| What is dog power? | | | | certain genetic traits that allow them to do the things |
| The most common answer is the power a dog has | | | | a husky is bred to do. The characteristics such as |
| when pulling something. That definition, often relates | | | | strength, endurance, and intelligence come with, for |
| only to the dogs physical strength. Dog power can | | | | lack of a better term, side effects. These side |
| also mean the power of your dogs spirit. Recently, I | | | | effects have several names such as stubbornness, |
| had an amazing discussion with Gary Williams. Gary is | | | | excitability, or bad behavior. Good dog handlers (or |
| 3rd degree black belt in the Mars-Zen-Do style of | | | | Karate Masters) harness the energy and spirit of side |
| Karate. He owns the website His website offers | | | | effects into stamina. This adds to the overall power |
| insights into how Karate can help improve a variety | | | | of the dog (or human in Karate). |
| of sports. | | | | Stamina is only one benefit of being able to harness |
| Gary and I discussed the similarities and differences | | | | and channel the spirit and energy (in dogs and |
| between Karate training techniques and dog training | | | | people). Train-ability and loyalty are also things that |
| techniques. In Karate, sparring is the practice of | | | | are present in those traits. Depending on the |
| technique, but sparring does not have to include | | | | environment the husky (or human) grew up in, and |
| contact or physical harm. Canine sparring is what | | | | the teachers or trainers they have as they mature, is |
| what happens when dogs play. | | | | what determines when and if these good traits can |
| In Karate, instructions are barked out to keep the | | | | be drawn out. |
| intensity of the movements up. The instructor will | | | | In Karate, sparring is only allowed when the Sensei |
| then make his way down the line of students | | | | (Master) feels the student has enough skill, but more |
| critiquing stances and movements and giving praise or | | | | importantly control of his skills. Karate students first |
| correcting positions. At the spiritual or etheric level, | | | | learn to spar with no contact allowed, and gradually |
| eye contact is always part of that praise. The | | | | progress to light contact. Finally, full contact sparring |
| student receives positive reinforcement through the | | | | is allowed, but only to specific body areas. This |
| acceptance of the teachers' energy. The lower level | | | | controlled sparring determines strengths and |
| student is expected to accept eye contact so that | | | | weaknesses of the opponent, but more importantly |
| he can receive the energy the teacher is giving. At | | | | the strength and weakness of the self. |
| the higher levels, energy is exchanged through Karate | | | | This is similar to the meaning behind crate training a |
| blocks and strikes whether there is contact or not. | | | | dog. When a dog or puppy is new to your home |
| Respect for the Sensei (Master) comes from this | | | | they do not have much self control. Not just control |
| exchange of energy. In dog training, you must | | | | of bodily functions, but control of curiosity. It is up to |
| breathe AND offer your dog an acknowledgment of | | | | the human to provide a place where control can be |
| respect and an exchange of energy. If you just hold | | | | discovered. When you crate a dog, you are providing |
| your body and breath rigidly while staring your dog | | | | a quiet place with few distractions. In Karate, when |
| down hoping he'll look away, you have not asked for | | | | people spar, the rest of the class is required to sit |
| respect, you have simply bullied your dog. Asking for | | | | quietly and watch. This provides a safe, distraction |
| respect is a two way street. | | | | free environment for learning. It is in this quiet way |
| Respect also comes in the form of respecting space. | | | | that fear and trust issues between humans, or |
| If a dog growls at you when you go near his food | | | | owner and dog, can be resolved. Yes, trust is |
| dish it is not always a challenge. It is just a reminder | | | | involved in learning self control for humans as well as |
| for you to respect the dogs space, and the fact that | | | | dogs. As a dog becomes better at controlling his |
| he considers that dish and the food in it his. Giving | | | | curiosity he gains trust, and then he is allowed more |
| respect at a simple time like that can be meaningful | | | | freedom. |
| to a dog. Challenge him at that time and he may not | | | | Karate is based on principals of universal laws. |
| back down. Things can escalate unnecessarily. This is | | | | Universal means dogs fall under these laws. However, |
| the difference between picking fights and respecting | | | | as the supposed more intelligent being, and our |
| space. | | | | conscious understanding of those principals, we have |
| If you have a working dog, like a Husky, they are | | | | the responsibility to uphold respect with our canine |
| bred for a specific purpose. That means they have | | | | counterparts. |