Our human world is so confusing to us , let alone to our dogs!
They will very often find themselves in places and situations that we have put them in, that they would never choose to be in.
Such as, to name a few:
in a busy pet store
at a dog festival
being approach and touched by a stranger
being approach by another dog and not having the freedom to create distance
near busy traffic
having a child pull on their tail
We not only put our dogs in these situations, we then expect them to behave in a way we find acceptable by:
Not reacting to potential dangers
Being calm in unfamiliar situations
Not pulling on the lead
Not growling
Not ‘stealing ’ food
Not killing prey
Being ok when they are on their own
If they do react in any of these ways they are then considered a naughty or an aggressive dog!
In fact they were in a situation where they have been set up to fail, by us! We not only put them there but we also communicated with them in a way that is causing them to feel responsible for us, which is a very stressful job to do in a world they don't understand.
Dog are not robots and they have their their own way of communicating.
We need to start seeing things through our dogs eyes and learn how they think and communicate with them so they are no longer in positions where they can fail and we can help to gain their trust and confidence in us do make all the big important decisions, so they don’t have to.
They can then feel relaxed knowing that you have got this!
So next time you are feeling frustrated, embarrassed or angry with your dog, think about your expectations of them, the situation you have put them in and then take a step back, reflect and start to learn their language.
Want to work together? Here are a few ways we can do that...
>> Separation Anxiety
Overcome separation anxiety and learn how to have a calm, happy stress-free dog, in all areas of their life with my flagship online course - Separation Anxiety The Holistic Solution
Unlock an invite into the course in this 60-minute free training: Sign up HERE
>> Learning to Listen - Online Course
You have been trying everything to help your dog and you need a solution that works to have a happier less stressful life for the whole family. Learn the whole dog listening approach in this detail easy to follow online course. Find out more HERE
>> Work with me 1:1
Learn the whole dog listening approach 1:1 with me. There is a range of packages to choose from. Find out more HERE