Ever wondered why your dogs over-react with intense excitement when you return home or when your visitors arrive or even when you’re feeding them a meal?
The answer is: you are your dog’s mirror.
In other words, when you are excited to see your beloved pooch after a long day away, your dog becomes excited right along with you.
When your visitors enter your home, they are often using “baby talk”, touching and reinforcing excitement while your dog is jumping all over them.
When you prepare your dog’s meal and place the food bowl down, you release your dog with an excited often high-pitched release word.
If you’d like your dogs to use calm manners, then YOU need to be calm and instruct your dogs by telling them exactly what you’d like them to do and be prepared to reinforce that instruction.
Here’s an example that will set your dogs up for success:
Doorbell rings and you tell your dog to wait in a space that has clear boundaries. As you approach the door, your dog gets up to follow, you then return to your dog and bring him back to the designated space and calmly, clearly tell him to wait. If your dog doesn’t have a “place” command, then you can back tie him on a leash. As you invite your guest into your home, you ask that they completely ignore your dog until you know your dog is calm. When your dog is completely calm, you can instruct your guest to approach silently and calmly before petting with slow motion strokes.
Remember that YOU are your dog’s mirror. If your energy is calm and relaxed, then your dog’s energy will also become more calm and relaxed. Don’t expect this to happen immediately. Give your dogs an opportunity to relax and figure things out. This means you will need to WAIT. For example, when you hold your dog’s food bowl, try waiting calmly for your dog to relax his body before putting his bowl down. This teaches him that when he’s relaxed, he gets something he wants!
By following a few simple steps, you can enjoy a calmer, more relaxed family dog who is a pleasure to include in your life!
Woof! Elaine
Pack Walk for Graduates!
Please join us for our upcoming Fall Pack Walk for graduate dogs only on November 10th at 9:00 am. This is an opportunity for your dog to practice skills previously taught in training and socialize in a large pack environment. We will meet at the Boathouse parking lot at Bond Lake Park promptly at 9:00 to begin our walk and return by 10:00 am.
Address / Map: 197 Bond Park Drive
Location Website: https://www.townofcary.org/recreation-enjoyment/facilities/bond-park-boathouse
Bring potty bags, leash and remote collar. Space is limited. You must RSVP to elaine@carolinadogtraining.com no later than 10/05.
Dog Tip!
When people get dehydrated they use drinks containing electrolytes such as Gatorade. Now, finally something for dogs who get dehydrated: DOG-E-ADE https://www.dogeade.com/
DOG-E-ADE replaces the fluids lost from physical exertion, diarrhea, vomiting, gastrointestinal distress, and poor drinking habits, and contains:
- No Artificial Flavors or Colors.
- No Artificial preservatives.
- Real Sea Salt to replace essential electrolytes
And, it’s safe for all dogs!