Intuition and Instinct in Dog Training
Intuition: a deep knowing or feeling not based on "logic" or "proof", and transcends "conscious reasoning".
Instinct: an innate, natural genius or inherent ability to respond in a specific way without logic or complex reasoning.
The difference between the two is feeling and response. Feeling and knowing, and acting based on that feeling and knowing without question.
We're more connected, yet more disconnected than ever before. More connected to those we don't know (and will likely never know), and more disconnected from those we do know ... including (and especially) ourselves.
We've been taught and conditioned to believe that all "knowing" lies outside of ourselves. So much so that we've learned to question and doubt our own leanings, feeling, knowing, and truth.... we *all* have this.
We're taught in the classroom that "science" contains all the answers. That all facts are facts. "If something can't be measured (by us humans with our limited understanding, limited thinking, limited knowing), it doesn't exist." We close ourselves off to what lies beyond the physical (what we can see, touch, taste, smell, etc). There's still so much of which we have no comprehension.
I've found that, not only in dog training- but in "life" in general, the most effective approach to anything is a fine blend and interplay of: this "science" (the dots we've connected on this human and physical experiential level, what-we've-been-able-to-explain-to-date, and what-we-think-we-know-thus-far), experience, intuition, and instinct.
Working with dogs will humble us all, regardless of knowledge, expertise, and experience. Especially when it comes to a phenomenon as complex, intricate, and layered as ***behavior***. Because of this, a purely scientific approach to it will (and does) have its limits.
For any human to walk into a behavioral situation with the information in their brains and the thinking they've got it all figured out, dogs will quickly show us this is not the case. Many are trying to approach an emotional body issue (needs not being met, trauma and traumatic residue, and the frustration, anxiety, insecurity, fear, etc. that develops as a result) through a mental body approach. And, sadly, the dogs who challenge the science-only thinker will likely end up even more frustrated and anxious, then drugged, living in isolation, or euthanized because of it. I've seen it time and time again. Sadly, we also approach human health and well being this way. What we've coined as "mental health" issues, are actually **emotional health** issues. But I digress.
Now, this is not to say that certain dogs don't have their personal limits themselves. This is a truth for everyone. But working with *behavior* requires us to, at times, depend less on we've been taught and lean into our feeling. Lean into our intuition and instinct. We're animals, too, but we've become so disconnected from the fabric of who we are. Tapping into intuition and instinct is tapping back into who we are in nature. This enables us to tune and dial into what the individual dog in front of us needs. Animals naturally practice this; so opening back up to this aspect of ourselves will allow better exchanges, deeper understanding, and a stronger sense of trust.
Truly effective behavioral work draws upon all aspects of our knowing, both the measurable and immeasurable. Logical and intuitive. Calculated and instinctual. This brings a much broader perspective to a heavily layered equation. Learning to trust the feeling we get in our gut if a boundary has been crossed, if we've been pushing a little too much, if we're creating a sense of overwhelm- or even underwhelm. Or if something simply feels off... doesn't feel right. Paying attention to this will build trust in ourselves, trust in the dogs we're working with, and also protect us from potentially harmful situations.
Education and experience are important, yes; but don't forget to build the intrinsic muscles along with the extrinsic ones. To allow all parts of the equation to have a voice (including the dog... remember- **behavior is information**). This is one of the main reasons we do a deep dive into personal coaching and development in our shadow and mentorship programs. Cultivating awareness and addressing the blocks, the resistance, the doubt, the fears..... Learning to listen to ourselves and *trusting* what comes up for us will carve the path for better (and more effective) impact.
