Mary Allen
On dog parks, on a walk, or at dog school, the sentence is occasionally heard: “It has to go through it!” When it comes to dog training, it seems that some owners are of the opinion that dogs need hardening in order to learn. But is there something to it or is that a mistake?
Dogs are very adaptable and have adapted to living and collaborating with humans over the many thousands of years of their domestication. If the bond between animal and owner is right, consistency, clarity, and patience are basically enough in dog training so that the four-legged friend adheres to the desired rules.
However, we humans must not forget that our animal friends still have their instincts. Reacting to the dog’s unwanted behavior with hardening and compulsion would be the wrong approach.
“Dog Has To Go Through It!”: Error or Truth?
As long as two strange dogs are playing peacefully with each other, you don’t have to intervene. But when there is a fight or bullying and your dog is acting anxious, he needs your help. In such situations, when your four-legged friend is looking for your protection or the other dog is physically superior to him and is playing too wildly, it would be a mistake to say “He has to go through that!” to dismiss. This would not lead to hardening, but rather increase or trigger your dog’s anxiety and insecurity. If he then realizes that he cannot rely on his caregiver in moments that unsettle him and cause it to stress, your bond with one another suffers – and that in turn makes dog training more difficult.
Dog Training: Adaptation Yes, Hardening No
If you want to achieve resilience through dog training, it is better to start small and get support from a dog trainer if necessary. This is advisable, for example, if your dog has already developed an anxiety disorder. Systematic desensitization is the technical term for when your four-legged friend gradually gets used to a fear-inducing stimulus. For example, it makes little sense to send your dog outside the door if it is afraid of thunderstorms in order to toughen it up. Instead, you should gently get your little cowardly accustomed to the noise and provide him with a safe haven indoors during a thunderstorm.
When living with their human, dogs have to adapt to many things that do not correspond to their natural instincts. They learn to walk on a leash, eat the food they are given, understand commands and behave in public. That alone demands a lot of frustration tolerance, impulse control, and a willingness to learn. There is no need to ask it to endure situations that might frighten it or even become dangerous to it.