans. This is dangerous because as dogs get treated as humans, so are they expected to behave as humans, to reason as humans, to respond as a human, to understand the human condition. As humans we get so used to and comfortable with dogs in our families, we forget it is still a dog. When this fact is demonstrated to us, usually when a dog attacks a human, we are snapped back to reality for a short while that we actually have a dog, not another family member.
Why do these dogs attacks happen? Why was it so unexpected? The shocking realisation that the dog in our family could and did react that way is a very shocking experience and it is always the dogs fault, isn't it?
The sad fact is dogs involved in attacks on humans have already told the person, usually a family member, two or three times they are not happy, that the person is behaving in a way the dog doesn't like and biting is a last resort for any dog, especially one that lives in a family environment. The trouble is the signals the dog gives are subtle and man has forgotten how to watch and interpret his dogs. If he still had the skills required, none of these attacks needed to have happened. Man is so busy talking to his dogs as if they were human; he almost expects the dog to talk back in the same language. When a reaction happens like a bite, you often hear there was no warning, it came out of the blue, and no one expected him to do that. Dogs always tell you what is going to happen before they do it, man has just forgotten how to watch and listen.
Dogs use eye contact in a very different way to humans, they interpret body language at a far more subtle level than humans do, they can hear the heartbeats of people in close proximity and they can smell changes in your body's sweat composition. All of this information is collated by the dog in a matter of seconds and he will use this information to assess if you are a potential leader, a potential threat, no one to bother about or if you are weak and afraid. The dog will then communicate his thoughts with you using his eye contact, altering his posture and body language and the position of his head and shoulders.
If these signs are ignored, or not even noticed, the dog will try again to make you understand what he is telling you. This can be walking toward you, the posture can stiffen, the tail can be upright and there may even be a show of teeth. If signs like these are also ignored or not noticed and acted upon, the dog will resort to his final option to tell you what he needs to and that is the bite. Knowing the signs to look for, you quickly realise that dogs are very powerful and effective communicators, we have just forgotten how to observe and interpret and the teaching of canine communication would appear to have disappeared from modern dog training where food, food, food seems to be the order of the day.
If the role of food for your dog was understood by trainers, its use might be more carefully considered as the control of food can make a huge difference in your relationship with your dog and the roles your family members take from your dog's point of view. Just one final question for all dog owners who take their dogs to training classes or schools, does your instructor bring one of their own dogs to the class or school and if so, are they very well behaved?
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