How So Your Dog Behaves Summary
How to Behave So Your Dog Behaves Chapter 4
Dr. Sophia Yin does a great job explaining the logic and reasoning behind why a dog acts the way it does (Yin, 2004). Her book is full of pictures and drawings that show in detail what she is talking about. Chapter four of her book is about learning to understand and read the body language of a dog. She teaches that through careful analysis and observation, a person can learn to quickly pick up on slight signals that communicate how a dog will respond to a situation.
For as long as humans have lived with dogs it is surprising how few people really understand or know how to read their body language. Common myths are that if a dog’s tail is wagging it is friendly, or if a dog’s ears naturally stand up it is more aggressive. While some of the logic may be true you cannot base all of its temperament on one feature. Dogs come in different body shapes and sizes. Some have short curly tails, some have long straight tails, and others have no tails. If a person were to analyze a dog only by its tail the results would not be very accurate or consistent. Fortunately there …show more content…
are many features and body signals to study and analyze on a dog that help us understand what they are communicating (Yin, 2004).
Using charts to record dog body language can help with learning their signals. Dr. Sophia Yin gives two different ways to describe behaviors, first is motor patterns, and second is functional descriptions. Motor patterns is describing how a specific body part is moving, and functional description describes a behavior by its functional purpose. Ethograms are used in the book to organize and record information on dog behavior. There are also many diagrams showing different body positions and movements so the reader can assess their own dog. They closely examine the positions of the ears, eyes, mouth, head, and tail. They suggest that an owner observe their dog while they participate in everyday activities, for one full minute examine one body part, then go on to another one. Watch carefully and notice if their position changes. By doing so you will become more aware of how often your dog changes positions and will become quicker at reading their body language. As you read their body language and notice how they interact with other people and dogs, you will be able to predict how they will react with others just by reading their body language (Yin, 2004).
Not only is it important to know how to read dogs body language, but it also is important to know how to use your body language to communicate with dogs.
Direct eye contact is rewarded in human society, but in the dog world it is aggressive and threatening. Another common mistake is bending over a dog to pet it. This is a dominant gesture and can make the dog feel uncomfortable or threatened. Reaching out towards a dog you do not know in a grabbing motion is also a mistake, make sure to calmly reach out with your palms up and allow them to smell you first. As a whole humans like hugs, likewise the majority of dogs prefer not to be hugged. We sometimes feel like we are showing how much we love them by hugging them, but we really are annoying and/or threatening them. By knowing how to use your body language you can better communicate with your dog (Miller,
2013).
Learn to Listen to Dog Language, an article by Melissa Pierson goes more into depth and explains how little motions and movements can make a huge difference in communication. A lot of her work and explanations are closely related to Dr. Yin’s, and she comes to the same conclusion. It is important to bridge the gap between dogs and humans, by learning to communicate misunderstandings can be avoided and life will be much more enjoyable with your pet (Melissa 2015). Another article by Sindya Bhanoo, called Reading Body Language, Dogs Are Like Infants talks about how dogs have the same brain function that babies 6 months to a year old have. The way they read your body language and intentions is the same. Since not all dogs understand words and commands body language is the best tool to use when first communicating with them. Remembering that they have the brain function of infants is also important when training them, sometimes it may seem like they are trying to disobey, but they might not understand what you want them to do. Communication is key in building a bond with them and training (Bhanoo, 2012).
Every time a person interacts with a dog they are essentially training each other. Imagine you are taking your dog for a walk, if you allow him to constantly pull you the entire time you are telling him that his behavior is acceptable and he’s training you to allow him to behave like that. In order to change the dogs’ behavior you are going to have to change how you interact with him. Owners need to understand that by not doing anything about their pets’ behavior problems they are teaching them it is okay to act like that. Dr. Sophia Yin focus on two types of learning strategies, classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Classical conditioning is learning by association, and operant conditioning is learning by trial and error. These strategies can be used on almost any pet (Yin, 2004). A better walk: Training dogs NOT to lunge, growl and pull on a leash by Wayne Hunthausen, uses the classical conditioning method to train dogs how to go for a walk. This method uses positive reinforcement to teach them what behavior is appropriate (Hunthausen, 2015). A lot of the guide lines he uses follows what Dr. Yin says in her book.
All in all, How to Behave So Your Dog Behaves is a very informative and useful book (Yin, 2004). Her methods for training are scientific and nonviolent. She teaches the owner how to change their behavior to communicate with their dog. Most books are all about how to change your dog and make him obey you, she focus on how to change your methods then the dog will understand and be more receptive to you. By learning to read and express body language and signals communicating with you dog and others will be much easier. Knowing the methods to train your dog such a classical conditioning are important when asserting yourself as pack leader. Bridging the gap between man and dog is possible; with attention to detail and consistent training it can be done.
Dr. Sophia Yin does a great job explaining the logic and reasoning behind why a dog acts the way it does (Yin, 2004). Her book is full of pictures and drawings that show in detail what she is talking about. Chapter four of her book is about learning to understand and read the body language of a dog. She teaches that through careful analysis and observation, a person can learn to quickly pick up on slight signals that communicate how a dog will respond to a situation.
For as long as humans have lived with dogs it is surprising how few people really understand or know how to read their body language. Common myths are that if a dog’s tail is wagging it is friendly, or if a dog’s ears naturally stand up it is more aggressive. While some of the logic may be true you cannot base all of its temperament on one feature. Dogs come in different body shapes and sizes. Some have short curly tails, some have long straight tails, and others have no tails. If a person were to analyze a dog only by its tail the results would not be very accurate or consistent. Fortunately there …show more content…
are many features and body signals to study and analyze on a dog that help us understand what they are communicating (Yin, 2004).
Using charts to record dog body language can help with learning their signals. Dr. Sophia Yin gives two different ways to describe behaviors, first is motor patterns, and second is functional descriptions. Motor patterns is describing how a specific body part is moving, and functional description describes a behavior by its functional purpose. Ethograms are used in the book to organize and record information on dog behavior. There are also many diagrams showing different body positions and movements so the reader can assess their own dog. They closely examine the positions of the ears, eyes, mouth, head, and tail. They suggest that an owner observe their dog while they participate in everyday activities, for one full minute examine one body part, then go on to another one. Watch carefully and notice if their position changes. By doing so you will become more aware of how often your dog changes positions and will become quicker at reading their body language. As you read their body language and notice how they interact with other people and dogs, you will be able to predict how they will react with others just by reading their body language (Yin, 2004).
Not only is it important to know how to read dogs body language, but it also is important to know how to use your body language to communicate with dogs.
Direct eye contact is rewarded in human society, but in the dog world it is aggressive and threatening. Another common mistake is bending over a dog to pet it. This is a dominant gesture and can make the dog feel uncomfortable or threatened. Reaching out towards a dog you do not know in a grabbing motion is also a mistake, make sure to calmly reach out with your palms up and allow them to smell you first. As a whole humans like hugs, likewise the majority of dogs prefer not to be hugged. We sometimes feel like we are showing how much we love them by hugging them, but we really are annoying and/or threatening them. By knowing how to use your body language you can better communicate with your dog (Miller,
2013).
Learn to Listen to Dog Language, an article by Melissa Pierson goes more into depth and explains how little motions and movements can make a huge difference in communication. A lot of her work and explanations are closely related to Dr. Yin’s, and she comes to the same conclusion. It is important to bridge the gap between dogs and humans, by learning to communicate misunderstandings can be avoided and life will be much more enjoyable with your pet (Melissa 2015). Another article by Sindya Bhanoo, called Reading Body Language, Dogs Are Like Infants talks about how dogs have the same brain function that babies 6 months to a year old have. The way they read your body language and intentions is the same. Since not all dogs understand words and commands body language is the best tool to use when first communicating with them. Remembering that they have the brain function of infants is also important when training them, sometimes it may seem like they are trying to disobey, but they might not understand what you want them to do. Communication is key in building a bond with them and training (Bhanoo, 2012).
Every time a person interacts with a dog they are essentially training each other. Imagine you are taking your dog for a walk, if you allow him to constantly pull you the entire time you are telling him that his behavior is acceptable and he’s training you to allow him to behave like that. In order to change the dogs’ behavior you are going to have to change how you interact with him. Owners need to understand that by not doing anything about their pets’ behavior problems they are teaching them it is okay to act like that. Dr. Sophia Yin focus on two types of learning strategies, classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Classical conditioning is learning by association, and operant conditioning is learning by trial and error. These strategies can be used on almost any pet (Yin, 2004). A better walk: Training dogs NOT to lunge, growl and pull on a leash by Wayne Hunthausen, uses the classical conditioning method to train dogs how to go for a walk. This method uses positive reinforcement to teach them what behavior is appropriate (Hunthausen, 2015). A lot of the guide lines he uses follows what Dr. Yin says in her book.
All in all, How to Behave So Your Dog Behaves is a very informative and useful book (Yin, 2004). Her methods for training are scientific and nonviolent. She teaches the owner how to change their behavior to communicate with their dog. Most books are all about how to change your dog and make him obey you, she focus on how to change your methods then the dog will understand and be more receptive to you. By learning to read and express body language and signals communicating with you dog and others will be much easier. Knowing the methods to train your dog such a classical conditioning are important when asserting yourself as pack leader. Bridging the gap between man and dog is possible; with attention to detail and consistent training it can be done.