It is, possibly, the use of natural conditions of dogs, that makes them extremely apt to acquire a series of knowledge for their use. It is one of the first artistic manifestations of human activity.
If in any work of art we find the transformation of the inanimate matter in an expressive product, by the education of the dog we turn an animal, with pure instincts, in a living being to whom the man has taught useful knowledge and even power and faculties; although by aim of the Creator, will never equal to the human ones.
Before the primitive man could dedicate short free times from their occupations to paint in the caverns surprising drawings, or to carve rudimentary instruments of defense or of work, it had to come some dog education, just to help in guarding their livestocks and their house. This helping hand by strict imperative of life was really necessary to keep safe.
This long process was initiated as we see in very remote times. It has been developing throughout the centuries reaching in the present times a hardly superable degree of perfection.
Such process has been possible thanks to human intelligence, obtaining a true knowledge of the dog; not only of its visible faculties, but also of those that potentially were in it, hoping only the cause or reason that allowed to be updated.
The secret of the true knowledge is based in the right appreciation of its power; of reactions and faculties, without the extremisms that during all the times have maintained like positions many fans.
Thinking the animal has intelligence, very generalized opinion, or thinking the animal only has primary instincts, created a great confusion in these assumptions.
Dogs, like other animals, have a multitude of limitations. The feeling of pain appears united to the sensation of deficiency or the performance of certain stimuli on it.
We can say that this manifestation is common to man and animals; although animals lacking spiritual faculties, experience it with smaller intensity, since those important factors do not enter game.
The impression produced by the anguish of his kinds erases immediately. We think that if a dog is mistreated in the presence of another one, this animal includes/understands the action, experimenting uneasiness sensation.
The auditory, visual or olfactory memory appears great developed, but mainly, the sensorial organs are those that, with their great improvement, allow the instructor to obtain his objectives.
The knowledge of these senses and the operation of the means that build on the instincts will the base in which they support the practises of training.
PHASES OF THE EDUCATIVE PROCESS
We consider the educative process in two phases: Education and Training itself.
Both terms are not antagonistic, on the contrary, they are complemented.
They are parts of a process that begins almost from the birth and never finishes. It does not matter how many knowledge an animal has, it is always possible to perfect them and to increase them.
Education is typical for the young dog, as the training is for the adult one. Education begins very soon, just when the puppy is separated from his mother and his brothers of litter.
This is the time to name him. This name will accompany him during all his life and he will respond with an attitude whenever it is pronounced.
It is, also, the moment for beginning, in not at all coercive form, since their faculties are embryonic, to go to him recording experiences that during all their life have to accompany him.
In this time the puppy does not demonstrate any preference to person, only the one who feeds him.
Its presence is related to the satisfaction of a necessity vividly felt, and there is no possibility to avoid it, since the animal in this age is incapable to solve.
We can easily verify how the whole litter follows the steps the person takes care of them.
At this moment of the life of the animal it is the propitious occasion to begin to teach him the basic lessons, such as to accustom him to evacuate his necessities outside and its conduct with other domestic animals.
To begin these lessons it is necessary for the puppy to be separated from the litter, because in this time, the power imitation is a great influence. The puppy must be scolded when he does it bad and it is impossible to do if he is with his brother just because it is impossible for them to know who committed the lack.
It is possible to compare the different periods of the life of the man with the corresponding ones from the life of the dog. The childhood, adolescence, youth and adult age correspond, also, with those of young, puppies, young people and adults.
The growth of animals is much more quickly. We can calculate that its development is twelve, approximately, times more than the man.
We aimed previously that this first age is properly to teach certain Lessons; but this does not mean that if by any circumstance had not taken advantage of, the problem has not solution. We will see later there are some resources to correct those defects.
On the other hand, in these first months of the life of the puppy, if he is distracted constantly, and to try to make certain lessons is completely detrimental.
The wild animal forms prepares itself for the fight with the life, with a series of experiences, the hereditary imitation of the parents and, of course, factors.
This does not happen with the domestic animals, since the atmosphere in which its life grows has other different exigencies, reason why a suitable education is needed to allow them to adapt themselves to our customs, as well as to acquire special knowledge if we want to use them for our service.
A rational education has to try to avoid timid, easily frightened dogs that only make their work by the fear to the punishment.
In this, like in all the phases, books can serve us as direction and guides to update existing faculties in the man who has not any knowledge, but we must not forget that all the dogs are not equal. The do not react in the same way; therefore, it is precise the innate ability and the acquired one by the course of the experience.
It is, as we say, a direction, but not a regulate rule to subject rigidly.
Aside from these differences between same sex animals, according to periods of their lives, varieties and occasions, there is a noticeable one we want to emphasize: it is the very remarkable existing difference between sex. The male has, in general, greater robustness and strength. If we take a look at the breed standard, we will see the differences admitted in weight and size. Also males are considered superior to females; common rule to all living beings. Males have a greater tendency to freedom; they can be distracted more easily, and in general they are less affectionate. In relation to their they only carry out the mission to generate them. On the other hand, females are more sensible and docile; we can say that is due to the influence of the man.
From a practic point of view, we can considere the male preferable, because of strength and resistance. We must also add males are never in heat. This factor can incapacitate females during certain periods of the year to make an efficient work; as well as the disadvantage to prevent the males who with her can lose their interest in working.
As we already indicated, training is task of making in the adult dog and in its development there is a precise order to observe.
We must begin, as it is logical, from the simple and elementary exercises to be ascending progressively. We must not forget not to begin a new one without making the previous one perfectly.
If we only base the education in constant repetition of a certain exercise without studying the dog, we will only get the mechanization, and we will not obtain the animal prove its faculties. The faculties are the ones to solve certain problems in unexpected situations.
Carmelo Garcia, Canine instructor by M.I., S.C.V., INSF
