THEY SAY NEVER TO WORK WITH KIDS AND DOGS... except:
Becoming a good leader for the dog requires awareness and use of body language, awareness of voice modulation, empathy for others and non-violent methods of control.
Understanding the dog’s relationships with each other, understanding the pack mentality, can be the crucial key to a young person appreciating their own sense of belonging and understanding how to effectively and successfully interact with others around them.
If the young person says or does something the dog doesn’t like, the dog will react negatively immediately. If they do something the dog likes, the dog is going to react positively immediately. It gives young people a chance to practice caring and social skills with a much simpler audience.
The key that links all of these positive benefits comes down to oxytocin. Oxytocin is one of the best, most powerful, wonderful, healthy social hormones we have and it’s the one that’s the most grossly affected in a positive way through human-animal interaction. Animal-assisted therapy is here to stay simply because the oxytocin effect is undeniable.
- Dogs help young people develop social skills.
Becoming a good leader for the dog requires awareness and use of body language, awareness of voice modulation, empathy for others and non-violent methods of control.
- Dogs model healthy relationships.
Understanding the dog’s relationships with each other, understanding the pack mentality, can be the crucial key to a young person appreciating their own sense of belonging and understanding how to effectively and successfully interact with others around them.
- Dogs deliver real-time, immediate feedback to social cues.
If the young person says or does something the dog doesn’t like, the dog will react negatively immediately. If they do something the dog likes, the dog is going to react positively immediately. It gives young people a chance to practice caring and social skills with a much simpler audience.
- Dogs return touch to the therapeutic setting.
The key that links all of these positive benefits comes down to oxytocin. Oxytocin is one of the best, most powerful, wonderful, healthy social hormones we have and it’s the one that’s the most grossly affected in a positive way through human-animal interaction. Animal-assisted therapy is here to stay simply because the oxytocin effect is undeniable.
WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM DOGS
Young people can learn a lot from dogs. Their companionship, loyalty and unconditional love is unmatched by any human standards.
10 things dogs can teach young people having a hard time:
1. Calm, assertive leadership
A pack leader makes the dogs around her wait for food; she controls when they play and how far they travel. All dogs need these same rules, boundaries, and limitations from their pack leader when dog training.
In the wild, the pack leader uses calm-assertive energy to influence how the dog interacts with his surroundings. Dogs in the wild claim space by first asserting themselves in a calm and confident way, and then communicating this ownership through clear body language signals and eye contact. A dog who understands that you, as the pack leader, own the space in which he lives will respect your asserted authority while dog training.
This is what distinguishes the true pack leader from the rest: They are honest; they are real; they accept; they are in touch; they are present; they are respectful; they are balanced; they know their pack.
2. Live in the moment.
Although dogs remember things like where the treats are kept, what street takes them home and who they’ve met before, they only access that information when they need it — in the moment. Whether they’re eating a bowl of kibble or chasing a ball, dogs live for the present moment. The past is gone; you can’t do anything about it. The future is unknown. The only thing you can really enjoy and affect is the present moment.
3. Don’t hold grudges
A grudge is a feeling of resentment toward someone. It originates in our mind. Humans are probably the only species that holds a grudge. A dog will never be angry with you because you didn’t give him a treat after dinner last night. Holding a grudge weighs you down emotionally and keeps you from moving forward in life. Let grudges go and you create your own personal freedom.
4. Play every day.
Dogs love to play, which usually involves lots of movement, whether it’s running, chasing or jumping. Playing opens up your mind and spirit to all kinds of new ideas and creativity. Dogs actually give us a reason to get out and go!
5. Accept yourself.
Can you imagine a terrier wishing she were a boxer or a poodle envious of a collie’s mane or a pug wanting the nose of a greyhound? We humans spend a lot of time trying to make ourselves look like someone else’s version of perfection instead of loving our unique features, our unique life, and yes, our unique problems. How boring it would be if all dogs (or all humans) looked and behaved alike! Love everything about yourself — the good, the bad and the ugly!
6. Enjoy the journey.
When dogs go for a car ride, they stick their head out the window, smell the air and feel the wind against their fur. They don’t care where they’re going. They’re just enjoying the journey. Although goals are great to set, we often forget that it’s the journey that matters most. When we get too attached to the outcome, we set ourselves up for frustration, depression or even anger if our exact expectations are not met. Dogs remind us to be open to other possibilities and enjoy every moment of excitement, creativity, fun and lessons in the journey.
7. Be loyal and dependable.
Dogs are pack animals. They stick with their pack. They play with their pack. They defend their pack. This is a great reminder for all of us to be conscientious members of our human pack. The Golden Rule of treating others how you would like to be treated applies here. Being a loyal and dependable friend or sibling will enrich our life in many ways.
8. Love unconditionally.
Dogs love unconditionally. They wag their tails when they see you, no matter what mood you’re in. They still want to give you big wet kisses, even if you’ve just yelled at them. And they instantly forgive you no matter how you behave. Loving others unconditionally can seem a difficult task, but it’s the one that makes our world a better place.
9. Don’t bite when a growl will do
Most dogs don’t simply bite if threatened, they warn you with a snarl. Humans could benefit from this practice as well. Young people can witness the process when someone is rubbing you the wrong way, you can warn them before completely lashing out on them. They may get the hint and back off.
10. Give it all you’ve got
A dog is the most enthusiastic thing on the planet. You haven’t seen happiness until you’ve let a dog off its leash in a wide, open field and watched it run so fast that its legs nearly carried on without it. Next time you’re faced with a challenge or a new experience that might seem scary, take your dog’s philosophy: give it everything you’ve got and at least you’ll have fun doing it.
10 things dogs can teach young people having a hard time:
1. Calm, assertive leadership
A pack leader makes the dogs around her wait for food; she controls when they play and how far they travel. All dogs need these same rules, boundaries, and limitations from their pack leader when dog training.
In the wild, the pack leader uses calm-assertive energy to influence how the dog interacts with his surroundings. Dogs in the wild claim space by first asserting themselves in a calm and confident way, and then communicating this ownership through clear body language signals and eye contact. A dog who understands that you, as the pack leader, own the space in which he lives will respect your asserted authority while dog training.
This is what distinguishes the true pack leader from the rest: They are honest; they are real; they accept; they are in touch; they are present; they are respectful; they are balanced; they know their pack.
2. Live in the moment.
Although dogs remember things like where the treats are kept, what street takes them home and who they’ve met before, they only access that information when they need it — in the moment. Whether they’re eating a bowl of kibble or chasing a ball, dogs live for the present moment. The past is gone; you can’t do anything about it. The future is unknown. The only thing you can really enjoy and affect is the present moment.
3. Don’t hold grudges
A grudge is a feeling of resentment toward someone. It originates in our mind. Humans are probably the only species that holds a grudge. A dog will never be angry with you because you didn’t give him a treat after dinner last night. Holding a grudge weighs you down emotionally and keeps you from moving forward in life. Let grudges go and you create your own personal freedom.
4. Play every day.
Dogs love to play, which usually involves lots of movement, whether it’s running, chasing or jumping. Playing opens up your mind and spirit to all kinds of new ideas and creativity. Dogs actually give us a reason to get out and go!
5. Accept yourself.
Can you imagine a terrier wishing she were a boxer or a poodle envious of a collie’s mane or a pug wanting the nose of a greyhound? We humans spend a lot of time trying to make ourselves look like someone else’s version of perfection instead of loving our unique features, our unique life, and yes, our unique problems. How boring it would be if all dogs (or all humans) looked and behaved alike! Love everything about yourself — the good, the bad and the ugly!
6. Enjoy the journey.
When dogs go for a car ride, they stick their head out the window, smell the air and feel the wind against their fur. They don’t care where they’re going. They’re just enjoying the journey. Although goals are great to set, we often forget that it’s the journey that matters most. When we get too attached to the outcome, we set ourselves up for frustration, depression or even anger if our exact expectations are not met. Dogs remind us to be open to other possibilities and enjoy every moment of excitement, creativity, fun and lessons in the journey.
7. Be loyal and dependable.
Dogs are pack animals. They stick with their pack. They play with their pack. They defend their pack. This is a great reminder for all of us to be conscientious members of our human pack. The Golden Rule of treating others how you would like to be treated applies here. Being a loyal and dependable friend or sibling will enrich our life in many ways.
8. Love unconditionally.
Dogs love unconditionally. They wag their tails when they see you, no matter what mood you’re in. They still want to give you big wet kisses, even if you’ve just yelled at them. And they instantly forgive you no matter how you behave. Loving others unconditionally can seem a difficult task, but it’s the one that makes our world a better place.
9. Don’t bite when a growl will do
Most dogs don’t simply bite if threatened, they warn you with a snarl. Humans could benefit from this practice as well. Young people can witness the process when someone is rubbing you the wrong way, you can warn them before completely lashing out on them. They may get the hint and back off.
10. Give it all you’ve got
A dog is the most enthusiastic thing on the planet. You haven’t seen happiness until you’ve let a dog off its leash in a wide, open field and watched it run so fast that its legs nearly carried on without it. Next time you’re faced with a challenge or a new experience that might seem scary, take your dog’s philosophy: give it everything you’ve got and at least you’ll have fun doing it.
