Redefining Dog Training by "Letting Go and Letting Dog"

Get it… Let Go & Let Dog?

Obviously its a play off of the saying "let go and let God” but what does it mean?

Let’s start with the original saying and it”s basic meaning?

Spending decades in church I can tell you the original saying discusses abandoning things like control… worry… and entitlement to higher power.

Now I’ll let you discern the details of that based on whichever higher power you believe in (or don’t believe in).

I’ll define what I believe by Redefining Dog Training and “Letting Go and Letting Dog” when it comes to living with our dogs.  It's basically adopting a "welfare-first, lifestyle-based approach that is based on a functional obedience foundation" and enjoying the ride.

We always say that a dog doesn't need a lot of training or help to be a dog... simply because, well, they are dogs.

Instead they need help navigating this crazy existence they find themselves in.  

Much like children (BUT they are not children) our dogs need to be given clear and firm boundaries and then guided to learn "appropriate" behaviors in order to function successfully in society.  

In my opinion these behaviors need to be limited in scope but be clear to understand, relevant, functional, measurable and beneficial to the dog's overall welfare.

Similarly to having total control of your life, total control of our dogs is an illusion.  Yes, we can manage and/or force the dog to a small possibility of failure but that level of management or control can have consequences for us, our dog and most importantly our relationship with them.

On the flip side abandoning responsibility and saying “do whatever you want” has its own set of consequences.

Instead, let’s give them “appropriate” autonomy that is achieved through that set of behaviors that can be "measured".  Notice I said “appropriate” with the word autonomy and “measured” with the word behaviors.  If you’re like me and are a “show me” person, those specific behaviors will be in a future blog post.

Basically what I’m referring too with “Letting Go and Letting Dogs” is simply good stewardship and I think it's been lost on a majority of dog trainers and as a result the dogs they have worked with. 

Stewardship defined refers to "the responsible and careful management or oversight of something entrusted to one's care" and it can apply to various areas, such as the environment, finances, resources, or relationships.  I’m using it more from an "environmental perspective" when discussing dogs.

Environmental Stewardship usually refers to conserving and protecting natural resources, as well as supporting initiatives for wildlife conservation and biodiversity protection while educating others about the importance of environmental stewardship.  This is a great start to approaching that “life with our dogs” that we all want and one we want for our clients.

By "Letting Go and Letting Dog" we are conserving and protecting this amazing species that has coevolved with humans for tens of thousands of years by focusing on dogs welfare.

By "Letting Go and Letting Dog" we are supporting initiatives that allow dogs to express their genetics through the practice of various behaviors and dog sports that are as unique and eclectic as the dogs themselves.

By "Letting Go and Letting Dog" we are educating the public on what appropriate care is, what true welfare looks like, what ethical training is and highlighting the responsibilities and benefits that come with sharing our lives with our dogs.

By “Letting Go and Letting Dog” we are conserving, protecting and advocating for this amazing species as they express their natural behaviors.

By "Letting Go and Letting Dogs" we are giving them a measurable and functional skill set that provides trust that they can be safely recalled, appropriately walked, confidently separated and calmly asked to be still. 

To me, this is what the the "Life with Dogs" is about.

As always thanks for hanging out and digging into the world of dog training with me!

My goal with the The Dog Trainer's Journal is to bring you thoughts from my journey on The Top Dog Project... a lifetime of learning from these amazing creatures we share our lives with.  This 30 year journey from problem dogs to hobby trainer to over a decade as a full time professional dog trainer has been and continues to be a blast, and I'm really honored you've taken the time to read this.

So take what you've learned, try it out with your own pup, and find the joy in working with dogs. I've got more ideas coming your way in the next blog, so keep your eyes peeled!

Thanks!

-John