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