Humans and dogs experience the world through a very different combination of senses. To most humans, sight is the most important sense, followed by touch, sound, and smell. For dogs, the order is smell, sight, sound, and then touch, with a dog’s sense of smell being by far the most important. The easy way to […]
As descendants of wolves, dogs are instinctual pack animals. They instinctually seek to join whatever pack is nearby. This explains why dogs can get along so well with so many other animals, especially other pack or herd animals like horses, cows, and sheep. There’s even at least one case of a dog and elephant becoming […]
‘To dogs,’ says Cesar, ‘energy is everything.’ Because dogs communicate with energy, our personal energy plays a central role in our relationship with them. Dogs are our mirrors, reflecting back in their behavior the energy we express. If we are hyperactive and over-excited, our dogs will be the same; if we are tense and angry, […]
A balanced dog is one that is fulfilled in all three aspects of its being: body, mind, and heart. In nature, dogs instinctively find that balance. When dogs live in the human world, however, it’s up to us to ensure that they get that balance. Humans and dogs both have instinctual, intellectual and emotional dimensions. […]
In nature, when a dog in a pack shows excited or unbalanced energy, the entire pack takes it as a warning of impending danger. It’s remarkable how quickly a sleeping pack of dogs will go on high alert when one dog barks! And it is just as remarkable how quickly the pack settles down when […]
As humans, we experience time differently than dogs do. We’re constantly aware not only of the present, but of past and future. For many of us, that’s where feelings like shame, guilt or regret (past) and fear or anxiety (future) arise. Dogs, on the other paw, live only in the present ‘ in the moment. […]
Cesar says that humans tell stories, while dogs tell the truth. It isn’t until we listen to the truth that our dog is telling us that we can figure out what’s going on and bring balance to the pack. For example, if your dog is constantly pulling paper out of the trash and scattering it […]
A dog sees itself in this order: animal, species, breed, and then name. The first two are a part of what a dog is by nature; the last two were created by humans. We run into difficulties with our dogs when we try to treat them primarily as breed and name. Working with Mother Nature […]
Because dogs are animals and species first, they all share a common set of instincts. They are connected to nature, live in the moment, communicate with energy and, as pack animals, seek calm and assertive leadership. Consider Instincts of a Dog Breed Although the animal and species instincts are common to all dogs, their breeds […]
The 4th Natural Dog Law tells us that a dog’s senses form her reality. She perceives the world through her nose, eyes, and ears (in that order). That’s very different from our human way of eyes, ears and nose. Mind Your Dog Manners That means if we’re not thoughtful in the way we meet and […]
