all, Puppies, Leadership and Dominance in Dog Training, Guy Fawkes and similar stressors for dogs, Separation Anxiety, 'Walking the Dog' and all associated..., Dog 'Ownership' Helpful Tips, Preventing 'Fixation'/'Obsession', With Cats..., General Training, 'Obedience' Type Command Instruction, Safety Around Dogs, A Good Dog Behavioural Consultant/Dog Behaviourist, Entertainment for your dog, The problem with gadgets in effective dog training, Stress in Dogs, Reactionary Behaviour, Aggression, Embarrassing antics our dogs get up to..., 'Tis the Season', Visitors and your Dog, Vocalization, Strangers, Issues with Food, Cars/Vehicles and your Dog, Why does my dog?
Strangers And Your Dog
17.11.23Dog Behaviour. Do you want dogs to like you? Getting a dog to like you.You know those people, the ones that don’t seem to give a bar about dogs but dogs fawn all over them, there’s definitely something to it. I’m at the other end of the spectrum as far as passion for dogs but I’ve learnt a thing or two and I don’t know how many clients have said to me, ‘Wow, such and such doesn’t normally like strangers’ when their dogs have sidled up to me.Let’s look at this further -For me, I’m standing up and side on to the dog (here I'm not risking being bold over and I'm in a position of authority too) whilst giving them space - they then have more of an ability to move away if they feel the need.I’m as still as possible (those who know me, know that I’m quite animated - talking with my hands normally, so this takes some restraint).I do not make eye contact (for quite a while actually). I focus on the owner or another point I have chosen. With this, I am neither a threat nor a push over.I allow the dog to decide to sniff me first (if they want to at all). I never EVER offer the back of my hand (as seems to be a common practice). You never really know a dogs past at this point and they could have been hit with a hand. You are encroaching into the dogs space also.Finally as mentioned, dogs just ‘hang with me’ at their owners home. The last signal as part of this, was them coming up and nudging me for a pat. I was accepted, Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant and Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog behavioural and training tips, advice and suggestions, why not check out my book with Harpercollins, 'Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood,' thank you 🙂
20.05.23Dog Behaviour. Dog Training. Dogs jumping up on people.Firstly, always give your dog the opportunity to ‘Do Good’ and ask for a ‘Sit.’ In the early stages of training, you could reward your dog every time for sitting, then gradually introduce random rewards but praise every time.Voices should not be raised or arms moving around as both will stimulate your dog more. With this, ask visitors to fold their arms and turn around away from your dog. Pushing a dog down/away often ends up creating a rebound effect, with the dog coming back to get this attention. If the problem is persisting or is very intense, you could try one of these two options –Using an obliging visitor - the instant your dog begins jumping, get your visitor to silently turn around and walk away. Ideally they avoid making eye contact.The visitor then waits, still facing the other way until your dog has calmed down. They then about turn and try again with their approach. This can be repeated until your dog has stopped their jumping (usually this process takes mere minutes).Your dog is trying to gain attention, so if you reward them with this - even the odd time, you are then encouraging the behaviour.Now, you can also use short periods of ‘Time Out’ for intense jumpers. This just means, as soon as you witness your dog jump up (a single jump is enough) immediately isolate them for just a few minutes - paying them no attention while they are away; no ‘growling’ and avoiding eye contact if they can see you. *However, do not let your dog out if they are barking or whining etc. otherwise these behaviours become the ‘push button,’ ‘I’ll get let out if I do these things….’ If you bring your dog out and they jump up once more, immediately take them away again for the few minutes. This process is repeated until your dogs jumping ceases. Your dog needs to learn this consequence to action and it usually comes about at a speedy rate if done consistently, Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant, Trainer and Author, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog training and behavioural tips, advice and suggestions, why not check out my book with Harpercollins, 'Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood,' thank you 🙂
25.07.2020
Watch out for cuing/signalling for a negative response in your dog …Try not to tighten and tense up your dogs lead when you spot another dog in the distance (this also applies to spotting other animals or people) and usually a road crossing is not needing when discovering them either ;-) These actions only perpetuate the signals to your dog, that yes indeed, there must be something off with that ‘creature’ if we are to ‘react’ this way.Another, slightly different way to look at cuing is -When you put your dog back on their lead after a recall, try if you can, to leave the lead long enough for slack. If you have the lead too short and tight each time after you get your dog back in, a negative association can form with coming back to you and being put on the lead - your dog has lost all that freedom, Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend.
Admin - 11:32:54 @ With Cats..., Reactionary Behaviour, Strangers
22.02.2020
A fear of strangers —Firstly, you do not have to know the exact route cause as to why your dog is fearful of strangers, to be able to help them.The first step is very specifically, identify all those your dog is afraid around – who and when.Then, for the early stages of the training process it is all about lowering your dog’s (and your own) stress levels, by avoiding these triggers, to help them become amenable to teaching. [Read More…]
Admin - 05:59:43 @ Strangers
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Selina McIntyre of Dogs Best Friend, a qualified Dog Behaviourist & Dog Trainer in the Hamilton, Waikato, Tauranga and Rotorua areas of NZ since 2004.