A new year brings new hope and resolve for getting it all right this time around. Let your dog share in this positive spirit! Consider these positive spins on common problems:
Nervous, anxious, fearful, stressed? Stay under threshold.
In other words, don’t let your stress escalate. This goes for both you and your dog. Simply avoid situations you can’t handle gracefully. That being said, don’t worry, there are strategies for improving all kinds of issues. They are best trained when you and your dog are both calm and relaxed. Examples:
- If you get mad when your dog pulls, find a different way to walk so you stay happy. Or if you are just feeling frustrated today, then no leash walk today. (I hesitate to say this, in fairness to the dog, but I strongly believe you must stay calm to be a good dog mom or dad!) When I click and treat my dog’s “heel” (his shoulder at my left knee), it’s a guaranteed good time. Yeah, I have to bring treats, but it’s fun for both of us!
- If your dog gets upset meeting dogs in the neighborhood, then keep your distance. Don’t worry! There are strategies for improving this issue. One quick example is letting your dog get a good whiff of the other dog. My Vizsla’s demeanor is much better if we follow a dog for a little while before we meet. She really appreciates the opportunity to get a big noseful.
- In general, take care of yourself – your dog may be a mirror reflection of your own stress. These wonderful creatures tend to take our issues on. Help them by helping yourself stay calm and happy.
Happy Dog Momma
Crazy, overexcited energy? Provide an alternative.
Dogs can only do one thing at a time. Examples:
- A friend’s dog got rambunctious near the end of their walk – they were getting into a bad habit of a mad momma each time. This momma’s corrections only escalated her dog’s wild behavior. When she tried a more peaceful method – stopping and waiting – she did better, but each time they resumed the walk, the craziness came back. One time though… she rewarded her dog’s calm behavior with a stick, and the rest is history! Now her dog carries a stick (or whatever) during the end of their walk.
- Annoying indoor behavior, and no toy seems interesting enough? Tether your dog to you for 30 minutes. Just put the leash around your waist by slipping the end through the handle. Then leash your dog. Watch the transformation!
Begging while you eat? Teach him how to earn it.
Some dogs are obsessed with the delicious food we eat. You can ignore them ’til the cows come home, but they still stare… My suggestion: teach a “down-stay, look-away” by using tiny morsels as rewards. Work up to as long a stay as you need. I started this method on my couch while watching a movie with a bowl of popcorn. I first rewarded a down and my dog quickly started holding a down for me. (I simply tossed a piece of popcorn to his nose while he was down.) I then rewarded only when his eyes were looking away from me. Amazing how quick he learned to lay down and look away from me. Once I taught one dog, it was easy to teach the next.
Barking too much? Did you remember to acknowledge a job well done?
We had to figure this one out for one of our foster dogs. She barked at everything and had us all on edge for a couple of days! Once we started telling Tasha what a good girl she was for alerting us of potential danger, she was relieved and started mellowing. Poor thing had been sure the house was being invaded and none of us heard her warnings. When she “alarms”, just let your dog know she’s done a very good thing and now her work is complete. She can come join the rest of the pack again. We’ve even had great success with this method during fireworks.
Jumping up? Turn your back and reward all paws on the floor.
Turn your back, stand still, act aloof – you are tapping into doggie language for “calm down”. The kids have helped me prove this concept. It is a quick and easy approach that gets good results.
My brother taught me this next one… reward paws on the floor! He arrived for a dinner party, ignored my dog (which was great, actually), and started talking to me. But… my dog was SO happy to see him and she waggled and waggled patiently while we chatted. She eventually got so desperate, she jumped up and he screamed “NOOOOO!” The whole thing was a bit uncomfortable and I have since done a better job at acknowledging all paws on the floor. Now she stays down and smiles back like “yeah, I know I am being good :-)”
