Every dog, be it a 2 pound Chihuahua or a 200 pound Mastiff needs to know that you are its’ protector and advocate. Advocating for your dog doesn’t mean picking it up and running away from everything that you believe is negative. Advocating for your dog means stepping in to assist when they need it. They need to know they can count on you to help them when they are in over their heads for whatever reason – just like children. This is how you build confidence in the dog – they have to be confident in you and your abilities.
As Temple Grandin (PhD in animal sciences) says, you can treat and raise your dog like children. To that end, if I wouldn’t exact a punishment on a child, then I wouldn’t do it to a dog.
We all know the helicopter parent, heaven forbid their child gets hurt – and these are the parents that overprotect. I find people overprotect their dogs, when they should be letting their dogs stand on their own 4 paws – and help out when needed. If Monty gets in trouble, he looks to me for my reaction – if I panic, I would expect him to panic as well. If I’m remaining calm, he knows it. When he does get in trouble, he looks to me or comes to me and I step in to deal with the offending dog or human. That’s how one should advocate for their dog, I’m there when you need me.
If you keep pulling your dog away from scenarios that scare you – then you’re the one that is reactive, not the dog. You’re inflicting your own reactivity – and sometimes aggression on the dog. That’s not fair. You will never learn to trust your dog to make solid and positive choices.
If your training measures consist of “listen to me or I’m going to punish you in some way”, think of raising a child like that. It simply doesn’t work, but yet we do it anyway. Then wonder why the dog acts out?? Or why they rebel?
Just something to think about…
Robert Hynes Dog Training
Serving Edmonton, Alberta and surrounding areas.
admin@roberthynesdogtraining.com