The Dogs Of War (1980)

Dog Training Throughout History

Any visit to a museum will reveal that art from as far back as prehistory shows dogs serving as helpers and companions to people.  Historians have learned from such artwork that our ancestors from centuries ago used dogs to help them for hunting and protection.  The benefit of this partnership between species went both ways as dogs had access to easy food and shelter.  Canines demonstrated early in history that their intuitive intelligence and ability to “read” body language made them perfect friends and helpers to human families.

It is not an exaggeration to say that dogs have played an important role in our society since antiquity.  During the agriculture age, dogs were crucial for protection of sheep, cattle and other livestock from predators.  Because they proved highly adaptable and able to learn, their roles grew in society to include jobs in military, health and other domestic settings.
Anatolian sheep dogs for example, an old breed, were crucial to Turkish shepherds in keeping herds under control and  protecting ships from dangerous animals.  But the use of dogs for protecting and herding livestock is one that is used extensively in virtually every society around the world.  In fact, breeds of dogs who instinctively herd animals is a work of art to behold and even show dogs have been trained to demonstrate this talent at high brow dog shows internationally.

The history of the Roman Empire is also rich with illustrations of dogs serving valuable functions as police dogs and in military roles.  The Romans knew the value of dogs in military functions so well that they had entire battalions comprised of dogs who were ready for battle.  Through out history armies recognized the value of trained dogs so much so that in World War I, canine were pivotal in helping out with delivering messages and guarding prisoners or crucial military outposts.  The Bouvier des Flandres was use for his strengh in Belgium and helped move military equipment around.  The number of military jobs dogs took on included scouting, finding hidden weapons and mines, tracking and espionage delivering messages.

Throughout history, dogs have demonstrated dozens of valuable skills above and beyond the military, spy or police functions.  There are archeological remains as far back as the first century that show that dogs were used to assist in leading the blinds.  In 1788, the very first facility for training dogs as eye seing guides was established at les “Quatre Vingts” in Paris, France.  That training has continued to develop and evolve. Today we see service dogs trained to assist people with autism, epilepsy, helping those who are disabled or assisting with cancer detection.

Dogs have natural abilities to work side by side with their handlers in a vast array of jobs including hunting, protection, assisting, detection or herding. Those abilities have evolved and been developed in selective breeding and training  for centuries.  The training of dogs has traditionally been set up to target work goals.  But along with serving in valuable work functions, dogs have become friends, confidants and even members of the family for millions of people now and down through history.

As society has moved away from agriculture and toward technology, the role of dogs in work related situations has declined although not disappeared.  It is common for families around the world to keep dogs aspet or play, for companionship and comfort.

As recently as the 1970s and 1980s, as the dog population grew. a need for private dog training emerged.  The background throughout the history of canine being trained for police or military jobs left us with harsh techniques like spanks to the mouth of the dog, scolding or choker chains to correct dogs.  The idea behind these methods was to establish dominance over the dog in order to fulfill that pack role of alpha dog.

The 1990s brought a shift to people’s thinking and an evolution toward positive reinforcement.  More effort was spent on dog behavior and psychology, which then resulted in a better understanding of dog behavior and different methods of training were being developed.  

Experts in how dogs think and interact have confirmed what many of us know that dogs are highly intelligent animals, very sensitive, intuitive and have a vast array of body language that we are just begining to understand. 

When positive reinforcement methods of training took off, there was also an explosion of dog training classes and courses that were available to dog owners.  Experts in training dogs like Karen Prior who innovated the clicker training method as well as Ian Dunbar and Cesar Millian had the combined goals of training the dog and the human  as well.

As culture evolves, the role of dogs in our lives has changed as well.  Nonetheless, family dogs are often highly prized and cared for members of millions of families worldwide.  The widespread inclusion of dogs in the family unit has made the availability of up-to-date dog training classes easy to access.

The internet has put vast amounts of dog training opportunities at our fingertips.  You can even train train your dog at home using the knowledge of experts online and get outstanding results with your own pooch: Learning from the comfort of your own living room and  training in your own comfortable back yard.

There is no denying that dogs are as much close friends, family members and confidants as any human in the family for millions of homes.  Nonetheless, the value of dogs in work situations has continued to be just as important now as ever.  Medical science is finding more and more ways that dogs can assist with the disabled and helping the sick or injured recover.  Because dogs are among the smartest animals we know, they will certainly enjoy a privileged position in the lives of millions for many years to come as well.

About the Author

Catherine Potin is a dog lover and learned a lot about canine behavior and language through her own dog and the many dogs that entered her life. Happy Dog Connections offers dog training tips and resources from various experts so you to can understand your pooch better. From basic dog trainingto solving behavior issues, you will find solutions to get better result with your training and create a deeper bond with you dog..

The Dogs Of War(1980)

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