Under the Influence

Dog ownership is rewarding, fulfilling, and down right fun!  When you love your dog so much, it makes sense to want to add another to your family--a new playmate, a friend, another soul to love--shoot, I have 4 (and a cat, but he thinks he is a dog! ;)

I want to bring awareness to something that may get overlooked in the honeymoon phase of adopting/buying/fostering a new dog or puppy.  YOUR OLD DOG!  I'm not implying that you will forget about your first dog; on the contrary, I think you will be very excited for him/her!  What I actually want you to think about are your dog's behaviors in your life right now.  Are you happy with how your dog behaves?  Does your dog respect you and your guests?  Do you feel like you have good control of your dog when you are out in public?  Does your dog bark non-stop out of the window, or fence fight with the dog next door?  Does he pull you down the street on the leash, barking and jumping at people and other dogs?  Does he potty in the house or destroy things when you are gone?  

If you are struggling with your dog's behaviors, it is VERY likely that your new dog will begin to mimic these behaviors--the good and the bad.   Adding another dog to the group may seem like a good idea, for instance if you feel your dog is "bored and needs a playmate" because of destructive or hyper tendencies, but you must understand that, from puppies to older dogs, they learn from each other and will learn good and bad habits.  If barking aggressively at people, wildlife, and cars going by is a fun activity your dog likes to do now, it's almost guaranteed you'll have 2 dogs doing that in a short amount of time.  They are pack animals after all!

I want to encourage you to look at your relationship with your dog now and figure out if you are the pack leader.  It's important to know that you are in control, you're happy with your dog's behaviors, and you know your dog represents a good role model for a new addition.  If you have a dog with questionable tendencies or down-right bad behaviors, I'd highly recommend doing some training and leadership building skills with your original dog before adding #2 (or #3, #4, etc.) to your pack.  It's much easier to have a well-behaved dog help teach your new dog good habits (like looking to you for guidance!) than to have 2 dogs who are out of control because they have no structure or leader.  Plus, you'll already have a well trained dog, so you'll know what to do to create a calm and peaceful household with another because you've done it once already :)  Remember, the people you hang out with influence you--the same can be said for our dogs.

                                                                Learning the art of calmness

Getting What You Give

An excited dog is very eye appeasing--they have big smile on their face, their tail (or whole body!) is wagging around, they have a prance in their step, might do some jumping up, and even some excited barking.  As a human, when we see a dog we start pumping him up to be like this, because we want our interactions with our dogs to be so exciting--a celebration!--because it makes our dogs happy!  When we see them in the morning after waking up--a celebration!  When we get home from work--a celebration!  When it's time to go on a walk, eat a meal, or even just walk from one side of the house to the other--it's a dog-celebrating parade of bouncy dog!

Now, here are some behaviors we don't like from our dogs--jumping on us or guests, barking, pulling on the leash, acting crazy in the house, stealing food from the table, chasing the cat, etc.

Okay, so let's say you put your excited, celebration-having, dog beside a mirror image of himself practicing some of those undesirable behaviors-- you would see the exact same dog, making the exact same body movements, because he is giving you the exact same energy.   Over adrenalized dogs make bad choices, and when every interaction with our dog is that exciting, they begin to live a life of constant high-drive adrenaline.  Our dogs give us the behavior we encourage, and if every day tasks are celebrated with trumpets blaring, then every behavior your dog is going to practice will have roller-coaster adrenaline and speed to it.

You know that feeling you get when someone tickles you to the point you are laughing so hard, you can't breathe?  We all know that feeling--what a rush!  When we amp our dogs up with excitement, they are having the exact same feeling.   All the time, every time.

Can you imagine doing that to your spouse, child, sibling, or parent every time you saw them, multiple times per day?  Death by tickles?!  That's crazy!   So why are we doing it to our dogs?

If you start to give your dog calmer behaviors, you'll get a calmer dog in return.

At the end of the leash: Greeting dogs

photo by aresauburn on Flickr

More times than I can remember, I've been out walking my pack of 3+ dogs and someone, out for some exercise, has stepped off of the sidewalk and knelt down, awaiting my pack to land in their wide-open arms.  As we pass them by, empty armed, I can see their look of disappointment as well as hear the occasional comment: "are you in a hurry or something?"

Other times, I'm out and instead of a human looking for some affection, it's a person wanting their dog to meet mine.  "She likes other dogs," she shouts, as this hyper dog, on the end of their leash, is dragging their owner over to my dogs.  Again, I wave and scoot on by with my pack before the impending collision happens.  To this, I get a disappointing look and probably some not so kind mumbles.

My efforts to not greet other people and dogs while on a walk are not to be rude, or anti-social, but to protect my pack AND the person or dog coming in for the "hug".  Greeting a strange group of dogs on leash is not safe.  Many dogs are extremely friendly, however the person who is walking the dogs has a lot of responsibility to be in control, regardless if it is one or 20 dogs!  That said, by someone pushing them self on a group or even just one dog, they are disturbing the pack dynamic in place.  Some dogs may do just fine with a random person wanting to snuggle them up, but some may be nervous of an impending stranger and bite, or some may become jealous of each other receiving affection and start fighting.  For everyone's safety, you don't know what to expect when you see someone with their dog(s), so you can't assume that you are welcome to touch or interact with them.  

As the dog's walker, it's important that you think about what is best for your dog.  Can you control your dog(s) to meet another person or dog?  What message does it send to your dog if you're asking them to be structured, calm, and well-behaved while you're on a walk, but allow them to get over-excited as they meet someone or another dog?  Will they start pulling you over to meet the next stranger that walks by, because "that's what we do now?"  Allowing your dog to dictate when it's time to stop and socialize ultimately discredits you as the in-control pack leader your dog needs you to be.  

The same rules apply to dogs meeting other dogs on leash.  Leash to leash greetings are the worst of all, because you have two (or more dogs) circling each other and sniffing, while their owners hold their leashes tightly.  The tension on the leash and collar, creates tension in the dog and can cause a negative response.  This scenario is why many people say "my dog can socialize with other dogs at the off-leash dog park, but when they see another dog on our walk they go ballistic." The leash receives tension from the dog pulling and sniffing, thus creating a tense dog that may make a bad choice (like snapping, mounting, challenging, or fighting another dog).

Instead of trying to make dogs "shake hands" with each other in an on leash setting, like while on a walk or a dog training class, try moving together in the same direction.  Create a little pack!  Trust me, a dog's sense of smell is 100,000 times more powerful than a human's--they can smell each other from 3 feet away.  They don't need to be in each other's personal space to have a relationship.  If you take a group of on leash dogs that need to socialize, and start migrating them as a pack, they will begin to relate to each other on a primal level while still being influenced and under the control of their pack leader--YOU! 

Save the personal space greetings for when your dog can be off-leash, without the tension of the leash in the way of their decision making.  If your dog can't be trusted off-leash with other dogs--that's ok!  These on leash pack migration movements will give your dog some relationship time with other dogs, regardless of if they are sniffing butts or not.  Be aware of the influence you are giving your dog--a loose, relaxed leash makes for a relaxed dog.  A tight, tense leash makes for an uncomfortable and tense dog.  If you can be the pack leader, in control of your dog and his surroundings, you'll have a happy dog who trusts what situations you're putting him in!

A change would do you good...

Here is a picture I snapped the other day while taking a pack walk with my crew and my client's dogs.  Would you guess that 5 of the dogs in this photo above have been in some pretty nasty dog fights?  Yep-- the 3 ladies in pink would duke it out over attention from their mom.  It got to the point that the newest one was going to be returned to the shelter because of their blowouts.  The corgi and greyhound would tear each other up over personal space, guests in the house, toys, and anything else they didn't want to "share".   Mr. Poodle hasn't been in any dog fights, but he was "knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door" from biting the stew out of some humans until I took him  from the chopping block and brought him into my pack.  Goodness gracious, how in the world can all of this drama be on a pack walk--totally under control and peaceful?

The answer:  humans stop thinking like people, and start thinking like dogs.  We bring these  animals into our lives and have so much expectation of our relationships.  We want them to cuddle with us, love us, love each other, be protective of us from strangers, but not our friends when they come over.  We want them to jump up and be really excited when we want to play, but not when we are busy and don't.  We want them to lay in our laps and soak up affection, but not when we are eating or dressed nicely.  We want them to sleep quietly beside us, but only when we are by ourselves, not when when we are trying to share our bed with someone else.  We want them to bark when we think it's cute, but not when we are watching TV and they are trying to get our attention. We want them to have fun and be carefree on a walk, but not drag us around or bark at every dog or bicycle we see.  We have so many expectations of them, and what it means for them to be OUR dog.  

Unfortunately, the rules and expectations of nature apply to humans just as much as they apply to dogs.   All the behaviors we get from our dogs we influence, by what we do (or what we don't do!).   It is important for people to understand that if they want their dog's behavior to change, they will have to change their behavior as well.  It is selfish to think that dogs will just be what we want them to be, without us putting in our time, and making sacrifice as well.  All of these expectations that we have for our dogs really don't mean a thing if our dogs don't actually understand what we are asking.  All of the standards we have for our doggie relationships will not be achieved if we don't represent a source of leadership and guidance for our dogs.  

 How do we make them understand?  It starts when we stop thinking like people, and start thinking like dogs.  We must take the time to understand the needs of dogs.  We must appreciate that they need guidance and leadership from us.  We are not doing them any favors when we let them "do whatever they want."  More than likely, they arn't making good choices.  They don't speak English, read the news, or watch TV.  If they did, we'd just have to put on an episode of Dog Whisperer and they'd be like "Ok, gotcha.  No more fighting with each other."  It is up to us to communicate that message to our dogs, and take the role of pack leader.  It is our responsibility to be the source of information on how to behave, and we express it in a way that they understand.

How do we achieve calmness and cooperation with our dogs?  We must give them clear information of what we want; we don't send them mixed signals.  We take the time to address these situations in their language, not ours.  This pack of six dogs has only the option of walking calmly and following me.  Sniffing, pulling, competing for who gets to be in front, and peeing on every mailbox are NOT options, period.  If one of these dogs starts creeping ahead, they get a little "leash pop" and then think "oh yeah, I don't do this" and fall back into the pack.  It's not an argument or debate of what you can or can't do-  it's split second conversation of "yes and no".  You achieve this by being consistent in the information you give your dog, and correcting them for making the wrong choice.  Create only the options to make the right choice, by being consistent in communicating what is not.  If you successfully show your dog "yes, this behavior is good" or "no, this behavior is not", you will have a dog who understands their options.  If you make things simple for them, you'll get a little doggy light bulb  going off and a response like "Ok!  Now you're speaking my language!  Pushing the other dog out of the way when I want your attention is NOT ok.  I need to do something else instead" or "snapping at people when I see the on the sidewalk is NOT ok.  I need to do something else instead."  After that, you see his next choice and decide if it's an appropriate reaction or not.   You will have a dog who understands he's got a limited amount of options, but is also learning how to make the right choices, because he sees what you are asking for and what you will accept.  Dogs appreciate the clarity!

It is important for me to mention, that the role that you take with your dog must continue through your whole relationship.  You can't take the assertive leadership role with him so he will behave on a walk, but when you come inside give him no boundaries, loosey goosey, non-enforced rules, and then get frustrated that he is all over the furniture and not listening to you.  Dogs listen to a leader who is consistent in what they ask.  They take seriously someone who has earned their respect, not someone who goes back and forth on expectations.  It's not because they are trying to be difficult, it is because to a dog, if you change your position you arn't being consistent-- "wishy washy" doesn't serve purpose in the animal world and thus will be seen as "not the right choice for leader."  If you do not represent a leader to your dog, they will start making their own choices and choosing their own options again, because yours really didn't mean anything.   Someone who half applies their message should not be surprised when they get a half respected reaction.  Dogs don't take time off from being dogs, so you can't take time off from being their leader.  

If you continue to correct and interrupt the behavior you don't want, and guide towards and reward the behavior you do, you will have a dog making better choices because he knows what is and is not an option.  Build a relationship of understanding, and you'll have a dog who appreciates your clarity and guidance.  Human communication is  confusing and foreign to a dog-- speak his language and you'll be surprised how he answers you.

"Should I follow, or do I lead?"

Take a moment today to step back and think about how your dog views you.  Are you stressed out, frustrated, or anxious? Think about your dog, who looks to you for guidance--the person that is supposed to set the tone for them is all twisted inside.  How would that make you feel?  Wouldn't you also feel anxious or stressed if your leader looked like they arn't handling life well?

We are always saying something to our dogs, if we realize it or not. They are looking for a leader who is predictable and confident to give them some guidance. Take some time to think about how you feel today, and think "would I want to follow or trust someone like me?" 

Our dogs read us better than any person can-- and they only follow a confident leader. If you can't represent that for them, then they take their anxiousness and say "well, someone's got to do it!" and take on the pressure and burden of trying to be the leader for their pack.  Most dogs prefer to be a follower, and may make some bad choices and develop neurotic behaviors from the pressure of being the leader.  If their humans haven't successfully shown them that it's all under control, they will by default assume that role (even if they arn't very good at it).

Think about who is in control in your relationship and ask yourself if "you'd follow you?"

Rain drops keep falling on my head...

Anxiety is a situation many dog owners are familiar with.  Some dogs shake, drool, whine, excessively pant, bark, urinate or defecate in the house, destroy things, and look plain "stung out."  Seeing anxious dogs is very uncomfortable for humans because we feel sorry for them and what they are experiencing; we long to do something to make them feel better.  Did you know that the best thing you can do for your dogs is not to feel sorry and sweet-talk  them, but to take a stand and make a change to improve their state of mind?  If we give affection (like petting and holding) during a dog's anxiety, we are rewarding that state of mind--saying "good boy, keep shaking and drooling.  Keep this up and keep staying stressed."  Is this what we intended to do?  Absolutely not!  However, these are dogs we are trying to help, not humans, and they don't rationalize the same way that we do.  Instead of trying to verbally and physically talk our dogs out of being anxious, we need to challenge their mind and get them thinking and focusing on our energy.  The leadership role we represent to our dogs allows them to understand that "my owner is in control of this situation.  I do not have to be nervous."  We reinforce this message by being calm and relaxed, and having a working relationship with our dogs.  Give them something to do during anxious times--make all of their decisions for them.  Don't allow them to feel like they've got to figure out what to do--like they are out on a ledge by themselves--about this anxiety-ridden situation.  Work on your commands, give them a job, make them put their focus into a task--not just sit with their anxiety riddled thoughts and behaviors.

Ramses, my greyhound, has a bad case of thunderstorm anxiety.  In Florida we get them every afternoon during the spring and summer months.   The other day he was pacing around frantically during a storm and took a huge pee in the middle of my living room, right in front of me.  I couldn't believe it--he had never done that before!  He used to just go lay down in our dark hallway and wait it out until the storm blew over.  Now, he is pacing around and peeing- OH NO!  His anxiety has gotten worse!  

Suddenly a light bulb went off in my head--I was allowing him to make his own decisions when it came to something that makes him scared.  How could I allow myself to put that pressure on him?  He is in a terrified, frantic state-of-mind, and his pack leader is just watching TV and waiting for him to go lay down in his normal spot--giving him no guidance during the time he is most vulnerable and needs it the most.  In Ramses' mind, I am implying that he just needs to "figure it out."  No wonder he came and took a giant leak in front of me- he was sending a huge message: "HELP ME, JEEZE!  I AM FREAKING OUT HERE!"

After I soaked up a gallon of pee from my floor, I decided to put Ramses in the "place" command.  Immediately he settled down and relaxed.  This whole time he had been waiting for me to give him something to do--some guidance--so that he could focus on that and relax.  Sure, a thunderclap would make him jump up and nearly make a run for it, but I would correct him if he broke command and he would go back to place.  A second thunderclap would happen, he would stand up and check in with me, remember he needed to stay in command and lay back down.  By now he understood that I was in control, and was not going to  let him jump right back into his frantic pacing behavior.  His new options are to stay in command and settle down.  It was amazing to see his anxiousness fade as he stayed in place during the duration of he storm.

His frantic pacing was an extremely anxiety feeding behavior--heart-racing, mind-racing, can't settle down, can't focus--and he was going to stay in that state of "OMG" until something changed.  Putting him in the place command gave him guidance, made the choices for him, left him with only one option: to decompress from that anxiety and relax.  The physical effects from "place" (not moving, not getting his blood pumping) help the change, but the mental effect of "place" is where the magic is.  He knows what the command means, he knows that I put him there, and he knows that he is not out on a ledge by himself.  He's got guidance and support from his pack leader.  Now that is something that we can share with our  anxious dogs and feel great about!!

I'm not Pocahontas, but…

I’ve never felt more connected to nature than when I am out walking my pack.  Walking a pack of dogs is like being transferred into the wild–truly incredible and extremely primal.  One of the most extraordinary things I find is that wildlife that we pass stays so close, so curious about us.  The squirrels, rabbits, birds, and occasional cat (not so wild, I know) all keep a watchful eye on us as we make our way through their world.  They can sense our calm energy and respond with their natural calmness and curiosity, as well.  Before I began my work with dogs, I could barely walk one dog.  We certainly did not get close to any creatures, because he was chasing after them while barking his head off, dragging me behind him.

Having the trust and respect of the dogs I am handling creates a trust and respect in the natural order of things.  Together we are a moving pack,  just as a pack of wolves are, crossing through the wilderness.  Only when those wolves are hunting does their energy change, and prey-like creatures run from them.  However, those creatures don’t see a wolf and instantly flee, instead they keep a close eye from a distance and judge the energy of the passing pack.  If the pack leader gives the signal to hunt, then the rules of nature take the pack from a calm to lethal state, and prey responds to that.  However, if the pack leader gives the message to remain in a calm and following state of mind, the pack remains neutral, and nature watches in an equal mental state.

It’s hard to imagine our poodles, golden retrievers, chihuahuas,  pit bulls, and dachshunds as wolves, but they truly are pack animals.  They are creatures bred to hunt, but they are also creatures bred to follow.  Be their pack leader and let nature embrace you all.  You may feel closer to the Earth and your dog than you think.