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Developing a language with your German Shepherd
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For the last 10 years there has been a virtual explosion in books and articles dealing with animal behavior, and training. It has been exciting witnessing this renaissance but difficult to keep up with the flood of information hitting the market. Recently an increasing amount of material has appeared dealing with communication and language. A recurring topic in this column has been the importance of communication and how to develop it with your shepherd. For all German Shepherd owners and trainers, successful communication is an absolute necessity.
In a recent interview conducted by our National Clicker Training Examiner, Eve Alexander, dog trainer Lyssa Howell made the following statement:
"Animals are constantly trying to communicate with us. We need to learn to interpret what they're saying. From my experience working with hundreds of dogs, I have learned to speak dog fluently. Willow (her dog) and I have a language of our own."
Communication theories, as they stand at this time, agree that each individual interprets the world around them in a unique manner that is colored by their initial language learning experiences, the environment in which they exist, and life experiences. Each stimulus (whether it is great or minute) has a hand in forming an individual's personality, how they interpret the world around them, and how they communicate those interpretations to others. Even though the points of commonality are numerous when two members of the same species are communicating, each individual still possesses a uniqueness that can lead to communication breakdown. The more points of reference that these individuals can maintain during communication adds richness to the endeavor and contributes to success. The more attempts at communication made, the more familiar they become with the unique flavor of the other person's personality and style. In the long run this leads to a closer relationship or bonding. This behavior is an absolute necessity for all social creatures in order for them to form pairs, family units, community, and maintain social order. By looking specifically at the terms pairs, family units, community and social order, it can be argued that each is a word used to describe a different communication entity created after successful communication by individuals. As time passes and experience cements the bonding, communication becomes more fluent, less wordy until it seems almost telepathic. In other words each grouping has formed its own language.
A much simpler way of putting it would be: "You talk, you agree or you don't, and you move on together or you don't."
What German Shepherd owners should understand is that everything mentioned above is relevant to human/human, canine/canine, and human/canine communication. There are enough points of commonality present in both the human and canine communication and interpretation systems to make meaningful communication and pair bonding possible. This is well known by just about all experienced dog owners on a visceral level. And, although for some this may be enough, an increasing number of owners and handlers hunger for more. They witness a deeper relationship exhibited by other handlers and dogs and yearn to achieve the same. This can only be achieved by understanding the process and really working at it. Rest assured though that Ms. Howell is correct. Your shepherd is working just as hard at communicating with you. Observe carefully. Interpret intuitively. So what if you anthropomorphize a little bit. Just don't forget the golden rule: A dog is a dog and a human is a human. Your messin' up if you mix 'em up. If you remember that you'll be OK. The rest just requires you to open up to your shepherds world and experience the moment. Leave the worldly cares of the human behind and enjoy.
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