Projection only works if you have really strong draw. And you create really strong draw by proving to your dog that you are a trustworthy person. You do that by allowing them to make as many choices as possibly safe on their own. And when you step in to make a choice for them it is because, one they asked for it, or two it is absolutely necessary and the best choice for them. The key in making those decisions for your dog is prioritizing their growth and evolution as independent, intelligent beings. When you do that, your dog recognizes you have their best interest, and therefore trusts you, which means you have strong draw on your dog. Your dog is drawn to you, and it’s easy for you to draw them into you. Everything I talk about is in relation to group dynamics mostly in an off leash setting because that’s what I do most of. But this also applies to taking your dog on leash into public spaces like an outdoor dinner, venues, fairs, stuff like that. I am defining the meaning of Projection here to include things like leading your dog away from things they want to go to and recall, big and small. The goal of projection is to change your dogs trajectory. The body may change on impulse, but we want the mind to change and come along with it. We want congruence, agreement, between body and mind. The meaning of Draw in this context is, when your dog free and willingly, chooses to come and or stay with you.
A few examples of this may include physical desensitization (without physical restraint), auto recalls, and doing things they wouldn’t naturally do. But they do them because you have built a strong draw. Until you have all these things down, you won’t have reliable projection until you’ve mastered draw. Meaning you won’t be able change your dogs mind until you have a draw on him. Meaning your dog won’t make decisions that are better for you, not him necessarily until he trusts you. And that’s what training and behavior modification is. It’s getting to the mind of your dog, not just his body. He wants to make the choices you need him to make. Dogs are really really smart. They will not just take your word for it, you have to prove that it’s true, they need the evidence. And you can not be disappointed in a dog that you have have not proven you are trustworthy to.