Why Marshall k-9 and NLE?

Throughout the years, I’ve often been asked to explain how the Natural Law Evolved™ or NLE Canine Training Program is different from other canine training programs. Of course, the short answer to the question is that NLE™ uniquely marries proven canine obedience training techniques with a deep understanding of canine behavior to provide a comprehensive, solid and long-lasting solution to behavioral problems. Regrettably though, this condensed explanation of the Program doesn’t scratch the surface.

NLE™ is more than just unique; it was developed as a composite of discoveries of nature’s laws and understanding derived from those discoveries, which led to the development of techniques that allow that understanding to be effectively and naturally communicated in the training of our canine companions. Still, perhaps the most significant difference in the Program is its “evolving” component. The NLE™ Program has been in development for over three decades – continually evolving through experience, observation, and insight. The Program is today and will continue into the future – adapting and “evolving” in its quest to continue developing the most effective canine training techniques based in discoveries and understanding of nature’s laws.

I was bear hunting in Canada in the late 90’s when I stumbled upon my epiphany regarding the importance of establishing communication as a foundational element of dog training. While sitting in a tree stand, I heard wolf vocalizations in the distance, and then shortly following, two wolves appeared in the open area under the tree. Not long after, there was another vocalization, and then two more wolves appeared from the opposite direction. As I watched, periodic vocalizations from outside the area continued and the four wolves under the tree appeared to react in various ways in response to the sounds. Then, with a final vocalization, all four, purposefully left the area as quickly as they had appeared. My hypothesis then, and now, is that the alpha wolf or another high-ranking member was outside of the perimeter, giving directions to the four that were visible to me. The incident served, in my mind as proof positive that wolves (and canines) communicate with one another at a highly sophisticated level. While they can’t verbalize (speak English), they converse in a verbal and physical language that is intentional and understood by the group.

With this understanding came the realization that all questions involving the natural world should be directed to management, i.e., Mother Nature. And that’s the reason that the NLE™ Program doesn’t seek to find new answers to age-old questions. The answers are, and always have been readily available – established within nature. When looking for answers to weighty questions, Albert Einstein advised to, “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better”. This maxim not only describes the overall philosophy of the NLE™ Program, but it also forms its very foundation and structure. 

The Greek philosopher, Heraclitus said, “There is nothing permanent except change”. And even though some variations in nature are not always evident from the vantage point of a human’s life span, the concept of change within the natural world is comprehensive – governed by Darwin’s evolutionary principles of natural selection. In fact, this is where the phrase “survival of the fittest” is derived. 

As humans, as much as we understand that change is inevitable, we also resist, both change and the status quo. On one hand, we often repeatedly perform ineffective activities that yield the same unwanted result, while on the other hand, we obsessively seek to invent new and easier fixes (i.e., gadgets) to problems that already have solutions. In many ways humans shouldn’t be indicted for this conflict in thinking because the urge to create and discover is grounded in the evolution of the human brain. American scientist Helen Fisher explained this predisposition when she said, “the human brain is built to compare; it’s Darwinian to consider an alternative when one presents itself”. And so, it seems that it’s not only a woman’s prerogative to change her mind, evolution granted that privilege to the entire human race with the development of the brain’s frontal lobe. 

In fact, many of the most influential advances of humans throughout history are not items of invention or human creation, but discoveries and understanding of the natural world. For example, both fire and electricity are processes found within nature, but humans didn’t invent either. Instead, they discovered the usefulness and potential of both. 

In a comparable way, the fundamental elements of the NLE™ Program already existed in nature. They were not invented but revealed as a discovery that first came as a sudden flash of realization, and was then combined with experience, observation, and insight. After several years of training experience with literally thousands of dogs – using traditional obedience methods and countless observations of canine and wolf behavior, responses, and communication – both conscious and subconscious, the insight process of understanding and discovery began. Even today, the full extent and capability of those insights continue to be revealed and the Program evolves in response to the newly realized information. 

For me, an important key in the discovery process was realizing that the relationship between a human and dog is like any other relationship – two-sided but with an important difference – dogs don’t think like humans. As a group, dog trainers don’t think about or explain canine behavior from a canine perspective, and dog training programs are developed for humans, from a human perspective. As people and dog trainers alike, they try to “fix” canine problems through invention, with gadgets such as shirts that “hug” your dog so he feels secure, face harnesses designed to prevent your dog from pulling on a leash, shock collars, clickers and treats to name a few. Also into this category of “gadgets”, includes any use of all types of collars and leashes, which are utilized in a mechanical or unthinking manner.

As a unique approach, the NLE™ Program was developed for humans, from a canine perspective. It utilizes very simple equipment that is used in a layered purposeful way to develop a natural communication system that your dog craves and already understands. The Program speaks to their basic needs – belonging to a pack and either serving as, or under, a leader – concepts that are both simple and complicated – but also concepts that require effective communication. 

If humans want to be recognized as leaders of their pack, they must learn to use the established language than canines already understand. This would include the intricate vocalizations and subtle physical cues that go along with it. This isn’t practical or possible for many reasons with  the most obvious being an insufficient vocal and physical apparatus to duplicate canine language. Moreover, despite all level of certainty be well-meaning dog owners that “Fido understands English”, there still remains the irrefutable fact that humans don’t and can’t communicate in canine language, and dogs don’t communicate in human, verbal language. Consequently, the onus is on us to teach our canine companions what we as owners, need and expect of them. And this is where teaching a common language that both can converse in becomes essential.

Fortunately, as humans, we have the intellect to recognize the difficulty, as well as the ability to develop a solution. And perhaps more importantly, in addition to brainpower and skill, we have the desire to open a communication pathway with our canine companions. And this is where NLE™ takes center stage. 

NLE™ bridges the natural gap in communication that occurs between the two species by using a “middle ground” language. This language is the key difference between the NLE™ Program and other programs. NLE™ teaches the owner to converse in a language that your dog understands. It opens up an avenue of communication to teach in the way that your dog can naturally learn – from a dog’s perspective. The NLE™ Program utilizes a combination of mechanical tools (i.e., leash and training collar) with concepts from nature that are familiar, recognizable, and similarly hard-wired in both you and your dog (i.e., consequences, rewards, and hierarchy), to build a bridge to span the communication gap. And if your level of commitment is high, and you invest the time and energy to both understand and work the Program, you’ll likely find yourself in a position to experience an unexpected and astonishing bonus of the Program – a powerful, indescribably, deep connection between you and your dog. However, it’s important to remember that the onus is On Us, to realize the connection.

I’ll wrap up by describing the Program as a multi-layered, instructional method that is designed to utilize the established laws of nature. Its use produces a pathway of communication, which allows for a deep and pure connection with your dog. The Program teaches you to converse and connect with your dog through methods that are based on the hardwiring that Mother Nature designed. And, as a result, the connection that occurs is solid and long lasting. There are no magic tricks, gimmicks, gadgets or products that can create this connection. Utilizing and understanding the natural process with which dogs communicate with one another is the only way to achieve it, and the NLE™ Program is a superior method because it is the only method that is based on this natural process. Is it hard work? Yes! Is it worth it? Absolutely!!