Comments on: What Your Dog is Trying to Tell You

By: kbehan

kbehan — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:17:13 +0000

Whatever feels right, is right. However if one gets another dog due to a need, then that will upset the apple cart. Personally I’m a one dog man, but being Gemini, I always end up with two.
Temperament is what causes each dog’s temperament, for example, within any litter Temperament distributes genes to produce a range of temperaments within the litter, each one responding to stress slightly differently, and then these “ionizing” distinctions between the various puppies as they grow up causes them to become more and more differentiated into that which we ultimately recognize as their personality.
The main thing is that if your dogs make you happy, then they will be happy. It’s like being on a winning team. It’s not necessary to be the star to enjoy the thrill of winning to the fullest.

By: Christine

Christine — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:46:32 +0000

There are those who believe, perhaps rightly so, that one dog in all you should have at a time. For me, my ‘feeling’ is that the three I have are ‘necessary’ for me. I cannot explain why I feel that way; it just is. However, three is my limit. Or perhaps, more accurately, these particular three are my limit; I don’t have any interest in adopting any more dogs (besides, it does get costly!) I do think having another dog would upset our applecart. All I really know is that I enjoy them tremendously, especially for their unique and individual qualities (whether that be Temperment, temperment or personality; I do not know and cannot say). It is challenging having the three for many reasons: figuring out how to help them get along, how to best meet their individual needs as well as always working towards the ultimate goal of creating an environment where they get to live out a balanced, fulfilled and happy doggie life!

By: kbehan

kbehan — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:15:20 +0000

(Sorry, several comments didn’t automatically post and so there’s a time lag between my response.)

Each dog reflects a specific polarity of your temperament with their related judgments. This is why wolves live in smaller groups than African Wild Hunting Dogs, you can only slice the circle so many times until the reflection gets too fuzzy to be seen. I think this is why some people hoard dogs and animals. They can’t bear the reflection.
At any rate, observe each dog to find the facet of your own makeup that they reveal.

By: Chistine

Chistine — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 23:24:24 +0000

I have 3 dogs; does that mean I am a mental case with a split personality? LOL This actually does resonate with me as being truthful.

By: Lee Charles Kelley

Lee Charles Kelley — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:23:37 +0000

I came to the same general conclusion myself, several years before I first read Kevin’s book, before I’d even thought of becoming a dog trainer. But I didn’t have a way of verbalizing it then.

Now I do:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/my-puppy-my-self/200906/how-man-creates-dog-in-his-own-image-part-ii

I think the way Kevin describes this process is more exact than mine. It’s certainly more in tune with his energy theory.

My perspective — or at least my way of telling this part of the human/canine story — is based more on psychological processes involving the ways we project our thoughts and identities on to our dogs, and how they then behave in “obedience” to our unconscious desires.

I think Kevin’s is more about the simple emotional resonance that takes place, which happens in obedience to the laws of nature.

Either way, I think it’s a very interesting concept and one that deserves wider recognition and interest.

LCK