07/15/2022
The Dog Comes First
- The dog did not choose to be your pet. You chose to be their owner.
- The dogs wellbeing (This includes mental & physical) is completely your responsibility.
When I say responsibility I define it as ; “Response-ability” or “The ability to respond to”.
The necessary distinction to make in this context is reaction vs response.
Reactions are based in memory, whether that be genetic or cognitive, essentially a preset response to stimuli from the environment based on previous experiences.
Reactions are not inherently bad, but they can be counterproductive to your goal if they are not crafted with clear and conscious intention.
I will give an examples of counterproductive reactions. Then responses made with the awareness of a dogs perspective.
You are walking your dog down a trail. There is a man with a hat and jacket on that is about to pass you. Your dog reacts to this man aggressively, barking, showing teeth, etc… The typical reaction by the man is to look at the dog and move away. Reaction by the owner is to use the leash to move the dog away from the man, while most likely telling the dog to “STOP IT”. You continue in the direction you were walking before the incident having to periodically yank on the leash to keep your dog moving the same direction.
- Both of these reactions succeeded in increasing the distance between the man and the dog, but failed in removing the dog as a threat completely.
- The Strangers responsibility
- When you make eye contact with a dog that is exhibiting aggressive behavior you are validating the dogs opinion that you are a threat. This is because not looking at or acknowledging the dog shows that you trust the dog. Now that is not to say that if there is a dog running after you off leash you should start admiring the scenery, but in this context use the fact that the dog is restrained, to the owner of the dogs advantage. by not acknowledging the aggressive behavior. This most likely not solve the problem, but it will ensure that you, the person walking past the dog, do not make the situation any worse.
- The owner on the other hand had a more nuanced responsibility.
- FIRST PRIORITY as the owner is to SHIFT ATTENTION from the “danger”, TO YOU. When dogs are in a “Red Zone” state, all of their senses are completely consumed by whatever they are perceiving as a threat. Using your voice is not effective at getting their attention. Hearing is the least intense sense for dogs.
- DO NOT YELL while your dog is being aggressive. there is no consideration for whether or not the decision to be aggressive was a correct one, so any attempt to verbally recall focus will only encourage the reactivity your dog has. Instead use Physical movements to capture their visual focus and shift it back to your eyes or direction of movement.
- SECOND PRIORITY is to show you do not see this man as a threat. stand between the threat and your dog with your back to the threat. This shows your dog that you trust the man enough to show him your back (Showing your back in K-9 Language is the equivalent to turning your back to someone with a gun). Ensure the dog maintains an obedient body position, then wait for your dog to relinquish responsibility for the identification of threats to you. Most often this is shown by the dog voluntarily moving into a sitting or prone body position, as well as attention shifts to other things in the environment.
Remember you are always responding, it is up to you whether you do so consciously.
Message here on facebook any questions you have regarding behavior or training!
