When I teach Status to families I use this story from many years ago. When we behave like this elephant we elevate our position in the family so the dog relaxes more.
It was my first Christmas in Africa and we flew to Namibia where, in the middle the tour, I sat for the first time at a water hole. This was in the middle of Etosha at the campsite set up for tourists, we sat on benches under floodlights behind a game fence. Water is at a premium in this desert region and the national park pumped water into this pool. It is an incredible memory seared into my brain initially just as a game viewing experience. Since learning dog listening and more about animal behaviour I can put a different spin on what we watched. The first animal was a pair of black rhinos who silently drank and disappeared.
Then a whole pride of lions came down to drink who were far more relaxed. They then walked a short distance out of the light and lay down under some bushes. Hmm… we thought not very fair when we were sure there would be many smaller prey animals wanting to drink.
This is typical of predators. As we start learning dog listening many dogs will start to lie in positions of power especially in doorways attempting to make us walk round them and therefore silently re-elevate their status.
Then a massive bull elephant entered stage right on his own and had a long drink, unlike the rhino who walked back the same way, this old boy walked round the water. For such huge animals elephants walk silently, barely lifting their feet, he turned away from us and started walking towards the lions. We were astonished. His head held high, his feet moving in a determined but slow fashion he walked straight at the lion pride and as he got closer they all got up and moved away. This ‘King of the Jungle’ had silently, calmly said to the pride that he was higher in status than them and as a by-product he had moved the lions away from the water hole for the smaller game.
Be the elephant in your house. Move around calmly and silently. If your dog is lieing in a corridor or doorway use your feet slowly and kindly but walk through your dog. You will find that as you get close your dog will get up and move away. This body language elevates your status and helps to show your dog that you take care of them, and supply the water and food for everyone in the family.
Dog listening uses body language to help the dog relax and let us take care of them.
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