Let dogs be dogs
When you meet my dog, or a dog I’ve trained, you might notice something: they’re calm. They walk politely. They don’t leap on strangers, chase every squirrel, or bark at every passerby. And yet—they’re not robots. They’re still dogs. What they've learned is how to make better choices.
To me, “good behavioral dog training” isn’t about forcing your dog to ignore who they are. Instead, I believe it’s about teaching them how to live in our human world in a safe, mutually respectful, and peaceful way. My goal is to help them control their instincts, not suppress them.
First off: I’m not encouraging my dogs to be over-the-top friendly with strangers. On a walk or out in public, I rarely let strangers pet them, and never allow strangers to feed them. That’s not because dogs can’t be social, but because boundaries matter. What I want is for them to leave strangers alone—to be comfortable but not intrusive. That’s a natural mindset for a balanced dog.
Secondly: I don’t train them to “avoid” or “ignore” squirrels, birds, other dogs, etc. Instead, they learn not to hunt, chase, attack, or interact with them—unless I explicitly allow it. When your dog sees you as a leader, this becomes simple. They learn their role: to follow. The result? Peaceful coexistence.
Finally: when guests come to my house, I don’t make my dogs act like a social butterflies. My house is my space, and visitors are my guests. Dogs are taught to leave guests alone, unless I tell them otherwise. That’s logical. That’s respectful. That’s balance. Balanced, well-trained dogs seem to instinctively understand: life is easier and safer when the pack is cooperative.
Why “Modern Methods” Often Miss the Mark
You’ll often hear modern trainers talk about “counter-conditioning” or “redirecting” a dog’s natural behavior. The idea is: if the dog does something unwanted, try to change that behavior by offering the dog something more appealing as an "alternative behavior".
In theory, there’s some logic there—but in practice, it often fails. Dogs don’t learn that well from being “redirected” from their instincts all the time. They don’t easily learn to behave calmly when their impulses are constantly being suppressed or redirected. Worse, these approaches can create confusion or frustration.
Instead, I believe a better path is to respect a dog’s nature, and teach them how to control thier behavior by making better choices in a safe, rational, and humane way. My dogs aren't robots; they choose to follow and obey, because they trust the structure and trust me. After all—why train a dog to merely perform? Why not help them become happier, better-balanced; allow them to be dogs, but with good, safe behavior and obedience?
It's About Who You Are to Your Dog
At the heart of this philosophy is who you are to your dog. If your dog sees you as fair, consistent, trustworthy, and safe, they’ll look to you for guidance. They’ll be okay letting the world be the world—because they know they can trust your decisions in it. However, if your leadership is shaky—too inconsistent or confusing—the dog will test more, worry more, act out more. It's about who you are to your dog. How your dog sees you is what matters.
How My Dog Training Looks in Real Life
In my everyday work, here’s how I put this into action: On walks, I set clear boundaries about when they can engage and when they can’t. I teach them to be peaceful: noticing birds, other dogs, squirrels—but not lunging, chasing, or obsessing. When guests come by, I don’t "force" them to interact with my guests. They learn to mind their own business-it's possible they won't interact with my guests at all.
If something triggers them, I don’t panic or overcorrect—I guide them, reminding them: “Hey, I’ve got this.” In this way, I reinforce the idea that their impulses are okay while maintaining the ability to control them. The objective is to teach them to trust my decisions and control their instincts - not extinguish them.
Results You’ll Actually See
What I want is a dog who:
- hangs out with me without needing constant corrections
- coexists peacefully with people, animals, noises
- is calm and obedient around visitors or unfamiliar environments
- feels like a true companion instead of a wild animal I'm “managing”
Summary
So here’s the bottom line: good training is not about destroying dogs' instincts. Leadership is more powerful than instincts. That means:
- recognizing their nature
- respecting their impulses
- setting boundaries
- providing consistent leadership
- guiding them to acceptable behavior instead of suppressing their spirit
And remember: Who you are to your dog is EVERYTHING.
Shawn Hines
~ Nov 23, 2018