WHO CONTROLS THE SPACE: Physical Communication

Think about space as a tangible thing: how do you feel when someone gets too close to you in line at the supermarket? Have you ever had a boss who looms over you when he checks your work?

Who gets the big, compfy chair in the corner office, and who gets the little, hard chair in a cubicle is a clear example of space hierarchy at work.

In the animal world, space is also at a premium. The dominant mare in a herd of horses makes the other horses move away with just a look. The “natural” horse trainers use pressure and release in training. The clearest reward to a horse is the release of pressure.

The dominant dog doesn’t move out of the way of an irritating puppy; if the puppy is a bother, the adult snaps at it and tells it to go away. The top dog gets the best toys, the best sleeping spot, etc.

We can use space very effectively in dog training. If you want your dog’s attention, move into his space. Use your body pressure to demand his attention. Once he looks at you and yields space to you, relax your pressure. Move away and invite him into your space. This concept works well to control the dog who likes to jump up in greeting. We instinctively move away from the dog as he jumps on us, but in effect, we’re yielding, saying “here, you can have my space”. Instead, lean into the dog. Scuff over the top of him, while saying happily “oh, were you in my space? I wouldn’t have stepped on you if you weren’t in my space.” We will work on this “space game” concept extensively in class, as it has applications in both agility, obedience, and daily manners.