HOW DOGS LEARN FROM OTHER DOGS Dogs are amazing. But, we already know that, right? They are smarter than we even realize, however, as they can actually train other dogs!
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By Elizabeth Parker
Have you ever noticed how dogs watch each other and how after a new fur baby lives with you and your resident pet for a while, they learn the same tricks and begin to understand their new boundaries?
If you watch the transformation, it is incredible. Your new pet might be shy at first, or hesitate to pick up a toy. Then, in a few weeks, you might start to notice that they are a little more outgoing and have gained the courage to play with a toy or two. They might have been a professional counter surfer, but after watching your pet, they learn that behavior isn’t tolerated. They modify their habits (good and bad) by watching your pup! If your pup had table manners, chances are, your new pup will watch and learn. Within a few weeks, your new pet might even start to shed his bad habits and instead, develop the perfect etiquette to become a respectable dinner guest. Be aware, however, that if your pet has bad table manners, the new dog will mimic that same behavior as well! I’ve always had at least two dogs. During the years, the only dog I ever really had to train was Brandi. She’s also the only dog that I had since she was a puppy. I always had one or two other dogs living with Brandi. As my other dogs passed away, I’d eventually adopt another one and never really had to train them at all! Brandi did all the work while I sat back and made sure it was all going well... and it ALWAYS did! She made sure the new dog knew their boundaries with her, as well with training them the rules of the house. For example, she taught them how to behave at the food bowls, when to go outside, bedtime, and how to get onto the furniture (as nothing was off limits)just to name a few things! She took each new dog in to her little private training class and within weeks, they knew the rules. 18
Las Vegas Pet Scene Magazine • March/April 2021
This isn’t to say that their personalities changed. They didn’t. Each dog has its unique personalities, but they learned the rules from Brandi. What was even more fascinating was even after Brandi passed away, the dogs that had lived with her trained the new dogs and so on and so on! I used to dog sit one golden retriever and when his owner came to pick him up, he jumped up at his owner, happy to see him. My dog Duke, (who had learned from Brandi) tried to pull him off of his owner as Duke was taught not to jump up unless asked! I had to try to explain to Duke that it was okay – different owner, different rules! (He obliged but not quite sure he understood my reasoning)! So, if you ever find yourself trying to facilitate training methods for your new dog, you can depend on your resident pet to help show them the way. If you don’t have another dog, you can still help your one dog learn good behavior by having them spend time with other dogs that do behave. If you have friends or family with well-mannered dogs, ask if you can have a few doggy play dates. Or, you can take your dog to a doggy day care or training class.
WOOFYou’ll notice how, even though we don’t always
understand their language, dogs DO speak to each other and give each other the guidance that they need! Elizabeth Parker – Author of Finally Home, Final Journey, My Dog Does That!, Bark Out Loud!, Paw Prints in the Sand, Paw Prints in the Sand: Mission Accomplished, Unwanted Dreams, Phobia, Evil’s Door and Faces of Deception.
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