Clean Run - October 2017 - 5

How Sweet Coercion
By Lynne Stephens, KPA CTP

"We live in a coercive world,
bombarded by warning signals and threats."
"Although people influence
each other in many ways, they
turn more readily to coercive
means to get results than to
other means."
From Coercion and its Fallout by Murray Sidman
Assertions:
"There, there."
"It's OK. It won't hurt."
"You'll be all right."
"There's nothing to worry
about."
"Don't be silly!"
"Stop making a fuss!"
Waiting:
Lots of noise.
People talking all around.
To each other?
To me?
Unfamiliar words.
I don't understand.
Looking at me.
Frantic gestures.
Does she want me?
I guess she does!
Pulling at me.
Placing me.
Strange positions.
Ouch!

Uncomfortable poses.
I try to adjust.
I'm pulled again.
I don't like this.
I stiffen up.

As I take a sip, I admire my newly manicured hand! Yes, this is
about me and a trip to the nail salon! Nothing unusual about that
you may think; however, this is not a regular experience for me-
working with dogs is not conducive to keeping beautiful nails! Vacations, however, are another story-my chance to look groomed
and be pampered, so off to the salon I went. Happily, voluntarily!

Resist the tension.
Whoa!
She's gripping tighter.
Pulling harder
Now I can't move.
I'd better keep still.

And so, this description is of a manicurist ever so gently coercing me as she pulled, pushed, and twisted my hands into various
unusual positions. English not being her native language, she
chatted happily away to her co-workers as she worked, occasionally glancing in my direction with a reassuring smile or an
instruction-an instruction I didn't understand.

Are they speaking to me?
I can't tell.
More noise.
She talks as she works.
Should I do something?
She's not looking at me.
Maybe she doesn't mean me.
I don't understand.
She looks in my direction
Now maybe I should
respond?
Not sure.
I'm grabbed again.
A different position.
Kind of twisted.
More talking.
I don't understand.
It's all over!
She smiles!
I think we're done.
Yes we are done!
Quick, pay the bill.
I need coffee!

It was me, wondering when and whether any of her sounds were
pertinent to me. Should I be listening, trying to understand?
How would I know if she wanted me to respond? How would I
know when I was doing the right thing?
This led me to consider some of the many other uncomfortable
situations into which we humans routinely and voluntarily place
ourselves. Situations that we know are good for us. Situations
where we have some idea of what is going to happen-maybe
a visit to the doctor, the dentist, or the chiropractor. Situations
nonetheless that we find disconcerting and, at times, pretty scary.
And, yet, despite "knowing" this and working hard to provide
only the most positive experiences for my dogs, this is when
it truly hit me. I was experiencing the very same apprehension
and confusion they experience regularly on visits to the veterinarian, the groomer, or maybe even the training facility.
At the nail salon, I reacted with discomfort and resistance as
the manicurist very gently coerced me into position. However,
I experienced all this with just one really significant difference
from my dogs: I chose to be there-I paid for the experience and
I knew that I desired the outcome.
In conclusion, I believe that whilst it may be highly unlikely we
can provide a totally coercion-free life for our dogs, I'd like to
think that with a little more empathy and training, we could all
make positive steps toward that end.

Lynne Stephens

With more than 35 years experience in education and dog sports, Lynne now shares her expertise instructing individuals, classes, and seminars. She graduated with
honors from the Karen Pryor Academy as a Certified Training Partner in 2013. She won the coveted British working trials title ASPADS PD of the year with a Belgian
Tervuren in the 1980s and was a member of the British World Agility team in 2003 and 2004. Contact Lynne at lynne@doglogictraining.com or through her website
www.doglogictraining.com.
October 17 | Clean Run

http://www.doglogictraining.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - October 2017