The importance of your relationship with your reactive dog.
If your dog has behaviour problems, remember that it isn’t that your dog is a problem in themselves, just that they are a dog with a problem. Your dog is likely to be fine for the vast majority of the time and only a problem every now and then. It’s very easy to forget this balance when you are struggling with a lunging and barking dog on the end of a tight lead.
Your dog lives in an alien world. The way we live as humans is not natural to dogs and the sounds, smells and sights are all things they must learn to cope with as they mature. Imagine how you would feel if you were plunged into a foreign culture with no knowledge of the language and customs. Trying to communicate would be a struggle and it would be easy to misinterpret the signals you were being given, which would very likely make you confused and anxious. It is just the same for your dog. They communicate differently from us and need a strong trusting relationship in which they can depend on their caregiver for guidance and direction.
Why positive training?
We need to show our dogs that they are safe and can relax in an otherwise potentially stressful world.
Some training is obviously very important for any domesticated dog, to help them to understand what we want from them, but the relationship you have with your dog and the bond that this builds, are key to resolving issues and supporting your dog to be trusting, fulfilled and happy. Dogs communicate differently from us and cannot tell us how they feel. Equally we can’t explain our world to them in words, so it becomes more and more important to understand how your dog feels and what they mean when they behave in different ways, so we can learn how to show them how to relax and be content. This understanding and mutual respect is what builds the loving bond that will guide your dog through their fears and stresses.
Creating a good relationship with your dog builds trust, connection, and satisfies their emotional needs. Dogs are sentient beings with emotional needs just as we are. It is not just about training them to perform cues, it’s about recognising their needs and working to develop a mutually respectful, loving and trusting bond. When you have a solid bond with your dog it reduces confusion, increases feelings of trust and security and encourages them to want to learn. If your dog is feeling stressed, it is impossible for them to learn new skills. Imagine being asked to memorise even something simple like a shopping list when you are standing in a field facing a charging bull and you get the idea! You are the centre of your dog’s universe, and it is their trust in you that will reduce the stress and uncertainty they face. Trust acts like a psychological ‘safe space’ where your dog can let out a long breath and think more clearly.
So many dogs are stressed and insecure and when you start to understand what they are trying to tell us, this can become very obvious and sad to witness.
Study your dog. Learn what he likes and doesn't like, when he is tired, when he is excited. What does he love most? When is he happiest? How quickly does he get tired? Can he relax well at home, even if there are noises outside?
What really upsets your dog? People passing the house, someone knocking on the door, passing cars, other dogs, tall men? Does these things make him bark, growl, bite even, or does he run away and hide, or roll over and pee? Does he run towards a problem or back off. Some displays of fear are easy to recognise but did you know that most barking and lunging is based on anxiety?
How much do you truly understand about your dog’s language? Dogs are communicating with us all the time. They use their posture, facial expressions, scent glands and voices to show us how they feel, and we need to learn what they are saying.
Really get to know your dog, study his body language and watch his behaviour, and you will build trust and respect as well as love.
Be an advocate for your dog. Learn how to communicate with and understand him and he will repay you with a lifetime of devotion and trust.
