num_pages: 272
description: Much research has been done to examine the numerous variables which determine human behavior. I have found that the understanding of behavior can be immensely simplified by understanding a few basic principals governing the behavior of social animals, and especially the dog. Dogs provide an ideal prototype for the study of behavior in humans because they, like humans, are genetically social animals. Equally important, they are unique in their willingness to seek a bond of servitude to humans as strongly as with members of their own species. This makes them analogous to young children, at least in all the essential ways we need to understand the effects of early environmental conditioning, and especially the influence of different styles of training and discipline upon behavior. The word "discipline." has negative connotations to most people because, in their own childhood, it was associated with suppression or control. Discipline, as used here, is not equated with punishment, coercion, or suppression. These are all measures resorted to by an autocratic authority figure when discipline has failed. These, too, ultimately fail in their goal. Although initially they may gain outward compliance, they promote resentment, rebellion, or passive-aggressive resistance through escapism or apathy. The proper exercise of discipline is essential for teaching a young child to modulate his impulses and to meet challenges and expectations with greater and greater levels of mastery so as to develop a positive self-concept. Since most of the important communication between a young child is non-verbal (actions and tone of voice carry more impact than words), we can we can find a number of parallels between their behavioral responses and the behavior of puppy dogs to an authority figure. If this appears to be an over-simplification, then all the better. Too often children are treated as if they are tiny adults. On the contrary, they are bewildered, confused, in awe of adults and totally unable to comprehend the motives of the adults. They cannot reason like adults because of their frontal lobes, the reasoning parts of the brain, is incompletely developed until after five years of age. All they experience is the intense need to be loved and to be found acceptable by their god-like caretakers. Their hypnotic-like suggestibility and susceptibility to the emotions of their parents gives to the parents a level of power over them that is unequaled in any other human relationship. Most parents are unaware of their power and commonly misuse it by careless, critical, harsh, or impatient rough handling which creates deep emotional wounds to the psyche of the child. Early training practices establish the foundation for all future relationships and communication between parent and child, as well as a dog owner and his newly-purchased puppy. Dr. Pecci
language: English
title: Dog & Human Behavior: Amazing Parallels-Similarities
titlecomplete: Dog & Human Behavior: Amazing Parallels-Similarities
publisher: The Higher Leash