Leash Reactivity and Crazy Drivers

I don't know about you, but when I am driving and see a car around me swerving onto the shoulder or back and forth between lanes, I get nervous. Immediately I get a gut feeling that tells me I need to get as far away from this car as possible, and a sense of anxiety about doing it. A whole swell of questions fill my mind as I quickly try to figure out what they are doing and what I should do about it.

"Are they drunk? Are they texting? Do they have any idea that they are driving dangerously? Do they even care about other people on the road?" 

"Should I speed up and drive past this car? Should I slow down and stay away? Should I just blast my horn at him because I'm also trapped between cars on the road and can't get away?"

Stressful, right?

This is what your fear-driven leash reactive dog is going through when they are in close quarters with another dog on the street. They feel trapped, stressed, and have a lot of different impulses surging through themselves very quickly--especially if they perceive a lack of options in getting past the "threat."

When it comes to your leash reactive dog, space is always your friend. Every dog has a threshold of comfort before the "explode" and it's our job as their owner to do our best to keep them below that level. We have to be aware of when our dog is uncomfortable and advocate for them. Of course, through training and counter conditioning we can build their trust and increase their threshold of tolerance (like driving down a road of well steered cars without fear) BUT there will be times where it is important to realize the situation and be your dog's advocate. Walking past someone who has their dog in heel, calm, and collected is much easier than walking past someone who is clearly not in control of their dog. Put them in a bind and they'll "lay on the horn" like nobody's business to help create the space we didn't give them.

Watch carefully who's on the road with you--Flexi leashes, dogs zig-zagging back and forth, barking and dramatically changing speed while jerking their owners all about, get lots and lots of space from me. Prevent a problem and help your dog make good choices as you're training and working on reactivity. I'm doing my best to keep control of my dog and help my dog stay comfortable (thus trusting my judgement and leadership), so why should I say "let's just drive as close as possible to the swerving car on the road?" Help your dog understand that YOU understand some dogs are more of a threat than others. Help them start to trust your gut by seeing red flags :)

I'll tell you something I think you'll understand...I wanna hold your hand

Do you remember when you were little and your mom or dad held your hand when you went new places? For me, it made me feel safe and comfortable knowing they were there with me. Now, if my parents were squeezing my hand tight I didn't feel nearly as comfortable--actually more stressed or anxious because they were passing their concern to me through that tight grip. If I was pulling their arms, trying to drag them by the hand, they quickly put a stop to that. There was no way they'd be pulled through a parking lot by me, no mater how excited I was to get to where I was going--it wasn't safe. I was excited about what I was going to do, but my parents had my best interest in mind by requiring me to walk calmly hand in hand. I learned quickly that fastest way to what I wanted was to walk nicely, not be pushy, and to keep level headed and comfortable when out and about. It wasn't until I was proving to them that I was predictable, made consistent and good choices, and wouldn't randomly pick up speed and charge ahead of them that they let me walk without holding their hand. 

The way we use the leash with our dogs can represent the same thing. Having a comfortable and relaxed leash, with the occasional leash pressure reminder is how we can hold our dog's hand and let them feel safe and secure with us. The word "relaxed" is the key--if we keep a tight leash or allow our dog to pull and keep the leash taught, it's the same as walking and your mom squeezing your hand the whole time. Uncomfortable for everyone! 

So, that means 2 things need to happen: If you're the one cranking in the leash tightly, it's time to work on relaxing yourself and your grip, only putting pressure on the leash to guide your dog back into position or to quickly grab their focus. We're using the leash as a comfortable reminder that we are there with our dog, not as a restraint. 

If your dog is constantly the one pulling at the end of the leash, and you're just holding on for dear life--think about the kid dragging their parent through the parking lot to Toys R Us. Unacceptable and not safe, right? Same deal with a pulling dog! It's time to put our foot down and discourage that behavior--our dog should be earning what they want by behaving, not dragging us to what they want. In that state of mind a dog isn't thinking at all about you or making the "right choice," he's literally doing what he wants (even if you're begging him not to!). We are literally using the leash to restrain our dog, and it doesn't have to be that way! With the right training tools/collars and some engagement techniques on your end, you can tell your dog (with only the leash) where you want him to walk, when he should be there, and where he shouldn't be--subtlety and smoothly! You can use your leash for conversation, connection, engagement, and comfort; not merely the only thing keeping your dog from running off.

It just takes the right tools, the right techniques, the right attitude, and the right person on the end of the leash who wants to change what they are doing to have that tuned in relationship with their dog. :)

Some cases are certainly more severe than others, which may require some help!

A trainer in your area can help you achieve this, if online resources or the things you are doing arn't working. I've got contacts all over--feel free to contact me for a referral in your area! :)

Smokey the Bear Says...

I know there are lot of owners who spend much of their time following their dog around, cleaning up messes and putting out fires.

"My dog pees in the house when he knows we're not looking."
"My dog steals the kid's toys out of their room."
"My dog eats food off of the counter."
"My dog nips people in the back of the leg when they come in my house."
"My dog runs out the front door."
"My dog keeps getting into fights with the dog we just adopted."
"My dog chews up my things when I'm not home."

It does not have to be this way! At all! The easy solution to preventing any of this is having rules for your dog to follow.

If your dog is getting out if your sight and doing things you don't like, it's because he has too much freedom. If your dog makes bad choices (especially repeated bad choices) it's very clear that your dog is given too much un-earned freedom. How often to people leave their toddlers un-attended in a room full of crayons and markers? I imagine very few times--since most people only want to make this mistake of coming into a room covered in doodled walls once! Is it your toddlers fault for drawing on the walls? Nope! You're the adult making the logical choices, and the choice of giving a kiddo that much unsupervised freedom clearly shows its result.

It is the same for dogs. They don't come into our homes knowing how to behave; We have to tell them what we want (in a way they understand--not through a screaming match or cute little conversation of "Now fluffy, you know better!") Unless you've spent a lot of time setting rules, boundaries, and expectations, Fluffy really doesn't know better ;)

The solution to those problems can be as simple as crating your dog when you're not home and teaching your dog the place command when you are! If your dog is in place, has his leash on (a very important part!!! Do you take training wheels off the bike after the first day of bike riding? NO. Your dog needs practice and that means lots of training with the leash on everyday), and is expected to stay there, your dog cannot be doing those other things. You are giving your dog something else to do, that works on building your relationship, setting boundaries, and teaching them to check in with you for their choices.

If your dog stays in place while you eat dinner, he's not begging at the table. If your dog stays in place while the kids do homework, he's not in their room chewing their toys. If your dog has a leash on and is in place he can't bite people at the door or the other dog in the room, because you have a hand on the leash to give him a correction if he breaks command. (Yep, you need to be correcting your dog with a leash pop for breaking place).

When you start making better choices by teaching your dog how to sit still and tune in, your dog will not be making repeated mistakes and in fact learning a new way to live with you. Until you fully trust your dog to not do any of the things on his "rap sheet", your dog doesn't have the freedom to walk casually around the house. Your dog is on leash in place command, walking with you to your next room to do place command there, and relaxing in that place until it's time for your next adventure. Teaching your dog a calming skill like this can make your life so much easier and your dog much more pleasant to be around!

But, it can be hard for us to make a change and live differently with our dog. This requires a level of self control on our part, to stick with the program and not falter. (Consistency is key in dog training (and in life), right?!) When we can make a conscious effort to apply this new life of rules and boundaries (instead of freedom and more freedom!) we can create well educated, well behaved, and respectful canine members of society who have EARNED their freedom. Kids spend a lot of time in school and with their parents before they are released into the world as adults. Dogs need to spend some time learning as well! Remember, only you can prevent forest fires (and if you follow the guidelines, you can prevent dog behavior ones ;)

Don't Look Back in Anger

Hindsight is 20/20! If you've ever been in a situation where your dog has acted in an aggressive, frightening, fearful, or careless way you know EXACTLY that. This photo makes me shutter as I look at it: this was Ramses first night at the house after we adopted him! At this point in time I had no structure in my dog's lives, no boundaries, and obviously no collars. Well 3 days later those collars would have come in handy when they got into a nasty dogfight and I didn't have anything to grab besides scruff! In hindsight I would have had collars on, STRUCTURE, and not just ONE dog bed in the living room (for them to compete over?! What was I thinking?). BUT at the time, that is not what I was thinking about. And I learned the hard way about safety, but I DID learn.

Hindsight moments, no matter how upsetting, are learning opportunities for us. They are moments we can look back and say--WHY did this happen? Why did my dog run off and not come back when I've taken him outside without a leash many times before? Why did the dogs get into a fight in the kitchen when they never had an issues in the back yard? Why did my dog snap at or bite my grandchild? Why did my dog hide under the bed and get defensive when I tried to take him out when the whole family was in town?

It's important that we can take a step back and learn from our mistakes. Because, to be fair, they are animals (as we are) and we all make mistakes. Usually when safety is involved, it is human error that lends itself to injury (dog bite or fight) or loss (like letting your dog outside without a leash when he does not have a solid recall). 

If you find yourself looking back at an event that happened, ask yourself some of these questions!

What was going on when it happened?
What do you think triggered the incident?
What can I do to prevent this next time?
Has this happened before?
How many times am I going to allow this to happen before I ask for help?
How could this have been worse?
Have I learned something?
What will I change about things now, so that I can be more aware in the future?
How can I turn this into a learning opportunity?

The most important thing about learning from your mistakes is MAKING a plan, a change, and actively turning it into a platform for action. I am guilty of getting hung up on something, and doubting myself (ESPECIALLY when it comes to dogs! I mean jeez, I'm a dog trainer! I should have things perfect, right?!)--allowing my response to the incident to take me down instead of turning it into an opportunity to build things back up. I've done it--I've cried about things, laid there feeling helpless and hopeless, and felt like the world was ending because of a "failure". Self pity is so so easy to do--making change is the hard part! Please, please, don't dissect mistakes and waste your energy only looking back--you must turn it into an opportunity to move forward and make next time better. You've got to rebuild better and stronger! Making mistakes and lingering on them (pouting, being depressed, being discouraged, filling yourself with self doubt) without turning your emotion into action keeps you in a negative state of mind and keeps you DOWN. Nothing productive can come from that! Life involves ups and downs, mistakes and mishaps--but after every dark night the sun rises the next morning! You have an opportunity for change--but YOU have to make it happen :)  Your dogs, your friends, your family, and YOURSELF need you too! Dogs live in the moment, and from them we should take a hint!

Remembering where you came from and enjoying where you're going!

Yesterday was a pretty special day! Years ago, within a week of adopting my second dog, they started fighting. My world was upside, I was so shaken, and so discouraged because it wasn't just one fight--it was many many fights that required medical care for both dogs and humans breaking it up! Then, like many dog owners, I turned on the TV and watched a show that helped me make sense of it all. The Dog Whisperer became a daily routine for me to watch and apply, as I took detailed notes and studied everything! I changed the way I behaved and lived with my dogs everyday to be the Packleader my pack needed. Quickly a new passion developed as I saw changes in my dogs, and I wanted to help others.

Since those years ago I have met many amazing dog trainers and rehabilitators who have inspired me, taught me, and continue to do great things and offer the knowledge to others! These are some of the most talented people I've ever met and owe a lot of ny current success and knowledge to, and it could all be non-existant if my boyfriend and I had not turned on Nat Geo one morning and found a glimmer of hope for our pack. It's hard to believe how far I've come from watching TV shows, to meeting and working with some of the best in the country! It was very nice last night, to shake hands and talk to someone who had no idea who I was, but played such a big part in starting this journey and keeping my pack together! I'm also very glad I got to share that moment with my friend and groomer Autumn, who's story is very similar to mine and Rick Denning who invited us out! 

It's important that we always remember where we came from and celebrate those moments--but never stop growing! You owe it to the world, and yourself, to keep becoming the best you can!

Warning Signs

Dogs with problem behaviors didn't come into this world like that. They developed whatever undesirable qualities because pushy, bratty, obnoxious, and disrespectful behavior was not properly addressed and interrupted when the symptoms were in their infant stages. We all have to start at 5mph long before we're flying down the highway at 70mph.

Dogs who charge and bite people at the door didn't "just" start doing that. They were allowed to bark, get way too worked up, and run back and forth to the door (as pups or newly adopted dogs) many times before the first bite. They were allowed to jump up on people at will, or push their way into your lap while you sit on the couch, scratch your leg or bark at you for attention--never learning to appreciate or respect the personal space bubble of humans. They are probably lacking structure and leadership in their life--enjoying a lot of unearned freedom and affection in the house. It is so important to understant that we can't simply look at the bite and say, "oh man, we've got a problem." We MUST see the pushy and obnoxious behavior that was going on long before that and say "THAT'S a problem!"

Leash reactivity/aggression isn't an overnight event. It's the result of many walks (prior to the reactivity problem) that were totally controlled by the dog in a bad state of mind-- going nuts when the leash is brought out, pulling you out the door, dragging you down the sidewalk, allowing the dog to zig zag back and forth marking every mailbox, sniffing every blade of grass, and getting excited by every person, car, bike, or dog they see. It doesn't start out as explosive, scary, leash behavior--but it turns into that because the pushy, non-polite, and controlling behavior of the many walks you took before was never addressed.

Next time your dog does something, think to yourself--does this seem like a problem? Is this a little pushy? Is this behavior getting worse or more dramatic each time we do something?

If you can nip a problem in the bud in its infant stages, you can really save yourself some trouble down the road when you have a serious problem in need of behavior modification. Remember, it's much easier to put out a match than a bonfire!

A dog is a dog, no matter the size!

Polite behavior and obedience training seems to be a largely "big dog" dominated activity. It is very easy to simply scoop up a little dog that is barking at people, not care( because he doesn't weigh much) that he's jumping on people, not be too concerned about growling and snapping because their mouths are too small, and even not mind picking up little dried-up poops in the house because they "arn't really that messy."

No matter the size, all dogs are looking for leadership and guidance. Problem behaviors are a cry for help, no matter if your dog weighs 5lbs or 105lbs. A growling Chihuahua may as well be a growling German Shepherd--they are both dogs and deserve to be treated as such. Ignoring little dog bad behavior is more than a dog having a "Napoleon Complex"--it's a red flag to the needs of the "dog" inside that little dog not being met.

I love this picture because 3 little dogs are rocking it! Chi Chi and Jackson are waiting at the open front door in down/stays for me to say "let's go!" and walk. My boy Leo (a previously to-be-euthanized-for-biting little dog, who spent more time in his old life being spoiled like a baby than being treated like a dog) working it out on the treadmill leash-free!

Little dogs are still dogs, and may surprise you how much they are looking for leadership! 

Don't loose it!

Bonjour! Je m'appelle Victoria! 

Hello! My name is Victoria and THAT (above) is about all I remember from 2 semesters of French in high school! Back in those days I could write essays, have small conversations, and even read books in French with ease!

Ask me to say something in French now and I'll introduce myself and maybe name some fruits--but that is about the extent of the conversation we will have! In high school I could have gone to Paris and gotten from point A to point B with ease--including asking questions, ordering food, and chatting up the locals. Ask me to go now, and I'll be saying "Bonjour! English?" while moving my hand like a little duck mouth.

Why am I posting this on my dog training page? Because the same principle applies to dog training. I spoke French everyday for 2 semesters and was a real Mademoiselle! However I graduated and never again challenged myself to keep up with the daily exercises we did in school. Quickly I lost all of the skills I had worked so hard for to conjugate verbs, count to 20, or even ask someone's name! Now, instead of holding my own in a real world French environment, I would struggle to do one thing correctly. How do you say FAIL in French? Don't ask me! 

So (if you can see where I am going with this)! Your dog's training is NOT over after it comes home from a board and train or you finish the last session of your private lessons. Your "training" is only beginning! Your dog needs you to practice your leadership and his training skills everyday, so that he can continue to be successful and improve in the real world. I could be giving lectures in French if I'd have kept up with it!

If you only said "sit" to your dog twice a week, do you think he would ever learn the command? So why only practice place command once a week, when guests come over on Saturday night? That type of "it's time to train" pattern means your dog is going to struggle (and you're likely to get frustrated) all because you guys haven't been having "real training conversation" daily. It's one thing to tell your dog "place" once a day when you're making his food and then release him to eat; It's another thing to have your dog in a place command while you do chores and then recall him across the room to a down/stay while you carry groceries in and out of the front door. 

Try taking your dog on a walk once a week, and see if your leash manners improve  Instead take your dog on a daily walk and challenge him to hold a down/stay while other walkers and their dogs go by, or to heel without distraction in a busy grocery store parking lot.

Keep challenging your dog and keep practicing your stuff. Don't sweep obedience under the rug for only the days when you need major control of your dog--because they will struggle and so will you. Have your dog do some structured obedience work and calm on command behavior everyday. EVERYDAY. You've invested in it this far, don't let it go! Keep the language fresh, so your dog can carry his own in real time!

Please don't take your dog to Paris only knowing how to say "croissant!"