Letting a Dog Be a Dog

Dog Training Cat Tip of the Day: The idea of "letting a dog be a dog"

To the eye, and to how most people think dogs should behave, the saying is true enough. When a dog is chasing squirrels, digging in the yard, jumping on people, chewing stuff up, barking all the time, or dragging you around on the walk to sniff every blade of grass, many people will make excuses that he's just "being a dog."

He's being a dog without guidance from a leader. He's being a dog who doesn't know any better, because his owners have not asked him to be better. If you think about it, most people who say "dogs are dogs" typically have pretty badly behaved dogs in their life.

This doesn't mean that your dog can't have some fun doing "specifically" doggie things, but they shouldn't be ALL your dog does.

Kids are allowed to be kids on the playground, but not in the library or (shouldn't be) at a restaurant. The same goes for your dog! There are times to be wild, but there are times to be good. Your dog's amount of polite, tuned in, and calm behavior should far out weigh the amount of "wild" behavior. Unless your dog is at daycare all day (or your kid is at summer camp all day) they should be making some calm choices with their day.

How would you feel if you were taking a walk with a friend and they walked ahead of you, were constantly running past you, pushing you around, or talking but never actually acknowledging you? Rude friend, right? Then why is it ok for our dogs to do it? -Cenicero, #dogtrainingcat  www.dogtrainingcat.com

Behavior Modification--It takes some time!

Behavior modification is quite a process, and when you're dealing with dangerous behavior from your dog, working with a qualified balanced training professional is your best bet to see real change in your dog. For many people the idea of leaving your dog for weeks with someone can be hard to digest, but in a lot of behavior modification situations it is truly the best way to see change. 

Your dog needs a total reboot--out of it's environment of bad behaviors, away from people who trigger emotional responses, and into a 24/7 life of structure, work, and intensive change. To change your dog's state of mind, we have to totally hit "restart" and build new behaviors in a new environment, so that your dog knows how to make different choices that he can apply to his MUCH more challenging home environment. Many dogs are stuck in a toxic cycle of behavior at home, and the best thing we as owners can do is "let them go for a while" so that a professional can give them what they need. 

Think about why drug and alcohol rehab happens somewhere else, for many weeks, with qualified professionals--because the patterns of everyday life play into addiction--just as they do to your dog's aggressive/anxious/fearful behavior. AND the key to continued success is the at home program that is strictly applied to. We are only as successful as the efforts put in afterwards :)

If you are looking for help in the Orlando area, please visit my website Www.taketheleadk9training.com. If you're elsewhere and need help, feel free to write in the comments below--I have amazing colleagues changing lives all over the country :)

Dog Training Cat Has a Tip for you!

Dog Training Cat Tip of the Day: Dogs should not be expected to tolerate hugs, kisses, and being picked up (if their small enough) by every person they meet. Many dogs need to build a relationship with someone before they feel comfortable with that kind of close interaction, and even still may not like it. Remember, as their leader we have a responsibility to do what's best for our dog. As our dog, they should be able to trust that we'll put their needs above our own. This means that even if you got a dog or puppy for the purpose of hugging and kissing , your dog may not be that kind of dog--and that is OK. They still absolutely have the ability to be a great dog, just not a great teddy bear (and dogs should not be confused as such!) You need to be a leader who understands that and adjusts your priorities for what is best for your pack. -Cenicero, ‪#‎dogtrainingcat‬

Www.dogtrainingcat.com

Nipping it in the bud!

I remember as a child being one to "push my parent's limits," especially in new situations. I'm not sure if it's because I knew they were taking into account everything going on instead of just a normal day at the house, but I seemed to like to press my luck during things out of the ordinary. For example, whenever we took a trip to a relative's house it was very easy for me to be quite the nuisance for attention because 1) we weren't at home (often on a multiple hour car ride actually) so there was no "room" to send me to and 2) my relatives would often give into my attention seeking shenanigans because they don't see me often. 

Here's the most common occurrence, if I remember clearly: Myself and my sister in the back seat whining that that we're hungry. My mom has packed plenty of snacks in the car for us, but since we are on the road WE felt like we should be eating glorious fast food (we rarely ate fast food except for when we traveled). So, the chorus went something like this (in the most annoying kid voice you can imagine): "Hungryyyyyy, I want McDonald's, I want, I want, I want....blah blah blah." 

If we went to McDonald's, my sister and I got what we wanted and my parents reinforced that we can do all of that and get what we want.

When my parents ignored me, I would get louder (did they HEAR me????) and more annoying. 

When my mom would try and negotiate with me ("Honey, there are apples in the cooler") my whines would get even more desperate for "real food" and "how that isn't lunch." I would continue to harp at my parents in the front seats. Negotiation wasn't the answer.

It wasn't until a consequence was laid down (a believable one, because when my dad said it he meant it and did it!) that I would shut my trap. For us, we were outdoorsy children, and one of our favorite things to do when we visited my grandmother was go to a local wildlife state park and look at the wolves and foxes. So when our chorus of annoying noise wouldn't stop, my dad would say: "If you don't stop whining, we will not visit Reflection Riding the whole trip and you will stay in the house the whole time." And that was all it took--we shut up! In the past we'd thought we'd play the game and keep whining to see what happened, and he'd right away say "Ok, I told you. We're not going." We didn't get to do a thing we wanted, because my dad was serious and consistent about his consequences. My sister and I learned quickly to cut it out if he told us to, and when we started our whine games on future trips he quickly gave us our options and didn't wait until we were screaming! 

When your dog is about to start with pushy, attention seeking, and complaining whining behavior, save yourself and your dog some time by nipping it in the bud and interrupting/correcting it at the start. When your dog understands there is consequence for the behavior, they quickly learn that all of "that" is not how you get what you want. It's better for you to address the nonsense quickly and consistently at the first moments of the behavior, because the longer you negotiate or ignore it, the harder and longer they are "working it" (making it much harder to stop)! They have been conditioned over time to think that's what works, and that you've never really stopped them before, so why should they believe you are now? The quicker and more consistently you disagree with those behaviors and stop the escalation, the more consistently your dog will not push those buttons. Owners, kids, dogs, and parents are all much happier when the whining is done! :)

Anxiety is not comfortable!

A dog restless with anxiety is not comfortable. Anxiety takes many forms, such as obsessive barking, pacing, jumping, licking, and the general inability to be still. It also can manifest its self in aggressive behaviors due to the presence of anxiety in combination with an entitled personality due to spoiling and pampering, and the lack of a boundaries set by a believable leader. These anxious dogs think they have to be in charge and make all of the important descicons in life (because their human isn't fulfilling that need), which stresses them out more because quite obviously they are very bad at making those choices, (since most descicons involve bad behavior). 

Don't let your dog fall into a toxic battle of anxiety and stress due to lack of leadership, structure, and boundaries--be the leader they need so you can have the dog you wanted :)

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 ;)