The Partnership Between Man and Dog
To understand the natural genetic instincts of your dog is to better understand their motivations in life.
Most modern canines trace their lineage to the wolf. About 14,000 years ago it is believed that wolves first interacted with man. Ancient wolves were believed to offer protection against predators in return for scraps of food. Subsequently humans began selectively breeding these ancient canines to suit our needs.
Much has been learned about canine psychology since the identification of classical conditioning by Ivan Pavlov. From his research arose the pervasive philosophy that dogs are much like machines and can be "trained" by pure repetition. Dogs have thoughts and feelings and it is the desire of every dog to know its place within the family or "pack." This means the dog must know who is in charge of making decisions at all times. Without this essential building block, the life of a dog can be stressful and confusing.