Hold it in a relaxed manner rather than a white-knuckled death grip, and if you need to signal on it, remember to release the tension and allow it to slacken immediately after. ![]() Keeping up a constant tension on it will make him feel even more restricted and increases the likelihood of him being reactive, so how you handle the lead is crucial. Slacken the leadīeing on the lead limits your dog's options he can't flee, so is forced into a defensive position if he sees or meets anything he views as alarming or threatening. Using TTouch body wraps can also be very helpful when dealing with fear-based reactivity in dogs. While they won't stop him from being reactive, they can be invaluable in reducing the level and helping him return to a calm state more quickly. Avoid taking your dog out immediately after playing a really exciting game with him as it may increase adrenalin levels, making him more liable to be reactive.ĭo some TTouches instead to help release tension and stress, so that he sets out on his walk feeling mellow and relaxed rather than already in a high state of arousal. Doing some breathing exercises can have a calming effect, and you can continue doing them while walking. It can be really hard to stay calm sometimes, but it's absolutely essential, so whatever works for you personally to help de-stress yourself before a walk, whether it's listening to some soothing music, having yoga session, using aromatherapy, or taking Bach Flower remedies.ĭon't underestimate the power of positive thought either summon up an image in your mind of your dog behaving perfectly, rather than thinking about how he has behaved in the past and expecting trouble.īreathing is also really important, as when you're feeling anxious you're likely to take shorter, more rapid breaths, which will be noticed by your dog, as well as creating tension in your posture. ![]() If something does trigger him, it's easy to behave reactively yourself, shouting at him and pulling on the lead, reinforcing his behaviour and maybe making it worse. You may be feeling tense and anxious and expecting the worst, but your dog will quickly pick up on this and will start actively looking around for the cause of your concern. De-stress before going for a walkĪdopting the right frame of mind applies as much to you as to your dog! He may be the one with the problem, but you can easily accentuate it if you're not careful. This way of walking him can also be helpful if you have a large, very strong dog. Only one person should guide the dog though, while the other person remains neutral, otherwise your dog will end up in the middle of a tug of war. The other person can attach a lead to a side ring on his harness to help keep him in the middle and so he has a light and quiet physical connection to both of you. You will often feel more confident and able to cope if someone else is with you (provided it's a calm and sensible person), while walking with the dog in-between the two of you can be reassuring to him in situations which make him anxious. The presence of another person can have a calming effect on both you and your dog. Discomfort, however low-grade it may be, can cause even the most sweet-natured dog to become short tempered and intolerant. Ask your vet to give your dog a physical check-up too, as pain is frequently a factor in reactive behaviour. Every dog is different and will need a special plan of action tailored specifically to him one-to-one work will be necessary as training classes aren't the place to try to sort things out. Don't struggle along on your own either finding a good trainer or behaviourist to help you is really, really important. Although this may be fine in the short term, it's not much of a life for either of you and it will severely limit what you can do together and where you can go.ĭon't adopt a ‘head in the sand' attitude, or hope he'll grow out of such behaviour, as it's unlikely - what may happen, though, is that he'll get progressively worse and another dog or person could ultimately be hurt as a result. Some people with reactive dogs end up resorting to extremes, such as walking at one or two in the morning in order to avoid whatever it is that triggers the reactive behaviour. ![]() ![]() Leading UK Tellington TTouch instructor and practitioner Sarah Fisher offers a few tips to help you cope. Whether it's other dogs, joggers, cyclists, or passing cars that set him off, walking a reactive dog isn't easy.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |