In any relationship, both parties bring their past experiences to the table. No one, including your dog, is safe from the baggage and habits of years gone by. Each individual is shaped, deeply and often unconsciously, by what they have learned in life. Moments become memories and memories become ideas. Some actions pay off and become useful strategies that, over time, become habitual responses. Life offers a million opportunities for some sort of take-home message for your dog. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay What will be the message of the moment for your dog? Is this the first monumental discovery that the appearance of the leash can mean that a walk is coming? When you sit down at your computer, does that indicate a prime opportunity to eat cat poop out of the litter box? Perhaps a mental note that young children are finicky and have little respect for their personal space? The possibility that biting your pant legs as you walk through the house is the best way to get you to throw the ball to him? This little fluffy, doe-eyed cutie at your feet is way smarter than you think. Since learning arguably provides the greatest window of opportunity for change and adjustment in your dog's behavior, it is important that you understand how your dog learns in practical ways on a daily basis. In this chapter, you will learn about this crucially important element in your canine partner's behavior. You will learn to recognize your role in creating these cute little rituals as well as these irritating cycles of misbehavior. This will prevent you from projecting false motives onto him and feeling unnecessarily resentful towards his sock stealing and child chasing. You will see how events can take on strong meanings for your dog, however random their associations may seem (people in white coats do not necessarily have sharp objects in their pockets simply because the veterinarian does; and noise of opening the cupboard door has no effect). This doesn't always mean she gets a treat). If I had a dollar for every time a woman sarcastically asked me if I could also train her husband along with their dog, I would be a very rich woman. The idea of ​​taking someone who drives us crazy to be “trained” and reclaiming them as a cooperative, pleasant replacement who no longer exhibits these annoying behaviors is indeed appealing. Many people enter therapy with their dog (or any partner, for that matter) with the goal of correcting or controlling unwanted behaviors. But the reality is that all relationships are two-way, even when it seems like one party has the upper hand or one is inherently more dependent on the other. Between you and your dog, there are two individuals trying to negotiate a life in harmony. No one is “bad” if they fail to align with the other’s expectations. No one is at the service of the other. A common misconception is that training a dog is simply a matter of “training.” If only it were as simple as attending a six-week obedience class and coming out with the perfect pet. Here's a big pill to swallow before we begin our conversation about training: "dog training" is a misnomer. Your canine friend is no more “trainable” than your spouse. That.