Dog Trainer Kang Hyung-wook Uses Mirror Therapy on Wolfdog Daon to Restore Family Dynamics

Renowned dog trainer Kang Hyung-wook has taken on the challenge of using mirror therapy on a wolfdog named Daon.

In the 14th episode of Channel A's 'Time of Dogs and Wolves 2', aired on the 15th, Kang Hyung-wook intervened to address the dynamics between the family and their wolfdog, Daon, who had taken control of the household.

In Daon's household, the dog was prioritized over humans. The family's daily routine and space usage revolved around Daon, and instead of curbing Daon's biting or aggression, the family members were preoccupied with accommodating him. This led to a complete imbalance in their relationship. The attachment formed without proper discipline exacerbated the issue. Attempts to restrain Daon's aggression were half-hearted, resulting in a structure where Daon reigned supreme.

The daughter-in-law, living with young children, reached out for help, unable to handle the repeated threats. Meanwhile, the mother-in-law remained hesitant to intervene, even when necessary.

Kang Hyung-wook identified this as a 'gap created by fear'. The mother-in-law showed willingness but failed to fully implement control measures, such as closing the kennel door or completely separating Daon. Her attempts to muzzle Daon were also incomplete.

Kang Hyung-wook confronted Daon directly, opting for a belly-up maneuver to shift the power dynamics. This was not mere subjugation but a step to restore the broken hierarchy. For the first time, Daon's previously unchallenged boundaries were tested. Kang then employed 'mirror therapy', reflecting Daon's controlling behavior back to him to establish a new dynamic. This approach focused on rebalancing the relationship rather than overpowering the dog.

Though Daon still showed resistance, subtle changes were observed. Kang emphasized the importance of the owner's role, advocating for responses based on standards rather than emotions, and maintaining consistent control using leashes, kennels, and muzzles indoors.

He also recommended a temporary separation between Daon and the children, given Daon's tendency for 'venting behavior'. This would allow time to reorganize the relationship. While complete transformation requires time, the potential for restoring balance was evident.

By Se-yoon Jung, TenAsia Reporter yoon@tenasia.co.kr