Canines at the Edge of Chaos
Insights from Mathematics can help us plan & execute training & behavioral modification plans
What is the Edge of Chaos?
It is a term used to denote the conceptual phase transition space between “Order” and “Disorder” which is hypothesized to exist within all systems which display complex adaptive behavior. Systems with too much order become rigid and unable to adapt, while systems with too much disorder are too formless & stochastic to produce functionality. Between these two extremes is the ‘Edge of Chaos’ where systems are structured enough to be organized, yet flexible enough to adapt. Societies, economies, and ecosystems can use both order and disorder to configure and reconfigure their behavior to best adapt to the environment present. It is an abstract, yet fairly intuitive concept which can and has been applied to many different areas, such as business management, psychology, ecology, political science, economics, and more. Today, we will look at applications to dog behavior & training.
Order & Disorder in Our Lives Alongside Dogs
There are many things that we do which could be considered applying “orderly” regime to a dog’s behavior - obedience training, leashes, collars, harnesses, crates, baby gates, and generally keeping them indoors. On the flip side, there are many things which may be considered “disorderly”, such as running around chasing balls, roaming free, scavenging, sniffing, going to the dog park, etc. Every dog, as an individual, may have a different idea of how much order & disorder they want in their life. This area of homeostasis may, or may not, align with the conditions available and set forth by the environment the dog finds themselves in. Consider the street rescue dog, used to a disorderly life. One without structure, obedience, crates, or leashes…pure freedom. This dog would likely struggle to adapt to the expectations set by a family that uses a highly ordered regime. Similarly, the order-craving Border Collie may struggle to adapt to the expectations in a household filled with crazy kids & cats running around, with guardians whose sporadic schedules leave little room for training.
Applying The Edge of Chaos Model
It’s important to note that we are operating within the realm of non-linear dynamics (chaos theory) when discussing these concepts, and appropriately, the Edge of Chaos model is non-linear as well. What that means is that we can simultaneously increase order and increase disorder dynamically within the same case, since individual variation and context dependence will deter any attempts to produce a linear approach to solving these problems.
Sometimes identifying an issue with order/disorder in a dog is not so simple. There is a tendency to assume that a frustrated dog needs “more order”, in the sense of more obedience, stricter regulation, a tighter leash metaphorically and physically. Very often, a longer leash, lower expectations, and less obedience can actually take the pressure off of the dog and reduce behavioral issues. On the other hand, introducing disorder into a situation for the sake of never restricting the dog may go too far, producing situations the dog cannot handle, and putting the dog in a position to make the wrong choice. An intuitive dog behavior consultant should be able to tell when more control & order is necessary for the sake of the dog, without restricting to the point of stagnation - while simultaneously introducing outlets for disorder & freedom, which align with the dog’s genetic preferences, without creating chaos.
A compromise may have to be reached in some situations, when the dog & guardian have far different ideas of how much order & disorder should be going on in their life together. Somewhere in the middle, where the dog concedes in some areas, and so does the human, can produce the happiest possible outcome for that pair given the circumstances of their environment and relationship. A good behavior consultant would advocate for both the dog & the human’s points of interest, attempting to find an area of harmony between the two. Sometimes, however, this cannot be - if one or both parties are inflexible in their demands & expectations.
Next Steps
This article is simply meant to get some discussions going around the notion of The Edge of Chaos, observing and adjusting metrics of order & disorder in canine behavior cases. Perhaps with it, we can accept & encourage the areas of chaos & disorder that may be beneficial to a dog, while lowering the pressure of obedience & physical restriction…so that when we do need to create order in a dog’s life, we are not doing so from a position of over-use, and that order can create predictability, & safety, rather than frustration.
Thank you for taking this first step with me in considering Chaos & Nonlinear Dynamics as useful tools for understanding & improving the lives of dogs around the world.