Communication is a Two Way Process
Change is difficult for our
dogs and us. Going into areas outside our comfort zone is a challenge within
itself. When we ask our dogs to do it, we are also challenging ourselves in the
way we look at and see our dogs in a new light.
We battle with learning a
new skill, while our bodies and mind want to do what is familiar with what
works, sometimes instinct takes over. Our bodies are on autopilot, moving in a
familiar pattern with keeping our balance and at the same time keeping us safe.
The change in your dog’s
movements whilst stepping up and over, walking through and standing still with exercises on the ground, are
all sensory inputs that your dog is experiencing on the sensory level.
The new skills that you are
learning with the way you relate to your dog, stroking the leash, two points of
contact, touch, moving your body to support your dog in moving, standing or
inviting them to move out of their ‘stuckness’, is effecting you on the sensory
level too.
Sometimes, the change within
our dogs is so slight – the way they hold their tail, the lifting of the head,
the bending of a knee or hock joint, the placing of the feet – all indicating
that change is happening.
Within the physical
challenges, the brain is receiving sensory information of changes happening at
the cellular level. The brain then processes this new information, and starts
to set up new pathways in the brain, as new learning is happening. This whole new infra structure takes, in a human brain, 30 days of doing the new exercises daily. I personally feel with dogs the time it takes is shorter.
An example would be to see
how they manoeuvre on a short flight of steps. How does your dog do these at the
moment? See what they do and then, ask them to stand before moving onto the
step, whether up or down. Help them move a little bit slower. Can they do that?
What do they struggle with? How does their body cope with the change of pace?
Do they bunny hop or use their legs independently to step up or step down?
Do the exercise a few times,
and then leave it until the next day. See what change there is the next day. It
may be slight it may be more obvious however, there will be change not only on
the physical level but mentally too.
Taking time outs to allow
our brains and bodies to process information is so conducive to learning.
Standing and allowing the
dog to take in what is going on gives us the opportunity to ‘see and listen’
with how the dog is coping and responding.
How are you coping and
responding?
As sensory information is relayed to many areas of the brain
associated with emotional processing, we often see shifts in a dog from an
unfocused, anxious state to a more calm and focused state.
As information is processed in our brains and we see change
happen and we become more adaptive, we become more focused, less anxious and
more relaxed with our new learning.
Our communication with our dogs becomes empathetic,
sensitive, observant and mindful.
Jane
Inspiring You to Empower Your Dog to Reach Their Full Potential
