Opinion

Michael Baugh CDBC

Language helps us communicate a shared understanding of concepts and ideas. It’s important. Teaching language is also appropriate in many contexts, the most obvious being a language course. Correcting someone else’s language in conversations, though, can be tricky business. It’s not the business we dog trainers should be in.

Here are some examples of words and phrases trainers tell their clients not to use:

Dominance
Alpha
Anxiety (versus fear or the other way around)
Command (versus cue)
Pack and pack hierarchy
Respect, obedience and other words that suggest control

I’ve been guilty of this. How we think and speak about our dogs matters. Using accurate speech and teaching gentle, effective dog training techniques is valid; in fact, it is laudable. But policing the words our clients use is not.

Some dangers of policing language include:

Creating a chilling effect, such that clients are afraid of saying the wrong thing. We miss valuable information from them.
Assuming a false position of power over our clients, crippling collaboration and cooperation.
Encouraging performative compliance. Clients use certain words and phrases to please us trainers at the cost of clear communication.

Instead of telling our clients how to talk, let’s try to understand what they mean.

“What is your dog doing that makes you say he’s dominant?”
“In what ways does your dog behave that make him seem alpha?”
“Tell me about some of the anxious behaviors you’ve seen.”
“What could we teach your dog to help you feel more respected?”

We positive reinforcement dog trainers have done a lot to change the culture of dog training for the better. Celebrate that. You are part of the solution. Yes, keep using accurate language. Model it for your clients. Explain your terms. Teach. That’s what we were hired to do.

And yes, listen with an open heart. Find out what your client is trying to say. Listen deeply. Ask questions. Craft solutions. Our clients hired us to do that, too.

But let’s free ourselves from judging our clients. I’ll take that vow with you. They invited us into their lives. Let them express themselves as best they can. Then do what we do best. Help.

Michael Baugh teaches aggressive dog training in Houston TX and Sedona AZ