16/05/2024
RESILIENCE SERIES PART 2:
SOCIAL SUPPORT
As it is with humans, dogs that have social support are more resilient. For those of us who have anxious pups, building their resilience is imperative for their welfare. How do we provide social support to our family dogs?
1) Be consistent.
Have you ever lived or worked with someone that you felt you had to walk on eggshells around because you didn’t know what to expect of them from one day to the next? Is this someone you felt safe and supported with?
Consistency is a very important factor in creating a socially supportive environment for our dogs. If we are inconsistent in our expectations of our dogs, it creates an environment of uncertainty. For example, if you allow your dog to sleep at your feet most nights when you relax in front of the TV, but you come home from a hard day at work and get irritated with your dog when they try to sleep at your feet. You might even reprimand them, and you push them off. Your dog won’t know why you are irritable and why you have rejected them. Inconsistency creates uncertainty and erodes trust.
2) Increase social currency.
Generally speaking, dogs are highly socially motivated. The greater the social currency you have with your dog, the safer they will feel, and the healthier their social attachment to you will be. Have you ever heard of the phrase, “nothing in life is free” when it comes to caring for and training your dog? This is terrible advice. Many people require their dogs to work for or earn their treats. If we only reward our dogs with treats, affection, and play once they have earned it, it creates a transaction-based relationship and keeps your social value neutral. Give your dog “free” rewards. They need to know that good things happen when they are with you, and that they don’t have to do anything for it. Be your dog’s safe, happy place. If your dog is afraid, comfort them. If they are unsure, reassure them. Showing care when your dog is distressed doesn’t reinforce the emotion. This is an outdated idea. You cannot love your dog too much.
3) Take anger out of the relationship.
Your dog understands mood and tone. Many people talk sternly to their dogs all the time. There is no good reason for it. Use a comforting and reassuring tone when speaking to your dog. If your dog’s behaviour makes you angry, try and reframe the situation. Your dog isn’t giving you a hard time, your dog is having a hard time, and they probably don’t understand why you are angry. Living with someone that directs their anger towards you whenever they find it difficult to regulate their emotions is detrimental to one’s mental and emotional health. Dogs are no different.
4) Set your dog up for success.
Dogs don’t come preprogramed. It is important to set our dogs up for success by adequately managing their environments and teaching them the skills they need to live well with us. Part of setting a dog up for success is managing our own expectations of them. If we have unrealistic expectations, we are setting the dog up for failure, and setting ourselves up for disappointment. Recognising that our dogs are individuals with their own strengths and weaknesses, understanding what our dogs need and then giving them what they need is the key to a harmonious relationship.
5) Teach your dog what to do, instead of telling them what not to do.
“No!” and “Stop” aren’t behaviours. If your dog jumps up, direct them to do an alternative behaviour. Reprimanding dogs for expressing themselves, communicating, or doing whatever helps them regulate themselves, creates an environment of uncertainty, and discourages curiosity, exploration, and experimentation, all of which are important factors in resilience.
Part 1 of this series can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/praisethedogau/posts/382477367884837
