Jan 20 2010

No Magic Required

Usually when something sounds too good to be true, it is! Unfortunately making something sound too good to be true, is a great way to sell it. Imparting some “magical” or “mystical” property to a product or idea, causes the “what if” wiring that is a part of every human brain to activate. Even though a part of our brain recognizes that something is not right, there is another part of our brain that wonders; “What if it’s true?” One of the first commandments of sales is this: Fear of loss is greater than desire for gain. That’s why every car salesman you’ve ever dealt with has reminded you that if you don’t buy that car this second, it might not be there when you get back.

As I was tweeting today I came across this post from Cesar Millan:

“If you find yourself laughing at your dog’s bad behavior, stop! To a dog, the energy he senses equals affection and excitement. “

Cesar would have us believe that sensing and projecting energy are magical tools that we need to train and interact with our dogs. But as with most things, the simple truth is that patience, persistence, clear instruction, and hard work are how results are produced.

As I tweeted after Cesar’s post, dogs do not sense energy, they read body language. There is nothing magical or mystical about it. If dogs were able to sense energy, then teaching a blind or deaf dog would be a piece of cake for anyone that could produce the right energy; wouldn’t it?

It comes down to this. To train a dog you don’t need to project assertive energy, you need to present clear and instructive direction in a way your dog can understand; and the best way to do that is by proven scientific means. By using Positive Reinforcement and Classical Conditioning, the only thing magical will be the relationship you build with your dog.

Cheers

Kevin, Jackie, Gavin, Annie, Tosha

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Comments

Eric Goebelbecker wrote on 01/20/10 9:06 PM

Not to mention....what's wrong with having a good laugh?

I guess it's hard when you're a strutting around like a status-obsessed peacock?

Kevin Myers wrote on 01/20/10 9:32 PM

Good point Eric. I guess having fun while training your dog doesn't project the right energy.

Jodi wrote on 01/21/10 1:32 AM

Brilliant! I become so utterly incensed with anger when I her the nonsense that this joker spews. I've stopped going to the local dog park for a number of reasons, the main one being the fact thst eveyone there seems to be a dog expert and wants to share their knowledge to anyone that will listen. If I had a nickle for every dog whisperer quote I've heard dog owners tell other dogs, I'd have enough money to build my own facility where I'd have organized play dates with appropriate play mates so that they can get effective socialization (this is a dream of mine, can you tell). I just hate to hear people giving bad advice to someone whose dog is really only afraid or overstinulated, and a big fear of people trying those silly techniques and create a really fearful and neurotic dog.

wvterry wrote on 01/21/10 6:54 AM

Trust me, if I didn't laugh at Sally, my 9 month lab, I'd be in trouble. Humor reminds be that she is not being bad when she is doing something I don't want. I haven't found a way yet to communicate what I want. Maybe not enough repetition, not discovered the right reinforcer, etc. When they say that one should not "try this at home" it should be a warning about how dangerous and damaging these techniques can be to the dogs.

Angela (fun4fido) wrote on 01/21/10 7:14 AM

Nice post Kevin!

I often have new clients bring up the question of sensing energy (because they saw some guy on TV).

As you say dogs don't sense energy. What we humans forget is that dogs are not only masters of observing and learning subtle body language (they are true anthropologists). They also smell subtle changes in body odour; chemical changes.

They are able to put all of these cues and signals together to form a picture of patterns.

It's not rocket science... and it aint magic either! :)

nancy Freedman-SMith CPDT wrote on 01/21/10 7:43 AM

Sorry, I disagree. I don't think "energy" is the end all, but we need to give dogs credit for things we don't totally understand. One of my dogs has the good mojo or energy if you will and he calms dogs just by being in the area, even if he is chilling in a crate. He is not training them, and yes his body language gives them lots of info, but if he wasn't chill, they would know it, even if I taught him to give calming signs. My other dog makes dogs nervous, even when she is being great because she is a bundle of nervous energy. Same as if I have clients in a group class and they are going through the motions and are decent handlers, but are scared s**tless. Dogs sense it. I think there is something to energy and while I don't think it is the end all, I don't think it can be shrugged off. Now don't get me wrong, I think all the done with mirrors stuff on TV is a crime, and I am not talking about being calm assertive , I am talking about those that are in a "good place" and those that are not. Those in the good place can get their point across. For instance one person has a wonderful home life and the other iIt is were me and I was training, it just may not e my best day of getting my point across. Same as if we were in a class room and got the same exact info from 2 dif. people. The nicer less anxious person would get my attention and make learning easier for me. I totally agree with the teaching part of your blog, but I just can't dismiss energy. Same as when we meet dynamic people that we are drawn to them, it is the same for dogs. I think also confidence and lack of confidence is part of the energy that we are referring to. I totally 100 % agree that it is not magic, but after years and years of studying dogs and people, I do think there is something to those that have that a certain "something". I have a neighbor and I have never been in his house. He is always pleasant to me, but there is something about him, an energy if you will, that makes me (and others) not trust him. He never did anything to me, but I am always on my guard around him. He says all the right things, but they ring hollow. Whether he is a "bad" person may or may prove out, but either way, no one trusts him and none of us know why exactly, and I would not do something he asked me to do. I

Nancy Freedman-Smith CPDT wrote on 01/21/10 7:44 AM

Just another little thing. For some dogs like my BC X, laughter is a reward and I have to be careful what I laugh at if I don't want to see it repeated. Don't think that has anything to do with energy.

Kevin Myers wrote on 01/21/10 12:09 PM

Nancy

I do agree that a person (or other animal) confident in their interactions with aniamls can have immensely positive effect on the animals they deal with. True confidence (as opposed to bravado) can almost have an invisible magnetism to it. We are drawn to those who appear confident, we seem to trust them more, and we like being in their presence. However, for me at least, that confidence is conveyed via sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.

I also believe that intuition is rooted in the 5 senses; our eyes, ears, and maybe even our noses are able to pick up clues to intent that are so subtle, they don't really register in the conscious part of our brain. But another part of our brain is triggered by this imperceptible input and we are able to consciously name the suspicion.

In my opinion the impression that Cesar is trying to make about energy is that it is an extra sense that we are able to project and receive; and not part of the 5 senses that we share.

As for the laughing at your dog, I do see where that can be a reinforcer to an unwanted behavior in some cases. But to make a broad statement like that on Twitter to all dog owners who follow him?

Cesar's way seems to imply that training your dog is much more of a battle of wills over dominance, rather than cooperation between partners.

There is a place for fun and laughter in training.

nancy wrote on 01/21/10 9:45 PM

good answer :)

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