Zen & The Art Of Dog Training

Article Title: Zen & The Art Of Dog Training
Author: Sandy Finley

I'm a professional dog trainer. I don't ordinarily believe in
the mystical or magical. But I realize that when I do my job
well, I'm not being driven by human logic or some textbook
knowledge. I realize that my many years of working with dogs has
taught me to be able to cast aside my human limitations and for
the moments of our human/canine interaction, I can hear and
understand and become one with the world inhabited by dogs.

Let me try to explain.

I've learned the world of dogs is a Zen like place somewhat
counter-intuitive to humans. There is no such thing as time but
rather a flow of events that predictably cascades through the
dog's world. Breakfast is not at 7 am in a dog's world.
Breakfast is that slice of life that follows the sunrise and the
birds chirping and master rustling about in the food bin
accompanied by the smell of his morning coffee. Although this
happens at 7 am for master, this happens in the dogs mind as a
familiar routine that could better be called an association. My
dog and I both know when it's breakfast time but it's an
illusion to think we both tell time.

When I walk a dog I put her at heel. If she's an untrained dog
or simply unfamiliar with me personally, she will probably pull
and wander at first. My human logic would tell me that she wants
to be free and run and sniff the grass and bound through fields
like a free spirit. That's what I would desire were I on four
young legs and equipped with a nose that could smell and sense
unimagined sectors of the world that merely blow by my human
nose like chards of sand in a dust storm. But I'd be wrong to
think my dog thinks like me. My dog knows there is a natural
order to the universe and between us we shall chat and determine
our personal fit. In going on this walk together, it must be
determined whom shall lead and who shall follow. In my dog's
world there is no democracy. In my dog's world, his pack cannot
stop to debate or take a vote as to what action shall be taken
when a prey animal is darting across their path. Were such
decisions up for a vote, his pack would surely die. When I am in
a dog's world, I am the leader and his pulling on the lead is
merely taken as the appropriate inquiry, "Are you the leader or
am I?"

I give a short snap on the leash, which brings him back to my
heel and in his world, I have politely answered, " Thank you for
asking, I am the leader."

This question may be asked and answered several times in sundry
ways during our interaction. We are having a rich and wordless
conversation that goes to the essence of all that needs to be
known in this particular moment. This conversation is fluid,
dynamic and constantly ongoing. An undirected stare, a paw
placed on top of my foot, a lazy yawn can all be part of a rich
language that is pregnant with meaning and content.

Being human, I dwell on past victories and defeats. I plan and
scheme. I brood sometimes. A dog does none of this for all of
"this" is a moment that will change in another moment like the
breath going in and out. Dogs only care about now and when I
hear their owners bemoan past behaviors and challenge me to
"correct" their dog's behavior, I smile knowingly at my canine
pupil and understand that in this moment there are a universe of
possibilities that we shall discuss and act upon.

Yesterday, as I was browsing a magazine and my dog Zoe was
laying by my chair curled up like a giant question mark, I came
across an interesting advertisement. It was offering a
forty-five minute video on meditation and the difficult practice
of "letting go and living in the moment". I laughed out loud
when I read the exorbitant price for this vehicle to peace and
tranquility. I then returned the magazine to its rack and the
sound of my laugh caused Zoe to sit up. I thought to myself that
perhaps the reader of this magazine could find better
fulfillment if they merely owned and learned from a dog. I'm
sure it was my imagination, but it appeared, Zoe winked at me
before lying back down and rolling over.

About The Author: Sandy Finley is a professional dog trainer
and owner of Perfect Manners Dog Training in metro Chicago at
http://www.perfectdogtraining.com

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