Mind over matter is an idea that has been at the forefront of philosophical conversation for ages. One Guilderland animal trainer has translated that strategy into a way to keep animals calm and obedient.
Patricia Marciano runs a business at a rural property near Guilderland’s western border. On her property sits a house, a horse stable and a kennel of dogs.
Outside the kennel, the scent of burning wood fills the air; Marciano is petting the only dog that lives with her full time, a half-Dalmatian named Greta.
Marciano has run her dog training and boarding business since 2004 and is an avid horse rider and self-proclaimed animal lover her whole life. This love of animals translated into a career as one of the area’s most respected dog trainers.
For her boarding business, she said, owners will typically leave their animals between two nights and two weeks, but she has kept dogs for as long as a month. Boarding at her kennel is $27 per day.
Her dog training, though, is where she has really made her mark. She focuses on using body language rather than verbal commands to help keep dogs calm. There are some words and sounds that she uses, but she said the best training techniques involve getting the dog to know what you are thinking.
She demonstrated her techniques on Regen, a 4-year-old yellow lab and a real pistol. Marciano said Regen has consistently been a `trouble dog.`
`He is a very active dog,` Marciano said. `He has the attention span basically of a flea.`
Regen once broke his owner’s rib when he chased after a rabbit while on a walk.
Her strategy with Regen was to give him a choice to do what is correct, and what is wrong, then reward him when he does what she is asking. She stressed that he must have a choice, and it is important to start with the simple tasks.
`I’m just asking him to stay here,` she said.
She tries to get him to focus on her body language, and she does not actually say much at all.
`When he has the ability to focus on me it takes out everything in the world,` she said.
A large part of what Marciano does is to get the dog to focus on her head, and instead of yanking him with the leash, she allows him to follow her body and go where she wants him to without being forceful.
She said people often think that using the leash is the best way to control a dog, however that is a mistake.
`The mental leash is much stronger than any physical leash you will ever have,` she said.
She also said people often accidentally reinforce bad behavior.
She said if a dog jumps on someone and that person uses his or her hands to get it down, the dog could misinterpret that as petting and think it is behavior that person is seeking.
Marciano said she started out boarding dogs when the Guilderland animal shelter was under renovation and she had taken in some animals in the interim.
She said many had issues, including one pit bull `with lots of energy.` The 4-year-old would not listen to commands, and would constantly nip and jump on people. She said using her training techniques, she was able to train the animal to behave, and it was eventually able to be adopted.
`You have to see what you have. Most of it is a frustration level,` she said of why some dogs seem like they cannot be trained.
She said a lot of her expertise comes from watching other trainers, reading books, experience and patience.
Marciano has watched top-level trainers and said it is important to find the techniques that work best for the individual dog.
`Is what this person is doing something I can replicate at home?` she asked.
She said most dogs that act rambunctious are confused about the expectations of their owners. She said humans give dogs many mixed signals about how they should act.
`It’s a communication issue,` she said. `Every dog is a product of its owner.`
Marciano said if dogs knew that their owners expected them to be calm, they would, as dogs are innately obedient.
`One of the things that I find with dogs is that they do want to please,` she said.
Ironically, she said, most humans are trying to please their dogs, and end up sending the wrong message about what behaviors are expected.
Most people, she said, would love the opportunity to relax, and if they were expected to, and if they were told to, would do so.
`I’m not looking to run a marathon every day. If someone tells me to sit down and read a book, I’m in.`
Susan Green, president of Guilderhaven, an animal welfare organization, said Marciano has been a great help to the group.
`We have taken advantage of her expertise over the past seven or eight years,` Green said.
She said Marciano has provided advice and fostered animals for Guilderhaven.
`I appreciate her more than she will ever know,` Green said.
Guilerhaven works to raise money to help the elderly afford veterinarian bills and buy food and litter. It also helps find homes for animals, as well as several other services related to animal care.
Green said Marciano has helped trains dogs that were so troubled they were rejected by a number of local agencies, and she was able to turn them into `model citizens.` Many have found homes with loving families.
`She’s been really, really helpful,` added Guilderhaven board member Georgia Fishburn. `She has a big heart.` “