#Thewholedogmatters

You’ll often see me tag #thewholedogmatters in my posts, but what does it really mean?

Over the years, I’ve noticed that many trainers and handlers have adopted a “do as I say, when I say it” mentality. While our goal is always to have a dog who works with us and understands cues, there’s often much more going on—especially when it comes to behavioral issues.

Take, for example, a student whose dog suddenly didn’t want to participate in class. This wasn’t like him, and although he seemed happy enough, he was definitely opting out of training that day. Many would have chosen to give a correction here, but we don’t train like that. I immediately decided that he should just observe that day—something wasn’t right. Thankfully, we didn’t push him, and within the week, we found out he had hurt his back to the point that he needed surgery. In that moment, it would have been so easy to assume he was fine and push him through training, but thank goodness we didn’t. He’s recovering now, and his biggest challenge is staying calm through his recovery.

Another situation I’ve seen is when a dog comes to class, and unlike other classes they appear to lag or have a sudden new reactivity towards the other dogs. After a series of questions, I often discover that the dog has been off food, the owners were away, or there was an incident the week prior that left the dog unsettled. These things all play a part in behavior! The point I’m trying to make is that your dog’s behavior—whether it’s refusal to participate, sudden fears, or new reactions—often has a deeper cause than what meets the eye. Training should never be about just addressing surface-level issues. There’s usually much more happening beneath the surface, and these deeper factors are often the root cause of many behavioral challenges.

A dog is not “just” a dog. They are living, emotional beings who struggle to communicate in ways that get to the root of their issues. Too often, handlers rush to harsh methods to force behaviors, but if the root cause is never addressed, we end up shutting down the dog. So, when I say #thewholedogmatters, I mean exactly that. Every aspect of your dog’s life plays a role in their behavior: their diet, exercise, mental stimulation, overall health, their handler’s health and stress levels—the list goes on. Let’s remember the incredible intelligence and true emotions that lie at the end of that six-foot leash, completely at your mercy. #thewholedogmatters