No sleight of hand
There is no magic to what we do to help fearful dogs, however you define magic. It's time, energy, and effort all resting on a nice bed of patience. In order to survive every species has to have reason to crawl out of bed every morning, or evening if they're nocturnal. If they can't it's ...
Skip the dress rehearsal
I am a 'directional dyslexic'. My thinking is that if our culture found knowing which way was north was important enough they would have provided me with remedial classes in school. As it is, that didn't happen and lacking specific instructions, when given a choice of going right or left to get somewhere, will choose ...
Shortcuts to Enlightenment
Sorry there aren't any. Thought I'd get that out of the way. When you find yourself living with a dog who has fear based behavior challenges (one way of saying 'fearful dog' for those who eschew labels) it's not unusual to think, hope, believe, that there's something, anything, that is going to turn them into ...
Minimum daily requirements
When my fearful dog Sunny, or if you are troubled by the labeling of dogs, my dog with extreme fear based behavior challenges Sunny, first came to live with us I had dreams for him. In the summer we'd go to South Pond and people would toss frisbees and balls for him to swim after, ...
Begging your pardon
How often do you apologize for your dog's behavior? I am surprised at how often people, pet owners and trainers alike will beg forgiveness for their dog's behavior. We apologize for our dogs when they bark, greet someone enthusiastically or stare at someone's steak and cheese sandwich with unrelenting intensity. I am not taking a ...
Give them something to feel good about
Fearful dogs' brains have become very good at feeling afraid, startled, anxious and I'd guess that if a person exhibited the same symptoms as many of these dogs do they've be considered depressed. To help fearful dogs start having a better outlook on life we have to find ways to provide them with either things ...
Dancing is NOT allowed
Early in our relationship my husband, an avid tennis player, hoped that I too might learn to enjoy the game. I knew that the chances of that were slim to none, but needed to at least give it a try. My attitude is that if someone really wants to play with me they'd hit the ...
Transforming dogs
Among the mail order catalogs offering sales on winter apparel and spring seeds was a brochure of workshops being offered at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health located in the Berkshires in western Massachusetts. It's a lovely place and I wouldn't mind spending time there attending workshops, eating wholesome food and having so much body ...
Put distance seeking behavior on cue
When we have a dog who is afraid of people we often focus on getting the dog to move closer to them. What we should be focusing on is encouraging the dog to do whatever makes them feel more comfortable around us. If whenever I stand up, lean or move toward a dog, and that ...
