Predictability is safety.
Predictability. Certainty. These are survival instincts. To have predictability and certainty means to avoid pain, pitfalls, and maintain a level of comfort.
Much like humans find a sense of security and comfort through having a level of certainty, many dogs aren't that far off; especially when it comes to the more sensitive, anxious, nervous, fearful, easily-overwhelmed, mal-equipped, under-developed, insecure, etc. types. This is exactly why structure, order, and routine are each so beneficial to so many dogs and in so many ways.
When we cultivate an environment and establish a routine that supports a level of predictability, we're also building trust, confidence, security, safety, comfort, and baby-stepping our way to introducing more uncertainty, unpredictability, and variety in the future. This is especially important for new dogs coming into the picture with unknown origins and/or whom may have had unstable, unpredictable, traumatic (**there are varying levels of trauma, especially psychological and emotional**) experiences leading up to this point.
Our nervous systems are our friends, and want nothing more than to keep us safe and for us to survive; but for insecure, mal-equipped, under-developed, fearful, anxious, etc. dogs, their nervous systems stay activated in over-drive resulting in them living in defense drive (fight, flight, freezing up, hoodwinking, or complete avoidance). This makes anyone's "life experience" one of struggle, constant discomfort, and hardship.
Predictability is safety, and in a world where...
: dogs are constantly being tossed into situations they're not equipped, nor haven't been equipped, to handle,
: their experiences are the direct result of choices and decisions we're making for them (and we, as the ultimate decision-makers, are collectively not educated in canine behavior or psychology, nor is there understanding of individual/instinctual/breed-specific needs or how to read or communicate effectively with dogs),
: the general public feels entitled to encroaching on a dog's personal and intimate space (remember, there are 4 levels of space: public space, social space, personal space, and intimate space) and the dog doesn't have an advocate in his or her human; so the pressure builds of having to advocate for him or herself (*a great many dogs are highly sensitive about people / dogs they don't have relationship with coming into their personal and intimate space*.. learn to read the signs!),
: more "dog lovers" exist as opposed to "dog understander-ers" (and more dogs are being "loved" to the point of instability, insecurity, fear, frustration, anxiety, pushiness, etc because people aren't loving or honoring them as the animal, species of animal, breed or mix of breed, and as the individual they are; dogs are constantly *gaining* without *earning* or working for anything... which goes against their nature entirely),
...and so on.
We've written on the various needs a dog has in order to feel safe, secure, and comfortable in their own skin and in the world around them, and providing a level of safety through predictability and certainty is one of the most important, fundamental building blocks we can begin with. This is how we can help our dogs move from merely surviving to truly thriving.
