Psychology of dogs. Basics of animal training

Many millennia ago, a man tamed a dog, making a friend of his once fierce enemy - the wolf. Pithecanthropus managed to take the place of the owner, the leader of the canine tribe. And for a long time of cohabitation, friendly relations between man and dog developed. Pithecanthropus saw in his animal, above all, a servant, a watchman, and sometimes a getter and an assistant on a hunt. Watching the pets, people have learned to understand the psychology of the dog, and human behavior has changed markedly. But the age-old traditions of the wolf genus still live in descendants of primitive dogs.

The psychology of dog behavior relies on conditioned and unconditioned reflexes. The struggle for leadership is also inherent in dogs. These vestiges of school life are alive in modern dogs. A person inexperienced in raising a dog, acquiring an animal, and does not think about the possibility that this pet favorite will bring him "for himself and for his own interests."

Correct ratio

Here, for example, the wrong behavior of man and dog. The dog in the house has its own bedding, but sleeps and rests everywhere, but not in its place. Probably, she does not like the site of the apartment chosen by the person, then it is necessary to transfer the litter to the favorite corner of the room. And always by the command of "place" see off the dog on the litter. Otherwise, the dog will impose his own conditions of cohabitation on the owner. Some owners are touched by the fact that their pets sleep with them in the same bed. This is a big mistake on the part of a person. Soon it may turn out that the owner does not have enough room in his own bed, because the spoiled dog will in every possible way prevent the owner from enjoying the rest (there are cases when large dogs just pushed the owners off the bed). The team "place" is not in vain considered important in the course of general training. You can not let a dog fall asleep wherever she wants. On the relationship in the pack only the leader is allowed to sleep in the most convenient place, and his fellow tribesmen are forbidden to encroach on his sleep. The owner of his careful behavior in relation to the sleep of the animal makes it clear that the dog is the leader in the family. If the dog realizes that he is stronger than the master, he can become a tyrant.

The struggle for leadership

The psychology of dogs differs (relative to leadership) in animals of different sexes. Males in the wild flock always conflict for the right to be a leader. The same applies to domestic dogs. In the period of maturation, starting from the age of seven months, the dog will show its leadership qualities. Whether it is pulling the leash and the desire to first run into the apartment or ordinary disobeying orders. Pet will always look for slack in the character of the owner. It is important during this period to strictly suppress disobedience and insubordination. That is, it is necessary to suppress the desire for domination in the dog, thereby establishing its supremacy in the family.
Female dogs also have a struggle for leadership, only with less pressure and aggression.

How to determine the degree of trust?

To find out the degree of trust and obedience to the master, you can put the animal on your back. Submissive and confident in the man's dog will allow to lay myself on the shoulder blades. The obstinate dog will jump up, growl and resist.
Suppress disobedience is necessary, but in no case can one resort to brute force. The person in the relationship with his pet should play a dominant role.

Special literature

In an effort to teach a person to understand his dog, many books and articles have been written. They detail the reasons for this or that behavior of a pet.
In order to understand the needs of your pet, you can read the book "Psychology of the dog. Fundamentals of training dogs »American veterinarian and writer Leon Fredley Whitney (1894-1973). This scientist devoted his whole life to biology and wrote several publications based on his own studies of various animals and people. But the author's greatest achievement, in his own opinion, is this book that tells the story of the behavior and habits of pets. The psychology of dogs since the time of Academician Ivan Pavlov has been studied very well, on the basis of this knowledge, systems of education and training are being developed.

The psychology of dogs, the basis of their behavior, has been studied by man for many years. All animal behavior is conditioned by reflexes, genetics and habits. Service dogs, for centuries, bred for the protection of human property, inherit these or other working qualities at the genetic level.

Psychology of breeds

Labradors can not live peacefully without swimming in the water. German shepherds perfectly guard their family. Caucasian sheep-dogs "graze" their small family members on a walk, guarding them. Before you buy a dog, a person must decide which four-legged friend he needs. Elderly people should not start pets like Laika, fox terrier, dachshund and airedale terrier, as the choleric warehouse of the nature of these animals will be a lot of trouble. People with small children should not choose decorative dogs - Tibetan terriers, Pekingese, dwarf pinschers, since these individuals do not like kids and can offend them. If a person is calm and unhurried in nature, an energetic animal will irritate and tire him.

Psychology and education

The modern system of education of pets takes into account the psychology of dogs. Training involves a set of tasks: the expression of social instinct, the desire for contact games and other motivations. A social instinct is the need of a dog to communicate with its master. On a walk or at home, the pet waits for games with the household. Ordinary service commands can be studied by turning training into entertainment.
You need to know that the dog is selfish with behavior. An animal always expects profit for itself and is unlikely to do anything for the owner without feeling motivated. This is used during training: if you want food, execute the team! The psychology of dogs requires its study not only by scientists, but also by future dog breeders.

Like a cat with a dog

The psychology of cats and dogs is based on a common model - reflexes and instincts. But the psychology of dog perception is fundamentally different from the psychological development of a cat.
The psychology of dogs is based on a schooling instinct. Cats are independent animals. In the eyes of the dog, the master is the best friend. In the perception of a cat, the master is a servant. Dogs adore the collective. Cats sometimes do not tolerate even their own kind and secluded hiding in the dark corners of the room. Cats are lazy, dogs are active. Cats are badly trained, dogs easily learn commands. It is clear that the psychological activity of these two different species of mammals is completely different.

Using advice on the education of dogs, written in various books and articles, a person finds a true and intelligent friend in the pet. You do not have to let your pet grow up on its own. Knowing the basics of dog psychology, a person gets a happy, infinitely devoted to him and his entire family pet.