"Control: To exercise authoritative or dominant influence over; direct, to hold in restraint; check."
- The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (3rd edition, 1992)

I'm someone who can never look up just one word in the dictionary. I love the definitions, the derivations, the historical uses of the words and the current examples. And normally I don't quibble with what I find. But the last four weeks of attending the Seattle Humane Society's Control Unleashed course have left me considering the word "control."

Control Unleashed, taught by Ali Johnson based on the book of the same name by Leslie McDevitt, is really about earning and unleashing trust between you and your dog – moving beyond the traditional definition of control.

In class, we've been working on exercises that sound really simple: helping the dogs relax in the presence of other dogs, teaching the dogs to be close to other dogs while remaining focused on the handler, walking with attention to the handler – on leash, dragging the leash and off-leash. My favorite exercise so far is the "give me a break game" which involves working with the dog on any behavior with a really high rate of enforcement (e.g., a "sit") and then suddenly breaking off until the dog asks for more. Suddenly the training roles are reversed; I'm no longer seeking my dog's attention, instead she's seeking mine.

Wendy and LaRoo, working in the center ring

We work on some exercises as a group, and at other times one dog works with his person in a designated area in the center of the auditorium while all the other dogs practice different exercises in their own workspaces. The first time Johnson asked me to unclip Mishka's leash while we were in the center ring, it took a great leap of faith for me to give up the security of the physical connection provided by the leash.

To my great delight, Mishka stayed with me in spite of the seven other dogs in class and all the other distractions around her. And the amazing thing is, that these days, even on leash, she's checking in with me more and more on our daily walks. On a few occasions she has even chosen me over the squirrels that seem to be everywhere in our neighborhood.

I don't expect Mishka to have perfect off-leash behavior on graduation night, but I know that Control Unleashed has given us a new foundation of trust on which Mishka and I can continue to build.

Lynn
lynnseattlehumane@gmail.com

Check out all the dog training courses and workshops that the Seattle Humane Society has to offer. You can download the current registration form, or call (425) 373 5385 for more information.