Dog Whispering Can Save Lives - But Opposition Persists

Some may criticize dog whisperers, claiming that their methods are questionable. But people must understand that there are families out there that need help; they are scared that their dog will become out of control and hurt themselves or others. These people have been to trainers and obedience schools with their dogs, and some have taken their dog to the vet to determine if there could be other problems causing aggression.

Dog whispering techniques vary, and tap into the natural instincts of the animal you are working with. Dog whispering is about helping the dog owners to become successful leaders of the pack, which is what dogs are looking for in their home. If you are not stepping up and showing the dog (in his or her own language) that you are the pack leader, he or she will assume that the position is up for grabs, and take over your home. These are the people we strive to help, because they feel that they have lost control – and worse yet, they are left with the overwhelming feeling of wanting their home back.

In the recent months, I have noticed something that was apparent to me before. I don’t readily tell people what I do, nor do I make it a point to try to “whisper” their dog while they aren’t looking. However, I do take the time to work with my dog, and it does not go unnoticed.

But the strange thing is, people see the way I interact with my dog, and lately I have become aware of some harmless joking – at my expense, of course! I have heard it said recently, “She thinks she’s the Dog Whisperer,” or “What’s with the noises, you’re not the Dog Whisperer!” But while they joke, I watch their reaction to the way my dog behaves. With a simple sound, I can get my dog’s attention, get him to ignore a stranger near the yard, keep him from barking or reacting to other dogs near our fence, and allow our 95-pound bulldog to safely romp with chihuahuas and pugs, or Rhodesian ridgebacks and pit bulls.

Some say we are lucky to have such a well behaved dog. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a handful – full of energy, loves to run for hours, enjoys wrestling with anyone brave enough to take him on! But on the other hand, he’s gentle with kittens, rats, hamsters, puppies, and other small animals, as long as we make sure he isn’t sitting or stepping on them! He has never used his teeth in an aggressive way, and we hope that he will always remain a calm, submissive, wonderfully behaved member of our pack, and our family.

Please, before sending angry emails to us for promoting dog whispering techniques, try to imagine all of the people who have learned that they can have a healthy balance in their home again. Think about the dogs that were once penned up in a yard without human interaction, because people were afraid of them, but now are living as a part of the family. Some dogs will naturally submit, and give you the position of leader of the pack. Others are more dominant, and will take over a human’s home, if not properly dealt with. If this is not you, and you are able to find another solution, that’s wonderful. But some dog owners are even told by trainers to consider death a solution to bad dog behavior, and we are here to help in even the most extreme situations, where dog trainers have unsuccessfully attempted to calm the beast with treats, clickers and commands. These techniques simply do not work when establishing the leadership roles within the pack.

Let us not only remember to be kind to animals, but remember to care for our fellow humans, some of which are suffering extreme stress or confusion, and are sometimes at the end of the leash. Pardon the pun, I couldn’t resist.