Methods
Dedicated to Motivation
Appreciate, nurture and
utilize your dog's unique instincts instead of descending
into maligning and repressive contests of will. Canine
instinctual drives are both the keys that unlock the
doors to understanding and the tools needed to motivate.
**Click titles for more information**
Recent Biological Research
We base our
methods on the wealth of current research on wolves.
Why wolves you may ask? Top biologists using the most
current methods have proven that domestic dogs have
less than half the genetic variation that exists
between the gray wolf and its closest wild relatives,
coyotes and Ethiopian wolves. The current research
indicates that there is not enough genetic variation in
wolves and domestic dogs to justify classifying them as
differing species. The wealth of current research on
how wolves communicate and interact socially provides
us with real insight into this world of non verbal
communication.
Dog Whispering
At WolfBrook we
have become increasingly concerned with the escalating
severity of the training methods we have witnessed in
competitive dog sports and training police K9's. We
became interested in natural canine behavior, first
discovering David Mech's original work on wolves "The
Wolf". We have become dedicated to applying the growing
body of wolf research to our efforts to train with
understanding instead of coercion.
The term "whispering" seems to have become popularized in the horse training industry. Monty Roberts wrote a book entitled "The Man Who Listens to Horses" which had a major part in introducing and then popularizing horse training methods that replaced harsh coercive methods with the same non verbal communication used in wild mustang herds. Monty Roberts began his study of mustangs at the ripe old age of 13 and later on extended his studies to deer. "Monty's" methods made him a living legend, earning him an invitation to Windsor Castle from Queen Elizabeth to demonstrate his technique called "joining up". Monty Roberts proved the viability of his methods by applying them with resounding success to many forms of competitive equine sports.
Monty Roberts' and David Mech's work have been an inspiration to champion change in the way we humans interact with our fellow animals. The ecological and sociological issues these men address are some of the subjects we at WolfBrook hold most dear. Humans only need to pick up the non verbal threads of communication we have learned to ignore. We feel it is appropriate to reexamine who is whispering to whom here. For those of us willing to listen with ears that hear things other than human language there is much being whispered.
The term "whispering" seems to have become popularized in the horse training industry. Monty Roberts wrote a book entitled "The Man Who Listens to Horses" which had a major part in introducing and then popularizing horse training methods that replaced harsh coercive methods with the same non verbal communication used in wild mustang herds. Monty Roberts began his study of mustangs at the ripe old age of 13 and later on extended his studies to deer. "Monty's" methods made him a living legend, earning him an invitation to Windsor Castle from Queen Elizabeth to demonstrate his technique called "joining up". Monty Roberts proved the viability of his methods by applying them with resounding success to many forms of competitive equine sports.
Monty Roberts' and David Mech's work have been an inspiration to champion change in the way we humans interact with our fellow animals. The ecological and sociological issues these men address are some of the subjects we at WolfBrook hold most dear. Humans only need to pick up the non verbal threads of communication we have learned to ignore. We feel it is appropriate to reexamine who is whispering to whom here. For those of us willing to listen with ears that hear things other than human language there is much being whispered.
We don't need no stinking leashes!
Legally we may
be required to keep our dogs on-leash in many
situations. Functioning on-leash, however, is a minor
issue once we learn the basics of canine communication
off-leash. By leaving the leash off we remove an
obstacle that often blocks understanding. Leashes and
leash correction often foster frustrating contests of
will that spiral out of control. Forgoing the leash
allows us to experience the responses our dog has to
the body movements, tones of voice and odors that
compose its natural mode of communication. Most people
are pleasantly surprised to find how much simpler and
less stressful it is to communicate with these more
universal (within the animal kingdom) forms of
communication.
We find it sad that many dog enthusiasts hold their leashes, fences and linguistic prejudices in such high regard. In fact, leashes and fences often motivate fearful, aggressive behavior inhibiting rational social interaction. We believe it is our mission at WolfBrook to provide training opportunities that bring people and their dogs together as co-creators of strong, functional families and communities. Removing human constructs such as: leashes, fences and language allows us to "listen" with the eyes, ears and nose of our brother the wolf and interact with the understanding we gain.
We find it sad that many dog enthusiasts hold their leashes, fences and linguistic prejudices in such high regard. In fact, leashes and fences often motivate fearful, aggressive behavior inhibiting rational social interaction. We believe it is our mission at WolfBrook to provide training opportunities that bring people and their dogs together as co-creators of strong, functional families and communities. Removing human constructs such as: leashes, fences and language allows us to "listen" with the eyes, ears and nose of our brother the wolf and interact with the understanding we gain.
Canine Communication
Our dog's wild
brothers and sisters evolved into the most successful
mamalian species, other than man. The success of our
canine friends rests on highly evolved social groups
communicating without language. Once we humans learn to
appreciate the differences in the canine communication
system our atempts to form strong social relationships
become dramatically more successful.
Short Motivational Scenarios
WolfBrook
canine educational classes are based on motivational
scenarios that condition our dogs to interact with
other dogs and humans with socially responsible and
integrative behavior. We practice these scenarios in
social groups off-leash and on, personifying the real
environments we wish to function in.
We studiously avoid drills, pressure and coercion. We practice for short periods in socially competitive evironments. We only work when our dogs are motivated and quit when their motivation peeks. Conducting educational classes in this manner constantly increases each dog and handler's motivation to participate and challenge themselves.
We believe in leading by example. If we are having fun stimulating our dogs drives and leading them to appropriate ways to satiate those drives, we evoke the type of relationship and ties to a meaningful social structure that move our training into a higher realm.
We studiously avoid drills, pressure and coercion. We practice for short periods in socially competitive evironments. We only work when our dogs are motivated and quit when their motivation peeks. Conducting educational classes in this manner constantly increases each dog and handler's motivation to participate and challenge themselves.
We believe in leading by example. If we are having fun stimulating our dogs drives and leading them to appropriate ways to satiate those drives, we evoke the type of relationship and ties to a meaningful social structure that move our training into a higher realm.
Results Oriented
Our main goal
for our "dog training" classes is the formation of
strong social skills. We regard: moving together
(heeling), the recall, long downs... as symptoms of
good training instead of main goals. The fact that our
classes may have unconventional titles is simply a
reflection of our emphasis on producing real functional
social skills instead of skills designed to improve
performance in competition.
As veterans of some of the most competitive of dog sports, we have found that a foundation of strong social skills enabled us to compete at a whole new level. "The recall" becomes a motivated compulsion to get to the pack leader. The compulsion being based on faith in a positive experience. This faith can be extended to the point that in the face of severe doubt or even fear our canine companion eagerly runs to us as the surest source of a positive outcome.
Our basic classes are designed to produce more functional, social ability than is commonly gleaned from advanced classes. Our participants learn to handle social situations off-leash that conventional programs do not cover on-leash. By practicing scenarios based on natural social activities, we do not need to coerce. We simply show our companions where and how to apply instinctual behavior.
As veterans of some of the most competitive of dog sports, we have found that a foundation of strong social skills enabled us to compete at a whole new level. "The recall" becomes a motivated compulsion to get to the pack leader. The compulsion being based on faith in a positive experience. This faith can be extended to the point that in the face of severe doubt or even fear our canine companion eagerly runs to us as the surest source of a positive outcome.
Our basic classes are designed to produce more functional, social ability than is commonly gleaned from advanced classes. Our participants learn to handle social situations off-leash that conventional programs do not cover on-leash. By practicing scenarios based on natural social activities, we do not need to coerce. We simply show our companions where and how to apply instinctual behavior.
Fear
People and dogs
fear what they are not comfortable with. Our classes
are oriented towards immersing our client teams in real
life scenarios in each and every class. Nothing builds
confidence like experience, so we pour it on. Humans
and canines are very social creatures, involvement in a
safe, supporting community has immeasurable
benefits.