Research into the most common factors in resiliency suggests for people to be resilient need to:
-be resourceful and have good problem solving skills
- be able to Seek help when needed
- Have options to help manage their feelings to cope
- Social support available
- feel Connected with others
Now let’s look at our dogs and how we attempt to build resiliency.
- we don’t allow them problem solve, we actively want them to stop it
- If they seek support from us when they are worried, people tell us not to comfort them ‘You’ll reinforce the fear’ (this is wrong!)
- We don’t allow our dogs options, like sniffing and moving away
- We often believe we shouldn’t ‘pamper’ them or offer support.
- They can spend large amounts of time alone and disconnected from us.
We all want resilient dogs. So what can we do to build resiliency.
Firstly, don’t be afraid to offer your dog support and reassurance if they are worried or nervous. It’s okay to advocate for them and ask people not to touch your dog or recall their dog if it’s too much.
It’s perfectly okay to allow your dog to leave a situation that is causing them lots of stress, anxiety or worry, they need to have options.
When they have no options, this is when behaviour problems develop.
Expose your dog to low levels of the stressor to build resilience up slowly. If you over do it, you risk sensitising your dog and making them worse 🤪🙈
No exposure at all and they can’t build up the skills they need.
If you try train them when they are over threshold (barking, lunging etc) you run the risk of making the behaviour worse.
You should engage in play with your dog to help build their connection with you.
Teach them problem solving, in ways that are appropriate, like trick training with shaping or scent work classes and so on, we live in an age where almost everything is available to us now.
What do you think makes a resilient dog (or person for that matter!).
Should you discipline a reactive dog?
When we talk about discipline, we are talking about using punishments to correct disobedience.Reactivity is never due to disobedience! It is when a dog becomes overly aroused in the presence of a common trigger. One reason for this is fear. Can you imagine disciplining a child because they cried when they were fearful of something?Do you think it would help develop confidence and an ability to cope in the future? Our dogs are the same. We need to address the underlying emotion causing the problem and in turn this will address the reactivity. Sure discipline can certainly suppress behaviour BUT the fall out is usually bigger than the initial problem. So quite simply you get even more reactivity in the LONG term or worse a dog that escalate barking to snapping and biting. And no one wants that!What can do you? Go back over my last few reels on reactivity 1. Make a log, 2. Manage the environment as best you can 3. Teach Alternate behaviours 4. Watch your distance and lots more videos to follow to help you on this journey.If you need more immediate help, comment FREE CALL and I will send you a link to book a chat with me to discuss how we can help your dog :-)#reactivedogs #dogtraining #dublinireland #onlinedogtraining
Why I don’t ask reactive dogs to sit!I
I will still teach cues, but alternate, incompatable ones to barking and lunging.I still want to get their focus and engage their brain 🧠 If you find this helpful, pop me a follow. My aim is always to give straight forward easy to follow dog training advice! #dogtraining #reactivedogs #onlinetrainer #northdublindogtrainer #dogtrainingtipsandadvice
Can you tell what your dog is trying to communicate based on their bark?#barkingdogs #dogtraining #dogtrainingswords #dogs #dogtrainer #dublinireland #dogtips #dogbehaviour
Reactive Dogs - this is important!
Without doing this you are going to really struggle to change your dog’s reactivity! I know its hard, but it’s important right now your dog doesn’t keep going overthreshold #dogtrainersoftiktok #dogtrainingtips #doglover #dogreactivity #dogbehaviou
💯You need to follow me this week if you have a reactive dog 🐶
Yesterday we talked about identifying the triggers, today we need to figure out how far away from the triggers our dogs can work 🆘 What’s your dogs distance??? Post below ⬇️ #dogtraining #dogtrainingswords #reactivedog #reactivitytraining #barking #dogtrainer
Reactive Dogs - Why keeping a log is important
Reactivity in dogs. If you found this helpful, pop me a follow or tag a friend that could do with some support as we discuss all things reactivity this week #reactivity #dogtraining #dogbarking #doglunging #dogreactivitytraining
Tag a friend who’s adopting a new dog.
💫 let them decompress
💫 positively redirect if you have to
💫 reinforce anything you like with some of their food
💫 let them get to know you and vice versa
#rescuedog #rescuedogsireland #newdog #dogtrainingireland #dublindogtraining
New Puppy Tips
There’s a lot we can do from that 8-12 week mark to prepare our puppies for this crazy human world they live in!
Pop me a follow for more tips and tricks on living with your dogs and puppies. #dogtrainingswords #laurajennings #swordsdogtraining #puppyprep #dogtrainingtips #dogbiteprevention
Tag a friend who’s getting a new puppy to help make the toilet training journey a little easier 📍# 💫 Forget about puppy pads, get the puppy out the back 💫 bring them out on the hour, every hour 💫 Go with them, wait and reward with fresh food💫crate train and manage when you can’t watch them 💫 don’t expect your puppy to ‘ask’ to go out. #puppyconsultations #puppytraining #puppytraining101 #pupptrainingtips #swords #malahide #donabate #baldoyle
