Becoming their lighthouse.

I think that not many people will tell you to become a lighthouse. But I am.

There are two elements to this and the first is that it's helpful to give off an energy that suggests we are calm and comforting because dogs are more drawn to that. When I begin to train my dogs, I find somewhere we are both comfortable with. Sometimes I'm not ok with small spaces and people so I find somewhere quiet outdoors. Other times I am more willing to rise to the challenge and find the busiest, most crowded spot I can. I think about how I'm feeling because my dogs will be guided by my energy too.

I need to consider my dog too so I think about how the last two or three days have been with my dog. I think about my dog's behaviour. Have barked more than usual in the last two or three days? When they are sleeping have they been more twitchy than usual? These, and other behaviours such as excessive growling, humping, digging, destruction (chewing/shredding items) can indicate higher than normal anxiety or frustration levels. If these behaviours are more apparent, my dog's stress levels could be higher, so I train somewhere calmer and more comfortable.

It really is about finding something that works for you both, and it's a skill that is developed over time.

The second lighthouse element is in the training itself. A lot of how a dog acts comes instinctually. Instinctual behaviours drive survival and they come from the more primitive part of the brain - the limbic system. The limbic system is comprised of the brain stem, the limbic region and the amygdala. The other part of the brain, the cerebrum, is involved with learning and the formation of memory. While each part of the brain plays and important part in learning and memory, there's an area at the front of the brain called the pre-frontal cortex, and when enough learning has been done, this area acts as the lighthouse - it sends out a beacon of behaviour to follow. 'Just follow me.' The prefrontal cortex can make decisions based on what it has learnt. The brain has lots of space that is set aside for learning, and it can rewrite old memories and change old habits. The brain can change.

So what we do when we train, is teach our dog to forget the instinct and listen to what it has learnt. We and they become the voice of reason and logic because sometimes we need it - we need to stop our dogs from running into the road, we need them not to pull on the leash and cause harm, it's easier if they sit while we chat to a friend or wait to cross the road, easier if they settle when we ask, and it's better all round when there's true calmness and deep connection.