By Alana DiPlacido
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Nothing gathers a crowd quite like dogs do, so it was no surprise that every chair in Medfield Public Library’s (MPL) meeting room was filled with an audience member excited to hear Ray McSoley, a successful dog psychologist, speak. McSoley began the talk by defining his ethos in dog training through various anecdotes from the past 50 years and multiple different countries.
From India to England– McSoley’s career has taken him around the world and shaped his unique perspective on dog training by exposing him to the training beliefs from different cultures. For example, McSoley shared how an experience at an ashram in India informed his belief in the importance of chi in dog training. McSoley believed that chi, which he defined as one’s life force or energy, is an integral aspect of dog training as the dog can feel your energy. “For example, if you wear gloves to protect from bites, the dog is going to sense your expectation, and he is going to bite you! The mind is a wish fulfilling tree” McSoley explained.
Although McSoley borrows some ideas from Eastern spirituality, his methods for training are also strongly grounded in his background as a Marine. He explained the importance of control, stating that a dog’s aggression fundamentally stems from them feeling like they are in control and must fight to maintain that. McSoley went on to list what he believes to be the three reasons for every dog’s behavior: survival instinct, hierarchy, and chi. McSoley’s unique blend of Eastern and Western philosophies make him a very highly respected dog trainer and dog psychologist. McSoley has published various different books throughout his career, although he was speaking at the MPL that day to promote his most recent publication, A Ray of Hope.
Aside from his impressive depth of knowledge, one standout aspect of McSoley’s talk was his sense of humor. From wearing a dog collar around his neck in order to demonstrate proper heeling technique to his quippy responses to audience questions, McSoley was not only informing the audience, he was also entertaining them. After the main portion of his talk, McSoley opened the floor to the audience members, allowing them to pose questions about struggles they’d encountered when training their own dogs. McSoley listened intently to each audience member and provided them with a thoughtful and helpful response.
“The human– I’ve learned through 50 years of doing this– is a remarkable creature!” McSoley stated humorously as he brought the discussion to a close. Throughout his time at the MPL, McSoley’s wisdom, love for dogs, and sense of humor were the qualities that most stood out. By the end of the evening, the audience left the room feeling prepared to face any of the troubles their own furry friends might stir up with the same sense of humor and some of the knowledge that McSoley exhibited.
