What Ancient Greece taught us about Dog Training
AI is upon us. It is the first thing that pops up on our phones when we search, it is programmed to read our faces, it can drive a car. It can tell you how to train your dog, sometimes with good advice. AI is only as good as the popularity of the information it gathers.
Training an animal is not a one size fits all. Dogs of all ages, breeds and temperaments have come through our training doors, some as part of our family, but most were enrolled in our training programs. We have also been fortunate to learn from talented trainers from around the globe, each with their own style, but with common threads. Training concepts have evolved as we have learned more about animal behavior, but the common threads go back to ancient Greece to a man named Xenophon. AI hasn’t gathered much about him, but we have.
Xenophon was a Greek general and a revered philosopher. He was born in approximately 430 BCE and died around 355 BCE. He is best known for his work on Socrates, (you may have heard of The Apology of Socrates), but he also wrote about politics, strategies of war, economics, horsemanship and dogs. “Cynegeticus” which roughly translates to “On Hunting” was written by Xenophon in approximately 400 BCE. In Cynegeticus, Xenophon wrote of the important role dogs had in providing food, and that without dogs the hunt would not have been successful. And of course, a successful hunt is only possible with dogs who are in good health, and “intelligently trained.”
Since the book is about how to hunt (preparation, clothing, tools, prey behavior) I took the liberty to pick out the thoughts that apply to dogs and the common threads that we still use in dog training roughly 2000 years later.
Mental and Physical Development
Xenophon understood that dogs should have time to be puppies, mature up mentally and physically. Puppies are not ready for the rigors of stringent obedience until they have longer attention spans. This does not mean we do not train. Training begins the moment we bring a pup into our homes, but our expectations should pair with the pup’s mental and physical abilities. It is difficult for an immature puppy to walk in perfect heel position around the block with no pulling. They need time to explore and learn about the world. Xenophon wrote, “keep them (dogs) on long leashes allowing them to frolic to and fro.”
Xenophon wrote of the importance of exercise and how to properly prepare dogs for the hunt. He describes how exhaustion can affect a dog mentally and physically and the importance of building a pup’s endurance to avoid injury. Planning on hiking this summer? Maybe start with some short hikes together to build strength. Your dog likes to retrieve? Doing it for 20 minutes may feel like a good idea, but you could be wearing down your dog’s joints, tendons and ligaments. If your dog has not been swimming for the past three seasons, maybe limit the amount of time they spend in the water until they are conditioned for it.
The Effects of Weather
Back in 400 BCE Xenophon advised the following:
The hot season is upon us, and every year we send out a warning along with an easy way to test the ground temperature for dog paws. Before taking your dog out for a walk, either stand barefoot on the surface you will be walking on or lay the back of your hand firmly on the surface for ten seconds. If it’s comfortable for you, it will be comfortable for your dog. Recheck periodically if the ambient temperature rises.
Concrete, asphalt, dirt and even grass can be dangerously hot when the temperature soars. Hot artificial turf is especially misleading because it is green to our eye, but catastrophic on dog paws. Xenophon also advises to “rub down the hounds and leave the hunting-ground, if it be an afternoon in summer, in order that the hounds’ feet may not be overheated on the road.”
Proper Nutrition and Feeding Habits
Dog Dynamics trainers are big believers in motivating dogs and making training fun. We believe that when a dog eats their food for performing tasks it makes their food, and subsequently the handler, more valuable. This is not a new concept. Xenophon wrote, “as a rule the master should feed the dogs himself for when they are hungry, they love the giver.”
A strong military depends on good nutrition, and this included the dogs used for the hunt. Xenophon cautioned, “Heavy feeding warps the puppies’ legs and sows the seeds of disease.” Instead of relying solely on what the dog food package reads, watch your dog’s waistline. Consider using a Dog Ideal Body Weight Chart which will help you monitor your individual dog’s need for calories. Include the treats you use in training when you measure out your dog’s food for the day. This will prevent your dog from being over fed.
Training, Voice Inflection and Rewards
“Vary the hunting-ground frequently, so that the hounds may be familiar with the hunting-grounds and the master with the country.” Your dog may understand how to come when called in your home but take your dog to the beach and it’s a whole ‘nother story. Vary your training locations so your dog learns the sound of the command means the same thing in a wide variety of places and situations.
Voice inflection is also part of communication. When we use a commanding voice to give our dog direction, we should sound confident that the behavior will be performed. This does not mean the sound is loud or angry. On the contrary, it should come across as a fact, a conviction. On the other hand, anyone who has been to a sporting even knows the power of rousing spectators. Want to encourage your dog to come to you faster? That’s the time to use your excited voice inflection. Take a lesson from Xenophon. His chant was “Oho, hounds, oho!”
For a reward we may give an energetic rub on the dog’s head, but this may not be the right motivator depending upon your dog’s reaction afterward. Sometimes petting a dog, especially if it is with force, can cause a dog to become overly aroused and forget what they were doing, and/or can be off putting to a dog if they do not view a vigorous rub on the head as a reward. Xenophon wrote of the importance of quiet praise “without touching.” Instead, when your dog looks up at you for approval quietly tell your dog you think they are the best dog on the planet. Say it from the heart.
Xenophon advised giving dogs names that are one or two syllables, “so as to be able to call to them easily.” “Psyche, Porpax, Spude, and Gnome” to name a few. Not dog names you would hear often in the 21st Century! But what struck me was Xenophon recognized the dogs as individuals and wanted them to know the sound of their own name. This is important. He viewed each dog as a separate sentient being.
There it is. The most important common thread that AI can’t do, not yet anyway. Each dog is a unique being that is unlike any other. Respect for the individual dog. No two will ever be the same and we choose the training tools and techniques that are appropriate for the dog in front of us. We use the lessons from Xenophon, along with the advances in behavioral sciences, and tailor the training to that one dog on the end of the leash.
It’s that “ah ha” moment we have when we connect. This cannot be programmed, because it is learned from training thousands of dogs, taught by each and every dog we have the honor to meet and learn from.
“I am no professor, but I know that the best thing is to be taught what is good by one’s own nature, and the next best thing is to obtain it from those who really know something good, instead of being taught by masters of the art of deception.” Xenophon
Happy Training.
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About Bonnie
Bonnie Brown Cali is a seasoned professional dog trainer and the founder of Dog Dynamics, based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 30 years of experience in the field, Bonnie is known for her expertise in various dog training disciplines, including service and protection dogs, wildlife conservation, and search and rescue operations.
