When we get frustrated with our dogs’ behaviors our first thoughts are “why are you doing that!”. The simple answer to that question is… Because it works! Dogs do two things, what works for them and what their owner allows them to get away with. So, when our dogs do things like pull on leash or chase a bunny it’s simply because it has been working for them so why not keep doing it. The true way to stop unwanted behaviors we need to stop it at the thought before it becomes the reaction. This starts with the humans.
A lot of times owners will call and say, “I want my dog to stop a certain behavior”. Now it is my job to help them understand why that behavior is still occurring. With an issue like pulling, every time the dog is on a leash and there is pressure on the collar when they are going forward, pulling is working. They are doing what works. It is our job as owners to teach them how to walk on a loose leash and understand that this is how we can proceed forward (I will make a post all about leash pulling).
Changes in the owners also come down to the emotional level. Dogs are very sensitive about changes in humans. It’s why they make such great support animals. Dogs have an estimated 50 times more olfactory receptors in their noses than humans. They can sense changes in our emotional state just through scent. This is why it is so important that we stay calm, especially when training our dogs. If we are all worked up it will literally feed into our dogs. We always say, “calm leader creates a calm dog”. Here is a great article about how dogs sense changes in emotion from iheartdogs.com
To help create the changes you want to see in your dog it all starts with changes in the owners. It is one of the main reasons our classes are built around educating the owners instead of us just training their dog. I can train your dog but when I give them back to you if there are no changes with you there is a good chance the dog falls back into the same routine. I hope this helps with understanding the importance of change in owners on your journey to becoming even more of a loving leader.
Isaac Reeve
Loving Leaders Dog Training
(720)656-0005
