🛑 THIS IS DANGEROUS 🛑
Take the time at home to teach your dog to calmly get into the car.
Moat people find this humorous because it’s an animal that is showing excitement.
But if this was your best friend doing this on a road trip you would probably put an abrupt end to it.
I’m all for having fun with dogs, but this just isn’t healthy, it’s dangerous, and it’s just going to get worse.
Creating Space & Respect
You can create these things respectfully, without yanks on the leash, loud voices, or intimidation.
This helps shape your relationship into something beautiful where all beings involved are aware of expectations.
Creating this structure is healthy for dogs and will help relieve stress and anxiety for your dogs.
Once you learn how to translate these descriptions, it just might help you adopt a dog that will be easier to handle for you and your family.
Otherwise you may be looking at a long and expensive road of dog training, managing, supervising, and stress.
If you feel like you are “the one” that can train a dog out of all of these red flags, I would suggest that you go along with the dog that doesn’t need to learn how to be around kids or dogs. That way you don’t have to change your lifestyle for the sake of the dog.
🛑 Don’t Do It! 🛑
Please do not feed your dogs just before a walk, hike, playtime, or any physical activity as it can cause bloat and could be deadly to your dog.
Instead, fulfill your dog instinctually by providing the activity first, let them cool down, and then feed them.
When in doubt about how calm they should become?
Never feed a panting dog.
1. Pick the dog up as early in the day as possible so we can spend the day together, drain the dog’s energy, and help him/her sleep at night.
2. Go for at least an hour long leashed walk to help drain energy when I arrive home. Provide the dog water just inside the house when we return.
3. If you have other dogs then it’s time for a pack walk for another hour. If you don’t have other dogs then I would play with him/her to learn what his/her favorite games are. Provide water.
4. Now it’s time to enter the house on leash. I will show the dog the house but we will stop at every doorway and then be invited into the house and/or room.
5. When showing the house I will provide either a crate or I will anchor the dog to something and provide a soft bed for the dog to rest.
It’s important to take at least 3 days (if possible) when you first adopt a dog. The first 3 days will help set rules and boundaries so the dog knows what to expect. The next 3 weeks will be based on routine and structure. And for some dogs it will take them 3 months to settle in. 3-3-3
Transitions are a series of movements that create a domino effect.
Now these can be good dominoes or bad dominoes (behaviors or patterns).
And because no one pays me to show me how well behaved their dog is, I see the bad patterns most often. 🤣
Once you identify a transition and understand how it works for your dog, you start to understand when the first domino falls.
That becomes your starting point.
That’s your chance to start a new pattern
I talk about this in my Canines and Culture group Zoom calls and we have good discussions on where the breakdown happens, and how to handle it.
Enrollment for my February Canines & Culture group is just 2 weeks away. If you would like to learn more about it and get on the EARLY BIRD VIP WAIT LIST just comment “culture” and I’ll send you all the deets.
Dogs Are Den Animals
They actually prefer to have a safe place and because some dogs are more confident than others, some might actually prefer a wide open space the middle of the floor.
But if you are bringing home a dog for the first time whether it’s a puppy or adult, crate training just might save you lots of money.
Vet bills, new furniture, or new sheetrock/molding are all things dog owners have spent money on because their dog wasn’t crated when they left home.
A crate will be the cheapest baby sitter you will ever pay for. Taking the time to properly crate train a dog is important.
Maybe you don’t need a crate? No worries.
But your dog might need to learn how to be in one if you ever take them to be groomed, get a procedure done at the vet, or boarding your dog at a facility.
⚡️ YOUR DOG IS COMMUNICATING ⚡️
This can be a scary situation for some dog owners and the most dangerous thing you can do is try to take the object away when the dog is growling.
Reaching for something they have in their mouth can create some serious conflict. Especially after the dog is already telling you to stay back.
The one MAJOR missing piece to this situation is communication - as in it hasn’t been made clear to the dog what’s expected.
Is it possible to change this behavior?
Yes it is.
Does it take some work?
Yes it does.
If you are dealing with resource guarding, which is what this is, I would suggest you get professional help as soon as possible.
It’s quite likely your dog WILL NOT grow out of this.
If you are dealing with unwanted behaviors, my Canines & Culture 12-week program can help you. We start February 4th.
Comment “February” and I’ll send you all the details of the program. Get on my Early Bird VIP Wait List to get priority enrollment.
BODY LANGUAGE
This is a part of a dog’s body language that you don’t hear much about.
But it’s a BIGGIE!
Being aware of your dog’s pupils will help you understand the level on intensity they are experiencing.
And because there’s no command for calm……
We have to wait this out or if your dog is VERY stimulated, I would either:
1. Put the dog on leash and limit the physical space he/she is allowed to move around in
or
2. If your dog is crate trained, put him/her I. The crate until they relax.
Repetitions of Success
Most dog owners aren’t able to build confidence in their dogs because they believe that after only successful task of an activity, their dog has a full understanding of what is being asked.
Think about that for a second.
How crazy would it be to teach a 4 year old what 2+2 is and the first time they got it right?
We assume that they will remember it for the rest of their lives.
This is why you need repetitions of success so your dog can get a full understanding of what you are asking. And because you are the one that helps build your dog’s confidence, you become more valuable to your dog.
And that’s never a bad thing.
Do you feel your dog needs more confidence? Do you want to become more valuable to your dog?
Enrollment for my Canines & Culture 12-week program is less than 3 weeks away. Comment “February” and I’ll send you all the details on how you can get on the early bird VIP wait list before enrollment goes public.
There are so many layers to this video so I’m just sharing the surface stuff.
The dog lying down was showing tension and with the other dog coming around the corner with purpose, it creates an explosion.
In some cases, dog can turn on each other just to dissipate the energy. Doesn’t matter if they have been friends for years or just days.
Why this way is wrong…..
Dealing with your dog from an emotional standpoint causes so many behavioral problems when it comes to living with an instinctual animal.
They are driven by their instincts, it what makes them react certain ways and it’s how they navigate our world.
Can you snuggle your dog?
Sure
But if that’s all you do and your dog has issues, you aren’t helping your dog.
When you start understanding their instincts, their needs, and how to fulfill them, you become more valuable to them.
Giving them everything because their previous owner gave them nothing doesn’t make you a better owner.
Creating daily expectations, fulfillment, and structure makes you a better owner.
Vermont Dog Boarding & Behavior is located in Hyde Park, Vermont. Vermont Dog Boarding and Behavior helps owners and their dogs.
