A Trainer Whose Dogs Don’t Listen • Your Happy Dog Coach

As a trainer, I often feel extremely judged by the behaviours of my dogs.
Whether I am or not is almost irrelevant, I still feel like I am.

Why?

Because as a professional dog trainer, I should have my dogs under complete control at all times, right?
They should be more obedient than the average dog, shouldn’t they?
I am educated, certified, and skilled, after all… aren’t I?

Well, yes, I am, and that’s why I don’t expect my dogs to always listen.

(Wait… what? Make it make sense…)

Ok, hear me out…

We used to believe that it’s all in how you raised them, and that every dog could be taught to obey and listen if you make them know that you’re their master.

Thankfully, the more we know, the more we understand, and the more we realize that's just not how it works.

Or at least, that shouldn't be how it works.

My own two dogs are prime examples of this.

Both of my girls are Northern Canadian Rescues.

Comparison picture of Your Happy Dog Coach's Kitchi to show the growth between March and October of the same year — Kitchi in March vs October of 2020

Kitchi has a complete unknown history, being found alone when she was young on a fly in reserve in Northern Manitoba. Three vets aged her at “about a year” based on the amount of plaque on her adult teeth, but she more than doubled in size in the first two months of living with us so I suspect she was much younger.

Casey was born to a dog in Iqaluit who was owned, but her paternity was unknown and her mother was just a local dog herself who was found and claimed by a local community member as their own. That’s how it often works in Northern Canada.

Neither dog was “bred“. They are what we call “Free-Ranging Dogs” or “Village Dogs”. Their genetic history is completely unknown and their existence totally unplanned by humans.

They are now pets who live with me and love their lives, but for me to expect them to act the same as a dog who was intentionally bred by those who know the lineage and genetics of their parents is quite frankly unrealistic.

Fun Fact: over 75% of the worlds population of dogs are un-own and “free roaming”.

Both of my dogs love me. They are extremely bonded to me and we have a very connected relationship. (I’m not just tooting my own horn here, anyone who knows us will attest to this.) But that does not mean that they listen to me all of the time.

My best example of this is with Casey.
With 23 breeds found in her DNA test, and knowing that she descended from free-roaming dogs in Iqaluit, when Casey decides to explore the environment around her (like our neighbors yards), while looking over her shoulder at me as I call for her, I know that’s not an obedience issue. I know that is a result of her genetics. It would be unfair, to her and to myself, for me to expect her to listen like a well bred Golden Retriever whose entire lineage can be tracked back generation after generation.

Kitchi is another example. She is a reactive dog. Note I didn’t say aggressive… but I used the term reactive. Those are not the same thing. I don’t know if it’s from her puppy-hood socialization period where she was completely on her own to figure things out, or if it’s from her own unknown genetic makeup of her 17 DNA detected breeds, but it’s there. When she sees other dogs, especially when those other dogs are playing, she barks, whines, lunges, and would absolutely bolt towards them if given the opportunity, regardless of what I was doing, saying, or holding. She wouldn’t do this to hurt anyone, but because she wants to run and play and wrestle… in an unwelcoming canine way, which could lead to altercations where someone (likely her) would get hurt.

Again, two Northern dogs, but completely different in personality and genetics.

These are both behaviours that we can work on, of course. With consistency, patience, and regular, careful training sessions, we can work on both Casey’s tendency to roam and Kitchi’s reactivity as a “frustrated greeter” towards other dogs. And we do. But I also understand where my dogs behaviour is coming from (as well as the dogs that I work with). I don’t get angry or upset when they do things that others likely judge me for, like running off and not recalling, or lunging, pulling, and barking towards another dog, because I know that their behaviors are innate deep down in their genetic makeup. So much of what they do that is “disobedient” is literally imprinted in their DNA. I will not be able to train that out of them completely, no matter the training efforts, unless I am willing to have them fear me and shut down a part of themselves, which I am not willing to do.

What I can do is try to ensure their safety and the safety of others. I can also ensure that they have enough opportunities to express those innate, genetic needs. I make sure that Kitchi can run and play and chase and wrestle with other dogs who are matched in temperament, playstyle, size, and personality, while I keep a close eye on body language to intervene if and when necessary. I can ensure that Casey has lots of opportunities to explore and sniff and observe the world around her. I can meet their needs while also keeping them safe.

That’s all I want for my dogs, and for all dogs.
To be safe, loved, and have everyone’s needs met, including their total welfare needs.

As a trainer, I often feel extremely judged by the behaviours of my dogs.Whether I am or not is almost irrelevant, I still feel like I am.