Many of us are in search of perfection. We strive to find the perfect job, partner, friend, kid, body…you fill in the blank. But what about the perfect dog? What would that dog look like or how would it behave? Often, the perfect dog is viewed as one that is under control. You know, the dog that is always off leash, walking right next to their “master,” the one being “obedient,” no matter what.
I believed the owners winning the obedience trials had the ultimate level of control over their dog.
Growing up, I used to attend dog obedience competitions. The dogs were amazing to watch, and, as I ventured down that road with my own dog, I soon appreciated the time, energy and effort it took to get a dog to perform at that level. Obedience competitions require both dog and owner to display precision in movement, follow specific rules and patterns for walking, and adhere to set expectations for each obedience exercise.
As an adult, I now akin obedience competitions to watching the compulsory portion of an ice skating or gymnastics competition. Here, each athlete performs the exact same routine and is judged upon their level of perfection. But let’s investigate the definition of the word compulsory; something that is obligatory, constraining, mandatory, required, coercive. These words make my chest tighten as I write them. They are not words that I want associated with having control over my dog and are much too robotic and militaristic for my liking.
When watching freestyle competitions, there are still set criteria and performance expectations. However, there is room for creativity, artistic interpretation, freedom of expression, individuality, and the opportunity to highlight strengths. These are the competitions that I find more enjoyable to watch, and they still demonstrate control.
No matter what type of competition we may find enjoyable, we must remember that it is actually a routine or performance. When dogs are out of the competition rink, they don’t act the same way. Their owners understand that it’s completely unrealistic (and exhausting and stressful) to maintain the same high level of control over their dogs 24/7. Having control over your dog is not black and white, it’s not an all or nothing proposition. Just as with athletes, when they are not performing, they are not perfect, nor should they expect to be so.
The real question should be is your dog perfect for you?
When I consider a “perfect” dog for my family, I envision a dog that can hang out with us in public places. I’d want a dog that can play with other dogs and enjoy interacting with people as well. The dog would be predictable and trustworthy. They would be able to calmly relax, but not required to stay in one spot to do so. The dog could also be alone and happy without my constant guidance. Lastly, maybe that dog could be off leash in public, but it would depend on the temperament and age of the dog and the time and energy my family had already put into training them. Even as a dog trainer, I do not expect my dogs to always be under control. But when they are “out of control,” it’s in a safe environment and usually filled with play and fun.
Now that’s MY description of “perfection,” and even that is a hefty list, not always attainable. But the description encompasses a considerable amount of wiggle room, and lot’s of room for flexibility. The reality is that a relationship with a dog should be much more fluid, a give and take, with a level of respect for strong suits and understanding of limitations.
Dogs are like people, where some of them become brain surgeons and others are artists. Some of them are wall-flowers and others are the life of the party. It’s important to meet your dog where they are, and build on their strengths to create the perfect dog for you.
