Terry's Tips > Client Communication - Why Are You Blaming the Dog?

If we cannot get our ideas across to pet owners, we are not going to be able to help them, or their dogs. It's good to have a variety of ways to talk to your clients when they are frustrated with their dogs. Here are the analogies used by three different instructors* when their students complain about their dogs:

When a dog misbehaves, the owner might tell you that:

"My dog...

• Is stupid"
• Doesn't obey me"
• Is stubborn"
• Is dominant"
• Is getting even with me"
• Doesn't mind me"
• Is doing this for spite"
• Is Alpha"
• Is bad"

There is usually a very good reason the dog does not comply. And it's rarely one of the reasons listed above. It's usually because the dog does not understand. He has not learned in black and white. Maybe the owner isn't doing a good job of communicating with his dog, or YOU are not doing a good job communicating with your student. Or both.

When Mr. Smith makes one of the above comments to you, use one of these human analogies to help him understand what his dog Buffy is thinking.

MR. SMITH, WILL YOU SIT IF I GIVE YOU $100.00?

Ask Mr. Smith if he would sit in a chair if you gave him $100.00. He will probably say "Yes, I'd be happy to do that behavior for you." Then ask Mr. Smith to think up reasons why he might not sit in the chair as you requested. Here are some of his possible answers:

• "I didn't hear the instructions"
• "Isn't that the boogey man hiding under the chair?"
• "I don't understand the language you are speaking"
• "I didn't understand that you would really give me $100.00"
• "I sat on a chair just like that and it broke, thus frightening me"
• "My back hurts really badly preventing me from sitting"
• "I just won the lottery and don't need $100.00"
• "I'd rather go sit on the couch because Mr. Jones will give me $150.00 for doing so."
• "I'd like to, but I have to go to the toilet and can't do anything else right now"

MR. SMITH, WHEN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT IS RED, DO YOU STOP YOUR CAR?

Ask Mr. Smith if he stops at red lights. He will probably say "Yes, of course". Then ask Mr. Smith to think up reasons why he might not stop at the red light. Here are some of his possible answers:

• "Where I learned to drive, you stop on a purple light, I'm in a habit"
• "My foot had a cramp in it"
• "I didn't see the light"
• "There were no policemen watching"
• "The car behind me pushed me forward"
• "My eyesight is failing"
• "A tree limb was in the way"
• "I was watching a cute puppy playing in a nearby yard"
• "Why bother, there's not another car in sight"

MR. SMITH, DO YOU KNOW HOW TO TYPE?

It's rare that you find anyone that doesn't know how to use a keyboard. Most people think they are pretty good at it too. If Mr. Smith says "Yes", ask if he ever strikes the wrong key. He will have to say "Yes". Ask Mr. Smith if the fact that he made a typographical error is because he is:

• stupid
• non compliant with rules
• stubborn
• dominant
• getting even with someone
• doesn't want to get the job done
• doing this for spite
• is Alpha
• is bad

We make mistakes, why should we expect our dogs to be perfect? Why are we so quick to blame our dogs when they are "only human"?

*Kathy Sdao, Becky Schultz, Terry Ryan