Repeat after me ๐ซก
My dog who lunges, barks, growls, cowers, snarls, snaps and bites does not need more obedience training.
You can practice sit stays until the cows come home but itโs not going to change your dogs behaviour. ๐ฎ
๐ก But you know what will?
โค๏ธโ๐ฅ Addressing your dogโs underlying emotions that are driving their behaviour.
โค๏ธโ๐ฅ Supporting your dog through their reactivity training instead of taking their behaviour personally.
โค๏ธโ๐ฅ Using kindness and positive reinforcement instead of fear and punishment.
โค๏ธโ๐ฅ Giving your dog reassurance and being patient instead of thinking they โjust need to get over itโ.
I get that living with a reactive dog can be frustrating and disheartening. But I promise you, they are not purposefully giving you a hard time, they are truly having a hard time coping with our human world.
Follow @manneredmuttsdogtraining for more force-free dog training tips & advice ๐พ
Have you ever heard or been told these โ๏ธ
โYour reactive dog is poorly trained or needs more obedienceโ
The truth is, reactive dogs donโt need more obedience, they need a holistic encompassing approach to addressing emotions, needs & pain/discomfort. Reactions are fight or flight responses, meaning theyโre automatic, your dog is not โchoosing to reactโ.
โYour reactive dog needs more socializationโ
Absolutely not. If anything at the start of your training journey your dog needs less unpredictable encounters with dogs. If you are taking your reactive dog to dog parks or daycare in an effort to socialize it out of them you run the risk of making their behaviour worse, by either creating more frustration or fear.
โRewarding your reactive dog is like rewarding bad behaviourโ
Say it with me; we cannot reinforce emotions. Comforting your dog, giving them space and advocating for their needs is a great way for them to build confidence in themselves & you.
What outdated reactivity myth have you heard? ๐ซฃ
Puppy parents, youโre not going to love me for this one, butโฆ
Youโre going to want to buckle up and brace yourselves for this next chapter (aka: adolescence).
All jokes aside, while it is normal for guardians of adolescent dogs to feel frustrated and challenged with their dogs behaviour, it doesnโt need to be to an extreme.
We *highly* suggest reaching out to a qualified qualified trainer to make the most of your dogs adolescent phase, now is the time to set a strong foundation for the behaviours you want to see, work on life skills and learn how to best meet your dogs growing needs!
Have you ever been told that youโre at fault for your dogโs behaviour?
This is a very bold and harmful statement.
While yes, we absolutely hold some influence over our dogs behaviour, at the end of the day they are living, breathing, sentient beings with their own feelings, learned experiences, breed traits and genetic makeup.
Behaviour is information. It is not โgoodโ or โbadโ.
You could bring home a new dog, do everything โrightโ and still end up with a dog who is reactive, fearful or aggressive.
Placing the blame on dog guardians creates feelings of shame, embarrassment & frustration.
You are not the cause for your dogโs difficult behaviour, stop placing blame on yourself.
Save this for later ๐ท๏ธ
Selecting the ideal walking spot for your reactive can feel tricky and daunting.
It takes careful consideration to ensure your dog and you have stress free outings. Sometimes it feel like your options as a reactive dog guardian are limited, but work with what you have & learn to make the most of it! You do not need to take your dog to a new location everyday for them to be fulfilled.
Follow along for more reactivity tips & tricks to set you & your dog up for success !
Dogs who roll onto their backs and expose their belly arenโt always asking for belly rubs!
Did you catch the cues that Tyson was asking for space instead of belly rubs? Some things we noticed:
- his ears are pinned back close to his head
- he lip licks multiple times
- his body is overall tense (not loose and wiggly)
- his paws are tucked in close
- heโs avoiding making eye contact with me
- his mouth is closed tightly and lips are pulled back in the corners
When it comes to body language itโs important to keep your dogs normal in mind, Tyson is not a dog who tends to roll over and ask for belly rubs. As well as the environment around your dog, in this video Iโm asking Tyson to come inside from tanning, because I had to go to work. He said no thanks, 5 more minutes please!
Remember that dogs to speak our language, itโs our job to learn theirs.
Hot take but my dog does not need to do whatever I say when I say it.
Are there skills I want performed quickly when cued, yes, but I think far too often we get carried away with arbitrary rules and control with our dogs.
Somewhere along the way we can forget that our dogs are sentient beings. With their own feelings, needs, and preferences.
Now Iโm not saying your dog never has to listen to you, but if youโre cueing your dog to do a behaviour theyโve previously successfully done in that environment instead of labeling them as stubborn, defiant, or using corrections take a second to look at WHY they may not be able to perform the behaviour.
- are they having an off day (we all do!)
- are they in pain
- are they feeling stressed
- is the environment uncomfortable (ie: a cold floor)
Your dog can be a โgood dogโ while not blindly following your every word, they can be โwell trainedโ and take a minute to process things or say no altogether.
Stop expecting compliance from your dogs that you wouldnโt be able to uphold.
Picking a harness at the pet store can get overwhelming so here are my top 3 harness recommendations, based on whatโs readily available in my area!
All of these harnesses are Y shaped and offer both a front & back clip. Harnesses should fit 2 fingers between the straps and your dogs body.
- Ruffwear front range (most padding)
- RC pets momentum (lifetime warranty)
- Petsafe 3 in 1 (overall best fit)
If you have a dog that is โoff standardโ in terms of measurements (ie: a dachshund or Newfie) a custom harness may be the best fit! ๐ฆฎ
Working in an unregulated field can be frustrating and discouraging to say the least, it can also be tempting to offer guidance beyond our scope of expertise.
Since my education is specific to dog training & behaviour I refrain from making comments or providing my clients recommendations on these topics:
- specific nutrition related questions
- spay & neuter recommendations
- specific medications (and even saying โyour dog should be on medication)
All of these topics are beyond my scope of expertise, and are better suited for a veterinarian, a veterinary behaviourist, or a veterinary nutritionist. Which makes it all the more important that your trainer has a network of trusted veterinary professionals to rely on.
Rest and relaxation is an important and often overlooked part of successful behaviour modification.
Just like humans, your dog requires restful sleep everyday to function at their best.
Sleep plays a crucial role in your dogs overall well-being, it affects their mental and physical health. Ensuring your dog has enough sleep everyday will improve their ability to learn. An over tired puppy or adult dog can lead to all kinds of unwanted behaviours such as excessive mouthiness or increased reactivity.
Providing your dog with a cosy bed, a quiet place, and a regular sleep schedule can help them develop healthy sleeping habits. ๐ค๐ค
Nail trims for dogs who hate nail trims ๐
People always laugh when I tell them about Tyson being scratch board trained to trim his nails but it has seriously been a game changer for us!
Having adopted Tyson as an adult dog, I wasnโt able to properly desensitize him to traditional nail trims the way I would with a young puppy. Tyson ended up having some big feelings about nail clippers, making them an unpleasant experience for both of usโฆ
And then I stumbled upon the cooperative care world and I made Tyson his first scratch board from a piece of wood, some 80 grit sandpaper and super glue. He quickly picked up on the behaviour and now he happily comes zooming over any time I bring out his board.
Trimming your dogs nails doesnโt have to be a battle both you & your dog dread! If thereโs interest id be more than happy to do quick intro to scratchboard trainining sessions (virtual & in person)๐พ
*picture of scratchboard in comments*
