Zen and the art of companion dog training

Bonding versus mechanics

The most common questions new dog trainers ask regarding where to start with training their dog obedience/manners are about the special commands (the “magic words”) to give the dog, what leash and collar combination is best, all to understand how to get the dog behaving and responding the way they want.

These mechanics of dog training are definitely matters to carefully consider and understand – and instructors certainly do need teach all of these elements as groundwork - and we do need to get this right.

However, the mechanics of commands (or, rather, cues) and tools are not the first thing to start training – what must come before that - and stay with you and your dog throughout training – and even trialing – is building the relationship, bond and trust with your dog.

In my introduction to my first class with beginners I refer to this as “being your dog’s best friend”[2] and building that bond of trust – this is what I refer to as “Doggie Zen”[3].

I have seen far too many experienced trainers whose dogs pay them no attention on a walk or just look plain unhappy in the trial ring. This is not a natural state for dogs and not how they flourish as companions. Yes, I do appreciate dog breed and age variations, in fact very many owners I work with have rescue dogs of multiple mixed breeds – commonly of between 12 months and 5 years old when adopted – and of unknown past and complex reactions to the environment and following cues.

My message is that you can overcome at least a significant portion of this less than perfect start to a dog’s life in these cases, but, holding the “Zen” idea and progressing slowly to teach your adopted dog that they really can trust you will take time – be patient, consistent and, above all, be caring and sensitive to the dog’s personality.

Now – the trick is that this bond and trust will not just come, first and foremost, through the mechanics of tools and cues, but rather through the relationship building between handler and dog[4].

If you read books on dog training or watch videos by “expert trainers”, it is very easy to get the impression that all dog training - and even dog behavior management - is simply learning the right “commands” or gestures and using certain tools in the correct order with the correct guardian’s body stance and attitude to life – that is – the “mechanics” of dog management and training.

This is very often oversimplified to being told when to reward and when to reprimand – or even punish – the dog. I am definitely not saying that those trainers and those techniques are always wrong in everything they suggest – I also make videos on how to train to specific outcomes. I simply wish to reinforce that what must come first - and be maintained – is the bond and trust – such that simply being with you and paying attention to you is the dog’s greatest desire and reward. To the cynics who are thinking, “Yeah right, the dog is just looking for the next treat” – you need to work harder at bonding and trust with your dog (and learn more about training, staging, conditioned reinforcers and intermittent phasing of rewards).

You, as guardian, have the dog’s best interests at heart and will supply, not just sustenance, but fun, adventure, mental stimulation, safety and affection – and they can relax in your presence. They know – from experience – that you will do nothing untoward – nothing that will harm or frighten them. Dogs who have this are the ones who look their owners in the eye and seem to say “Hey – what’s the plan? I am so happy to be here with you! What are we going to do now? Just chill - or go on an adventure – I can detect some great smells – can I go explore – or will we sit and snuggle?”

So – in our very first session at “beginner training” - I have all the new dog trainers sit on a mat on the ground with their dog lying beside them and I describe “Doggie Zen”. We sit quietly and guardians’ stroke and touch their dogs – they start to hold the dog’s front paws (and release) and later the dog’s hind paws. They stroke the ears and lift them to examine inside, they touch the mouth and eventually open the mouth to examine the teeth and gums – all without force, without restraint. Just a willing dog. Every contact is done slowly, with care, consideration and affection. Every contact is relaxing and pleasant. Obviously, the progression of touching and handling paws, ears and mouth are not all achieved in a single session, but practiced over time and repeated opportunities.

Now – if that all sounds rather soft and mushy and a bit “woo woo” to you, then consider the following. These actions you are rehearsing have three major positive impacts in dog training and handling.

Summary of benefits of doggie zen

Greg describing Doggie Zen to a Class and demonstrating with his Landseer Newfoundland.

The overarching benefit is that your dog will learn to want to cooperate across all animal husbandry events and your dog learns when to be calm and relaxed and when finished the Zen calm, to ramp up the excitement for the training session or the beach or park walk.

The first benefit is that this development of trust adds weight to a willingness and enthusiasm in the dog to train and learn – essentially to cooperate and please you.

The second benefit is the very practical application in subsequent dog management (or animal husbandry) such as toe nail clipping, checking teeth, administering pills or medication, grooming, removing knots in the coat of long-haired dogs, checking ears, quickly removing from the dog’s mouth some dangerous object, checking various tricky places pests, such as ticks, can lodge themselves and cause major harm.

By the way - your vet will love the fact that your dog is trained in Doggie Zen!

If this Zen technique is taught from the start, then a dog’s fears of toe nail clippers, looking for a damaged foot pad, or checking ears and teeth, become irrational and are unlikely to develop. Of course, at the start, a few treats administered judiciously to a nervous dog can help. The key is the pace and calmness – take the learnings at the dog’s own pace, don’t push it.

The third benefit to your dog training in practicing my “Doggie Zen” is teaching the dog when to be calm and relaxed and when to ramp up the excitement level.

If you watch expert trainers working everything from obedience, agility trials to police and military “detection and bite work” – you will see that the best and most successful trainers have this approach down pat – they probably don’t call it Doggie Zen – they may call it something like “animal husbandry”, “concept training”, "bonding", “good dog handling” - or not give it a name other than to state “my dog is a really nice dog, great with my kids and can sit quietly with my family, but highly skilled and can leap into action with great vigor when required” – but either way it is what I call “Doggie Zen” and an essential foundation to companion dog training – in fact, I would venture, all dog training.

Do yourself and your dog the greatest favour and become your dog’s best friend from the outset – put this before and above the mechanics of training – don’t just be a “dog technician”.

Bask in the rewards your dog will deliver and enjoy the benefits of easier and more effective training of a dog so willing to please you based on Doggie Zen.

References​​

[1] With due acknowledgement of Pirsig, R. (1979) Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values; NY: William Morrow Publishing Co.: Republ. 2014 by Vintage Arrow - Mass Market; 40th Anniversary Ed.: 432pp.

[2] Reversing the well used phrase of "Man's Best Friend" is not this author's invention - but the phraseology is used unapologetically as it captures well the intent of building a mindset foundation for all dog training. The phrase has been famously used in Monks of New Skete (2004) How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend: The Classic Manual for Dog Owners; Revised 2nd ed. (1st publ. 1998); Little, Brown US; 352pp; more recently picked up by Bulay, E. (2023) How to be Your Dog’s Best Friend; Thames & Hudson Ltd, UK; 96pp: and no doubt reflected elsewhere.

[3] Mark Vette has taken the Zen concept as applied to animals (dogs in particular) in the training and managing behaviour challenges to another level – those interested should read the following books: Vette, M. (2017) Dog Zen: Everything You Need to Know to Transform Your Dog; Random House NZ; 400pp: (2019) Puppy Zen: Eight Weeks to Train Your Pup and Create a Lifelong Bond; Random House NZ; 432pp:  (2020) Zen Heart: What I've Learned From Animals and Life; Random House NZ; 304pp. The intent here is simply to separate the mechanics of dog training from the relationship, bond and trust elements and put those elements first and above equipment and training regimes.

[4] Donaldson, J. (2013) The Culture Clash: A revolutionary new way of understanding the relationship between humans and domestic dogs; Dogwise Pub.; USA; 251pp; Ch1: does not credit dogs with a desire to please or bond with a guardian. I disagree.