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Training Versus Genetics?

Yes, genetics play a big part. Mentoring by human and dogs plays a big part.
But everyone forgets the most important ingredient. Relationship. Love.

I am in with my dogs everyday, and I see them look into my eyes asking urgent questions: Do you love me? Do you like what I am doing? Do I matter?

I know that big growers rely on genetics as they place LGDs out with large herds where they don’t relate to them personally. I understand that and recognize the long history of it.

But my deeper feelings go back to the vision of shepherds like King David who would risk his life for his animals.

Livestock and their canine guardians are not for another purpose. And they are especially not for the lowest possible thing they could be for -- money.

Livestock and their canine guardians ARE life. There isn’t anything of greater value they could be traded for.

There is nothing wrong with good business principles in balance. My animals support themselves and also make extra for the upkeep of the places they live in, and for necessary investments in genetics to add to the herds and flocks.

How your dog relates to you is where everything begins. You cannot train or discipline a dog who doesn’t trust you. Gaining, earning, and keeping that relationship is everything when it comes to livestock and dogs. In fact, after that is established, it turns out that what dogs get disciplined most for is owner ignorance. Yep. That’s a pill to swallow. :-)

Above all, dogs need to know the balance between two crucial things -- Who is in charge, and does the person in charge recognize the individual sentience and intelligence of the dog. Does the person in change want slaves or partners? Dogs will feel the answer to these questions and respond accordingly.

This question here, is what makes dogs so healing for humans. We think we are doing the teaching, but in reality, we bump into wall after wall until our consciousness is raised and we become loving. When a dog loves you, it will study your moves and you can mentor/model the specifics. Dogs learn from each other this way as well.

Every animal keeper, and every dog pack, and every livestock herd is different. Nuanced. We get help and guidance from each other, but at some point, we need to build and create on our own.

When we love, we are at our most wise and intelligent. Everything we ask is reasonable, direct, easy to read, and humble. We are not adding ego tax. We do better as learners. Dogs have a lot to give us... we just need to be patient enough to let them heal, restore, and teach us so that we can begin to hear the lost language of planet earth again.