MAL EDUCATION - by Ruth I. Kellogg

MY TEACHERS

Many people would consider that I am "self-taught" as I have never studied directly under a mentor (for breeding, kennel management) or an instructor (show, obedience). If human instructors or mentors are the only teachers considered for the definition of "self-taught", then I'd have to accept it for myself.

But I do not and cannot accept that humans can or, indeed, are my only teachers. I have been blessed with a variety of excellent teachers - most with more patience (and I've been told that I have lots), more humility, more honesty, and more unconditional love than I have. Who are these paragons of virtue? Simply, the dogs who I have shared my life, home, and heart with.

It is no secret that I have been a student of observing and trying to understand my dogs' behaviors ever since my first Malamute, Akela, came into my life in 1975. My interest in trying to understand my dogs' behavior started me questioning "Why does my dog do that...." This meant that I had to combine what I had seen with what knowledge I had learned from reading about wolves, and what I had learned/deducted from earlier behaviors I had observed. From a canine educator's point of view, the foundation was laid in my education towards understanding all facets of dog behavior, dog husbandry, and dog education.

In my "ignorance", my first group of dogs were all invited in the house, ate their meals in separate bowls around the kitchen, and were expected to socialize well together. In addition to the Mals I had a lab mix, German Shorthaired Pointer, and for a short time a Labrador Retriever and a Bernese Mountain dog. Yes, there were the inevitable disagreements that can happen when a group of 10 dogs of various sexes (altered and unaltered) and ages (pups to dogs in their "prime") live together. This first pack taught me the basics of canine communication and pack behavior .

As the years went by, my kennel management went through a metamorphosis. I still have packs - including a pack of bitches as my housedogs. At the present time, I have two definitive packs of bitches. My two boys, mature Riker and teenager Shamaya, get along with all the girls and each other. The boys come inside occasionally and because their early education included housemanners, they are still well-behaved inside.

Knowledge of pack behavior and canine communication has been instrumental in my basic understanding of my dogs when I work with them. Now I can recognize confusion when my cues or lessons are unclear and the "Ah-ha!" when my dogs understands the lesson I'm teaching.

It is also no secret that canine education (not strictly formal obedience) is a passion of mine. I could have not be able to teach my dogs as easily as I do without my three most important teachers.

Orion, my first Canine Einstein, taught me to start thinking about what I was doing. He taught me about the value of teaching (not training) and using positive motivation. This was long before any articles or books appeared on the "positive motivational methods". Orion resisted (literally wouldn't move) my attempts to have him "heel" when I used the conventional push-pull method. He could see no sense in it. He loudly said "WHY?" by his body language and his eyes. When I gave him a good reason why I wanted him to "heel", then he happily complied. A treat was a good reason for him.

Patricia was my next important teacher. At the time I started her obedience lessons, I was experimenting with dog halters. She was the first dog who I taught only using the halter I designed (Inharmony's Gentle Leader). Her first two scores were extremely respectable and earned after approximately a dozen lessons. Years later, after learning how to evaluate my dogs for flexibility and overall condition, I was delighted to find elderly Patricia had maintained her suppleness - and did so until she left me. Diana, who was taught (gently) with a slip collar, is now extremely stiff in her veteran years. Diana is the last dog who was taught exclusively with a slip collar.

The third most influential teacher I've had in canine education was my Orion-Patricia daughter, Selena. The first lesson I learned with Selena was about the strength and value of what I call the "mental leash." Selena taught me that dogs are capable of reasoning and thinking independently. She clearly exhibited these traits in whatever activity we did. These abilities, I feel are influenced by the breed of dog and by the intelligence displayed by the individual dogs. observing a bright dog problem-solve and make simple deductions still fascinates and delights me.

Selena was an excellent worker in everything we tried. We started agility work and canine acting work together. My little "Star" was the most educated and accomplished dog I've had to date. I owe her so much - and miss her even more.

As I mentioned earlier, the observational skills I developed have contributed strongly to being able to understand dog-dog communication (verbal and non-verbal) and dog-human communication. With some of my dogs, Diana, Athena, and Cassandra in particular, I honestly suspect there is a form of mental telepathy occurring in some of our communications.

As an offshoot of learning about how to communicate with my dogs, I learned that talking is considerably more effective than yelling and/or nagging. As I learned to vary my vocal tones, I realized that my dogs became considerably more attentive and responsive to vocal tone changes.

Living with a group of dogs, it is inevitable that illness and/or accidents happens. I have become skilled in many veterinary first aid/nursing skills. Granted, it does help that I've been an Operating Room nurse for over 25 years, but there is still much to learn about canine health care.

My knowledge of the aspects of canine reproduction has increased in many ways. There is always something to learn from normal and healthy breedings, pregnancies, whelpings, and puppy rearing. Knowledge of the normal and healthy conditions is vital when abnormalities and illness strikes. As with most breeders who have been in "for the long haul", I have had times of difficulties. I give great credit to my two males, Daniel and Orion, who helped me learn about breeding a variety of bitches. And I would be remiss if I didn't remember and thank each of my ladies who has given me a family. I've been blessed with wonderful mothers who, as they taught their babies what was expected, taught me as well.

As I learn more about creating and maintaining good health for myself, my knowledge is also applied to the dogs. Maintaining a routine is extremely important for good health. Believe me, my dogs have me very well trained! Their internal clocks work well; they are not shy at all in telling me when it is time to eat!

Over the years, my first teachers continued their work in teaching me about the health concerns, feelings, grace, and dignity of veterans. As a friend told me, "They make tracks in the snow and tracks in your heart." And when these cherished veterans leave, the lesson of grieving and letting them go must be learned. This is never easy to do. When the tracks in the snow disappear, there are deep tracks in my heart for all my dogs.

These past few years my road has been extremely rough and long. My dogs and I have been "anchors" for each other. I make no apology for the closeness that I have with my dogs. It is special but very different from the closeness that I have for my family and dear friends. We humans are intelligent beings, but we often lack a most important quality. My dogs are teaching me about this quality. They have it; they live it; and, by example, they teach it. My dogs are teaching me about love -- unconditional love.

In many ways, all the dogs that I have shared my life with have been my teachers. They have obviously taught me about canine-related topics. But there is much more: they have taught me how to live in harmony with another type of being. This lesson then can be extended further to living in harmony with other people and with Mother Nature. To learn how, look under the surface of a furry hide and look deep into their soulful eyes; there is great depth, understanding, and unconditional love in a Happy Dog!