A gentle holistic approach to canine behaviour problems and training

“The dog may have been taken out of the wolf pack, but the instincts of the wolf pack have not been taken out of the dog”

Before we can begin to understand our canine companions, firstly, we must understand their ancestor, the Wolf. The reason the wolf plays such an important part is because the domestic dog still possesses the wolf pack instinct. Although man may have changed the dog’s appearance through genetic selection i.e. size, coat and colour, what haven’t changed are the dog’s natural social patterns of behaviour.

Dogs are highly sensitive and incredibly intelligent creatures that rely solely on instinct. A dog truly believes it is a functioning member of a community. Whether its pack consists of itself and its owner, or a large family of humans and other animals, the dog believes it is part of a social grouping and a pecking order that must be adhered to at all times.

Many people mistakenly assume that because they are the owners, they automatically become the leaders of the pack. This is a typically human approach but our dogs

many dogs will take on this role and this is where problems can start. For a dog living in our human world the role of leader is an impossible one, as one of the main responsibilities of being a leader is to ensure the safety of family members. There is no way your dog can ensure your safety in a world it simply doesn’t understand.

don’t see it this way, and if they don’t see clear leadership qualities in us, the owners,

Nevertheless, a dog that feels it is leader will try to do the job to the best of its ability, no matter how many times it fails. It will try to make decisions about things it doesn’t understand, and it is the pressure and confusion of this responsibility that causes stress, which in turn can lead to behaviour problems.

Amichien Bonding is a way of working and living with our dogs to help them find their place within our pack. Unlike gadget-based dog training or traditional obedience methods, Amichien Bonding is not dog training; it is a natural way of communicating with your dog, based on cooperation that creates an environment where your dog will want to work with you of its own free will, not because he is forced to. It is simple, effective and involves no pain, no force, no shouting, no violence and no gadgets.

This method works for all types of dog regardless of size, age or breed. Based on communication and positive reinforcement it enables anyone with an open mind and respect for their dog to improve their relationship with their best friend.

Julie Abbott
Recommended Associate of Jan Fennell “The Dog Listener”