So what do I do when a dog comes to live with me? Mostly the same things I try to teach my clients to do for themselves and their dog(s)!
I wrote this for the yellow lab Bella’s owner to try and describe what I am doing:
We are doing a form of Reset as describe in the Contented Canines Co-op (client FaceBook Group organized into 21 guides)in Guide 5 and with a recorded zoom class in guide 11.
Structure, resource management and clearer/ new communication to help her understand how she and I relate and how she relates to the “pack”. The dog will be its best if it sees me as a trustworthy and relevant senior partner in the dog- human partnership!
Reset creates patterns of life with a time for rest, a time for play, a time for work and she is beginning to understand the “rules, boundaries, and limits” of each of those times so she needs less guidance over time.
We are working on the Foundation steps (0-2 currently) so the leash adds clarity and communication and for her an opportunity to make choices so she doesn’t feel it most of the time! (Guide 5 and 11)
We are working on using TBTE 6 reasons to Bridge (“yes”) and Reward (guide 6 and 11) to create a powerful signal and to encourage her to make choices that we can both like in lots of situations!
We are working on learning to relax more, to like and choose more relaxed behavior and to recover when she gets excited. (Guide 6 TBTE, and Guide 11)
She is a lovely, energetic and happy lab who learns quickly - but she is a teenager with a lot of energy!
Foster dog Stinker worming his way to claim the comfortable spot from Major!
Tab day 3 post op (TPLO surgery). #SpectraLaser
Tabitha and Travis wrestling this morning! Contented Canines
Peppy (mini-poodle pup)plays with Xander (mini-Aussie)
When addressing a dog’s behavior, there is often what seem to be two competing demands: manage vs teach (or control vs educate). I don’t see the m as competing ; I see them as complementary.
Ultimately my training goals want the dog to learn the appropriate/ needed response and to be able to choose that response (or one of many acceptable responses) without me having to direct them.
Often, in the process of teaching/ helping the dog learn new choices, I will need to exert control or manage the environment to make is easier for the dog to choose the acceptable option(s). Over time, I seek to reduce management/ control as the dog progresses in its learning until the dog can be successful with as little of my control/ management as possible- ideally none!
As an example, If a dog is reacting to every person who passes the house by barking and jumping on the doors and windows, I will likely want to manage things so the dog is not able to practice that behavior when I am not there or until I am ready to help the dog learn a different (better)reaction.
Until I know how to help/ teach the dog, and during the training process, I may need nearly complete control (crate, close door, pull shades, masking music/sound etc) until I am ready to help/ teach.
I need to understand exerting control/ management typically teaches the dog NOTHING; it only prevents the unwanted behavior. While it is important to not allow the dog to keep practicing the unwanted behavior, we should recognize it is only buying us time to learn to help and to start giving that help.
As the dog improves, we should be able to deliberately reduce control/management/ help until dog is able to manage themselves!
Easter Egg Hunts as described in by Training Between The Ears provide a helpful way to improve the way a dog perceives an environment, provide a deliberate opportunity to energize a dog’s seeking system and fulfill the lower adrenaline aspects of a hunt!
Xander,Blossom and Tab at play
After Major, Tab and my weekend away, Blossom is back!
Post pack walk rest (and human refreshments)!
Like an old married couple!
Tab (dog judo master) training Kirby (grasshopper) on the finer points of play! “Be like water, then be like the swirling wind, grasshopper”!
Tab wrestling our latest visitor, Kirby the red Aussie! It was a close fight- winner photos in comments.
Xander the mini-Aussie on the morning walk practicing a recall. (Tab guest stars as distraction). Teaching your dog to reliably come when called may be the single most important skill to help your dog navigate the world safely!
Xander the mini-Aussie on the morning walk practicing a recall. (Tab guest stars as distraction). Teaching your dog to reliably come when called may be the single most important skill to help your dog navigate the world safely!
