"Dusty, Here!"
Understanding a Dog's Point of View
by
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March 5
TO: Duffy
FROM: Dusty
SUBJECT: I am the leader of the pack!
Dear Duffy,
I didn''t really enjoy meeting you yesterday, but my mom did. You''re supposed to be helping ME! I heard you talking to my mom for a very long time after you stuck me in my crate without saying a word to me and ignored me. You don’t understand. I wanted ALL the attention, and I thought you were going to give me everything I wanted. I was having a great time trying to be leader of the pack (my mom doesn''t know how to be, so I have to take over when I can''t find a leader), but you stepped right in and took over my role. I heard you tell my mom I''m probably not crazy, but I am an alpha personality, dominant aggressive, and defiantly so, at that. It''s not nice to call dogs names, Duffy. And ever since you left, my mom is calling, "Dusty, here!" I run to her every time, though, and I sit when she says "sit," (with a hand signal and that nice tone), because I love the treats, praise, and attention she gives me when I do. She also gives me lots of rubbin''s when I do these things for her. I like my new mom, but she isn''t always a very
good leader and if I can''t be the leader and have my way all the time, I’m not sure I want to stay. Are you going to teach her how to be a better leader?
Yours,
Dusty
P.S. You''re right. My name is Dusty. I know because my mom keeps saying, "Dusty, here!"
March 6
TO: Dusty
FROM: Duffy
SUBJECT: Sorry, your mom will be the
leader!
Dear Dusty,
I''m sorry you weren''t happy about meeting me at first yesterday. I like you a lot, but I had to get your attention and the only way I could do that was to catch you in midair in the midst of one of your races through the house and carry you into your room and put you in your crate for some quiet time. You know from your dog mother that disrupting the pack is not acceptable. You''re right about my not speaking a word to you. I never will when I put you in "timeout", which was what I was doing. You see, I want you to understand that if you cannot behave around the other pack members, then you can’t be around them for a time. You are very social, and it is important that we socialize with “respect” for other pack members. Remember, I told you that the position of alpha leader would be reserved for your human mom and that in earning what you get, you will receive all the wonderful things that dogs love. For example, when I put you to bed and you are a good boy, I will say loving words to you. But, hey, you weren''t in timeout very long--just a couple of minutes--and then after I let you out, I showed you that if you had manners (by coming when called and sitting), I would give you a treat and praise you for good pack behavior. I had to put you back into timeout a few minutes later, though, because you ran out and yanked on the vertical blinds with your teeth. We did this routine several times, as you recall, until you were a good boy when I let you out the last time. Also remember that I told you that this training would be done with understanding, love, respect, and tough love when needed, in case you forget. Sometimes it is necessary to repeat the teaching until you get it. Your species learns by mimic, repetition, and observation, so human leaders need to learn to be aware of this and that repetitions sometimes have to be varied due to the age and abilities of the individual dog.
Yours,
Duffy
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About the Book
Have you ever heard of an “alpha leader”? Do you know that dogs of all breeds and personalities are constantly evaluating their statuses in a pack (of which you are a part)? Do you know that dogs really want to please their human leaders; that they don’t misbehave out of spite or any other motivation? Do you know that a dog’s point of view differs from your own? If you answered “No” to any of these questions or you answered “Yes” but love to read entertaining, yet informative, books, you need to meet Dusty. “Dusty, Here!” is a conversation between Dusty, a dog, and Uncle Duffy, his “behavior modifier” and obedience trainer. Complete with delightful illustrations and pet portraits, this book is entertaining for children and adults alike and is chocked full of practical information on how you can modify your dog’s behavior on a day-to-day business.
About the Author
Duff Lueder and a Collie dog became devoted friends when Duff visited his aunt and uncle’s farm in the summers of his childhood. Their bond strengthened when the Collie saved 12-year-old Duffy’s life. Duff cherished the memory of this demonstration of devotion between one species and another, but it wasn’t until 1981 when he became a certified K-9 dog handler as part of his law enforcement career that he was given the opportunity to understand, appreciate, and reestablish that bond between dog and human. He learned how dogs learn, think, and perceive their surroundings and how to communicate with them based on their views and understanding of the world. In 1992 Duff developed his KNINEPAL TRAINING & BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAM. Bettie LaDuke and her dog (Dusty) are two of many graduates of this program.