Canine Communication – It’s About Time — Hutson Heritage | Bird Dog Training & Outdoor Experiences

“Man’s best friend”. A term coined by George Vest in the United States Supreme Court over one hundred and fifty years ago. In the time that has transpired over those many decades, women have come to know the “…one absolute, unselfish friend that (people) can have in this selfish world—the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous—is (their) dog.” – George Vest, (adjusted for contemporary readership). Indeed, for thousands of years, people have trusted canines to feed and protect their family unit.

In the 1920’s the number of those living in cities surpassed those in a rural setting. Currently, about 80% of Americans live in an urban environment. Years of urbanization have separated many from dogs or situationally revised their roles to merely fluff and show. A generation, or more, removed from having continual canine connection has eroded our ability to read canine cues.

In recent years, there seems to be an increased interest in the joy of sharing a cooperative task with a well-mannered canine. There are few that can compare to what can be experienced in an upland autumn setting. Some may seek guidance in the form of books, periodicals, or, more likely, the internet. Referring to the latter, all but the extremely naïve realize that that media can be a double-edged sword.

There are plenty of media choices - choose carefully.

A dog that has put its best effort into a cause is remembered fondly and invited to return. Conversely, a dog poorly trained and misunderstood that recklessly races through forest and field, leaving wildly flushing birds and a hollering, red-faced, owner in it’s wake is worse than no dog at all! No amount of hunting success can salvage the loss in terms of the hunt’s esthetical pleasures.

Folks, in many ways, it is so much simpler than it seems. Consider this, the most amazing interrelationship between species began on the simplest of terms. Merely a point, a grunt and a growl!

For more than the reasons previously mentioned, humankind has moved further from true understanding of our canine friends. How could it not? Humans continue to develop mega-means of communication that is completely foreign to all other creatures. Dogs, in their own way, have continued to study human behavior and cues. Indeed, they have likely increased in this ability as much as humans have diminished.

Some may misread this dog’s expression as affection, admiration - even love. The young setter is more likely picking up information from my reaction to his first pointed and retrieved rooster.

Humans are, for the most part, verbal (words); using gestures to reinforce. Dogs predominately communicate through gestures (and scent); using sounds to reinforce. Rather than trying to actually view the world from the dog’s point of view, there has been a tendency to view the relationship in reverse. We began attributing human thoughts, even emotions, to the canid life view. Applying verbs such as feeling, saying, and telling to describe a dog’s actions and mannerisms is basically lazy and, taken to the extreme, can be hazardous. Reading and correctly interpreting body language isn’t difficult but it does take effort.

To be as kind to a dog as you would a child is humane and preferable. To accept them as children, in a literal sense, can be – well, a bit misguided, perhaps? Allow me to demonstrate.

Take, for example, a sprite of a dog that was characterized by its owner as quirky and, at times, aloof. When called, sometimes it would respond kindly and sometimes it would turn its back to you and sit. “Oh, she’s (dog) just sulking because…” was the owner’s interpretation. When excited, the dog was exaggeratedly loud and agitated. “Oh, she (dog) is so excited to tell me…”! Again, was the owner’s point of view.

After observing the dog’s actions for a few minutes, I walked up behind it and clapped my hands – loudly - right behind the dog’s head! The dog gave no response - she was stone deaf! The dog had gotten pretty good at facing humans to read them and, by itself, the loss of hearing was not a great disability. By wrongly projecting human thoughts and emotion into the dog’s actions the human component had created incredible hurdles for the dog to overcome. How frustrating for the dog!

To remove one’s self (emotions) from the interpretation may seem difficult for some. To further illustrate, let me add an epilogue to the previous example. You see, the dog lived in an apartment complex and, due to its proclivity toward loud behavior, was prescribed medication to “calm her nerves”. Relying on the owner’s background information, the well-educated veterinarian had not diagnosed the dog’s disability and only treated the symptom(s) – for four years!

Take note, not only was the perception typically human but so was the response – medication! Perhaps, now you understand that lessening or removing the tendency to place purely human emotion upon a canine companion is to reach a closer, healthier, bond? Indeed, to think like a dog is the most honest and real form of caring.

With a glance, the setter, (above) cues the message to the border collie, (lower).

Accepting a subordinate position, the border collie displays a desire for the object. The setter is confirming its dominate position by showing the object to the collie.

Like making the effort to learn another culture’s signs or language, you are broadening your scope of true understanding. To christen a canine with the ability to think like a human is pulling in the wrong direction. We have the ability to decipher what the dog is communicating to us and it is virtually impossible for the dog to communicate the way we do. To be effective, we don’t meet a dog half-way, we must reach for them by learning to observe canine cues. Taking time to observe, while removing the temptation to assign your personal bias, is necessary if there is to be a solid connection between the two. I guarantee that your dog is doing its part already!

“I’ll bite” you say, (pun unintended). “What’s the trick to make this happen”? As I have previously hinted, it’s not a trick - it’s time. Yes, the real treatment is - time and observation. Begin simply by using “showing” to replace “telling” in mental reference to canine communication. The more time you spend with your dog, (Relationship-Based Methodology) the greater the increase.

There is another well documented societal issue that hampers our efforts – impatience. This characteristic often plagues our outdoor sport as well; we must have everything - now! Get off the aircraft, guide me to the spot, shoot (or catch) critters and get me back. For many gun dogs that has meant, send them off to a training facility for six weeks (the most impressionable ones, usually) and expect it back - with the keys!

A dog isn’t a machine. You don’t just have someone add the accessories and drive it away! However, given the majority of our life situations, a training facility may be the best place to start. In fact, if it is your first pup and you’re living situation does not allow for training, a training facility should be considered essential! Seek those with decades of experience specifically in the type of dog you see as ideal then learn with your dog. A trainer that is willing, or insists, to have you present is your best ticket to develop personal and effective interaction with your canine companion. Without your involvement in the process, the dog may go through the paces but that communication gap still persists.

Solid eye-contact during training shows this dog is a willing student.

I insure that dog owners are involved in the training process by assigning practices that they can do with the dog while at home. With the owner’s involvement, and the right instruction, the owner will be able to note key moments in the process. Moments of dog-related cues that indicate, and even predict, a dog’s behavioral response. Dogs being somewhat individualistic, there are few cookie-cutter training practices that work on all dogs – all of the time. Experienced trainers have developed the ability to read dog behavior and can develop training practices specific to the dog. This experience is worth a great deal and, yet, most trainers are willing to share that knowledge with a client.

Perhaps, you have the means to keep your dog(s) at such a facility or the lack of time or training area determines that the dog-only training arrangement is preferable. Taking the dog for an annual maintenance trip to the trainer – or leaving it there – may work better for you. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that. However, I suspect that, for many gun dog owners, annual visits to the trainer would place a strain on the budget. All the more reason for you to learn these valuable maintenance skills.

To avoid confrontation, the younger tri-color setter avoids eye-contact with dominant brown and white setter trying to steal attention away.

Like a tell in poker - ear position, a yawn, or flagging tail - these gestures are all clues toward what the dog is experiencing. A clever secret between friends, the intercommunication becomes the greater part of the overall experience. Seen by the dog as its sole source for resource is a very powerful position, meet your dog’s needs by taking the time to observe what the dog is showing you. For those that take the time, greater enjoyment with your dog awaits - Enjoy Your Dog!