It’s a fact of life that not everyone gets along with everyone else. Humans measure our own civility by our ability to coexist, using what we call “manners.” We shouldn’t be surprised that our dogs have a similar code of conduct that they adhere to when interacting with other dogs. But do we really understand or even recognize dog manners when we see them?

If we truly want to understand our dogs for what they are, we have to take off the “rose colored glasses” of conventional wisdom about dogs. If we want to understand our dogs’ emotions, we have to see them for what they are and not what we wish they were.

We humans have been trained that the best way to train our dogs is through the use of coercion — and punishment and rewards. But Eric Brad has learned through his studies of behavioral science that just because something works doesn’t mean it’s right or the only way. In this article, Eric takes a groundbreaking look at kinder, saner and logical ways to build good, respectful relationships with our dogs.

As Eric Brad knows from teaching dog agility, good communication between handlers and dogs is everything. It’s not about forcing a dog to play the game, it’s about forming relationships that bring put the best in humans and dogs.