… with Tim Savinkoff from Gibsons B.C.
The Dog Whisperer
All Photos Tim Savinkoff
I got to know Tim when I was a volunteer at the SPCA shelter in Sechelt B.C. He was a staff member there.
Tim was fabulous with dogs. He just knew how to deal with them and read them. That is why I call him the Dog Whisperer.
Tim Savinkoff has worked for the SPCA for eight years and he has had a private homestay pet tending business for the last 6 years.
In the eighties, he volunteered at the Humane Society in Toronto.
Tim has an Animal Welfare Certificate and he has loved animals all his life.
I thought it would be interesting and helpful to get some advice and insight from such a prolific dog lover.
Here we go.
Tim, are you a Dog Whisperer?
(He laughs.) I am a junior Dog Whisperer. I certainly believe more in positive reinforcement. That means you reward the dog by praising him when he does an acceptable thing. You don`t punish him. It never helps to hit a dog.
How do you discipline a dog for unwanted behaviour?
If you have to discipline the dog, it is absolutely necessary to give him a time-out of your anger. Let him and yourself just cool off.
Dogs really understand a time-out, a time away from you, in a kennel for instance. They know: I have been made to be alone.
That is a pretty severe form of discipline because dogs never want to be alone.
What is important in a relationship with a dog?
Show calm assertiveness. Let the dog calmly know that you are the leader. This way, the dog can understand the hierarchy, he understands what his role is is and who is in charge.
What about training?
Training is important, of course. But it is incorrect to believe that you as an owner can send your dog to a dog trainer without being involved with the training. I believe the biggest part of the training is training the owner how to train the dog.
What are the most common misunderstandings between owners and dogs?
A common misunderstanding is that people are assuming too much what the dog understands. Dogs are very good at reading humans but they don`t understand all the details about it.
A dog might show a certain behaviour again because he did not understand the situation. It is important that the owner is tolerant about the details.
What unexpected fact did you learn with dogs?
You can have a dog well trained and you think you have done everything right.
But that does not mean the training is finished. Your work is not over.
You have to maintain it all the time. You have to be consistent for the whole time.
If there is a rule about something, it should always be the same rule. The dog does not understand what the exceptions are.
Does your dogs` behaviour still surprise you sometimes?
Yes, absolutely! When dogs reach a certain age, when they are more mature, like six to seven years old, it is not uncommon that they test your authority again.
They seem to think: What happens when I don`t do what I am told?
All of a sudden, they might show unusual behaviour that they have never shown before.
My dog for instance would stick her head out of the car window, something she has never done before. She just did it for about 2 weeks. Of course I corrected her each time.
It was just a phase she was going through. I talked to dog behaviour specialists and they said that it is quite common.
What makes the dog a social animal?
Dogs want to be part of the pack. They want to be part of the group. They have a really strong need to be part of the pack and to be accepted by the pack. And the pack often consists of humans.
Dogs have a strong social need, a need for company, it is at least as strong as for humans. Dogs really want companionship, also companionship of other dogs. They have a need to explore other dogs.
And they need to explore with their noses.
Why is exploring scents so important for dogs?
A dog needs to sniff scents all over the place. If they don`t get that, it can become detrimental for them.
It is amazing how many things a dog can smell simultaneously. They can get information for them, like we do when we are watching TV or reading the newspaper.
They have such a strong instinct for smelling stuff. They like to check their “pee mail”.
It is important to go for walks with your dog. They need daily exercise.
It makes them happy and it makes them feel they had a good day.
What happens when this fundamental need for companionship is denied to dogs?
They show repetitive, useless behaviour, like pacing and circling. They show excessive barking, crying, whining. It becomes a psychological problem.
They become overly shy or overly aggressive.
They show abnormal behaviour, like going off on their own.
The owners have to understand that not only their dogs will have problems, but they, too.
What kind of problems?
The owner will have problems with the law, the neighbours, with the dog. When the dog is isolated or treated with violence, that is going to be bad for everyone in the long run.
What about dogs that are tied up all the time?
Dogs on a chain show an unusual amount of digging, chewing, they chew even themselves! They are licking themselves excessively until their fur comes off.
They show anti-social behaviour.
Sometimes they fall ill with depression. They don`t bark at all – there is just silence.
If they are in a cage all the time or tied up all the time and are never taken on walks, they can become psychotic, mentally ill. They can become dangerous to humans and other animals.
What advice do you give people who want a dog?
Make sure that you are ready before you get a dog.
Do your research before you get a dog.
What dog suits you, what are his needs, what keeps the dog healthy and content.
Spend time with the dog and develop a good healthy bond.
And don`t forget: Dogs are not free, there are a lot of expenses involved.
Add up the expenses to see whether you can afford a dog.
Give them good quality food, especially when they are young, because then they are healthier and you have less vet bills.
What makes you shake your head sometimes?
People sometimes say: It`s just a dog. It is not a human, just an animal.
This is not a healthy attitude.
We have to take dogs seriously.
They have so much potential for good or for bad.
They can save people`s lives or they can kill people.
They can be angels or they can be demons depending on the experiences in their lives.
For most people, they are angels.
Yes. They are so special, they are so willing to work with us.
They have developed a relationship with humans for thousands of years.
So it does not surprise me that people say: The dog is part of our family.
Tim Savinkoff
Can you recommend a book for dog owners to understand dogs better?
I would recommend a book by Alexandra Horowitz, “Inside of a Dog”. It teaches you a lot but it is also entertaining.
Thank you, Tim, for this interview. We hope to have you on our website again!
Read the law in Newfoundland about the treatment of dogs. Click here.
