28/08/2022
[WHEN YOU FEEL ALONE]
Most of us that share our lives with dogs have experienced a difficult situation at some point, or several difficult situations. It is very demanding to maintain a cheerful and positive attitude when things are not going our way, especially if trouble goes on for quite some time. We can think of many issues that can cause stress for our dogs and ourselves, from a dog that has problems with putting their harness on, making the daily routine of going out very hard, to a dog that feels overwhelmed by all the stimuli around them. There is a big, wide spectrum of scenarios.
We are all unique. Just because another person doesn’t see something as a problem, doesn’t mean that is not a problem for us.
Deep changes take a long time. Prepare for the long haul, take care of yourself as well as your dog. This is an endurance race not a sprint. Here at the Smiling Leash, we all have personal experience with dogs with very troubled pasts that came to be our life companions. And although there are challenges along the road, now there are more beautiful days than bad days. If you feel in a dark place, we want to give you a bit of hope. We want to share a few pointers that have worked not only for us and our dogs, but also for our clients and their dogs.
It is key to understand that the first step in the journey must be that your dog feels safe. This can sometimes take an unusual form. For example, you might think that the room you have prepared for her is a safe space, but your dog prefers a different spot in the house, maybe under a table or in the car or somewhere in the garden. Listen to her. Respect this space, this will be a solid base for continuing to grow her trust in her family. If you don’t feel safe, you can’t eat, you can’t sleep and you don’t relax, always alert at things happening around you. The same goes for dogs.
Feeling safe is never about food. It is not about the person that feeds you, but about the person and environment that makes you feel secure and out of harm’s way.
THE BASICS:
🟢 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐠𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞. If you know what your dogs is telling you, you can act accordingly. Maybe your dog is stressed by a situation, and you notice it. This way you can help her immediately. Be your dog’s advocate.
🟢 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. A comfortable H-harness and a long leash that allow freedom of movement. And book a session with someone well educated in leashwork. We cannot stress enough how important it is to learn to handle the leash well, to avoid tension and promote decision making.
🟢 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐲 during your walks. Let you dog explore and stop when she does. Dogs see with their noses and sniffing is what they were born to do. It calms them and they like it, so do as much as this as they want.
🟢 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭. This is not about distance but about quality. Adjust your walk based on health, age, stress levels, sensitivity etc. Each dog is an individual and we must learn what is right for each one of them.
🟢 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐢 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐠𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭. We always talk about allowing our dogs to use all their senses but think about YOUR dog. Is she scared by noises? Look for quiet places. Is she triggered by movement? Go to tranquil places where there is less movement. Is she touch sensitive? Choose very carefully where she is going to walk on and so on.
🟢 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 and proprioceptive exercises, always within what is safe for you and your dog. What do we mean by this? Going over some tree trunks or crossing a stream, feeling the resistance of the water, jumping over a low obstacle, or climbing some steps, using a ramp, stretching to pick up a scent … think natural instead of exercise and extreme. Knowing where all the parts of their body are and being able to use them, makes dogs more assertive and it also develops their brain.
🟢 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. Think about curves and how dogs avoid things that worry then using this movement. We can help them curve sometimes. Also learn how we can help them using barriers. Read about splitting up, another dog technique that we can use to help them.
🟢 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 and whatever it is that triggers your dog. Practice makes permanent. Repeating behaviours such as barking and lunging will only make them stronger and more automatic.
🟢 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬. This could be quite tricky if you have a dog that is reactive with other dogs, but it absolutely can and should be done. Look again for an ethical trainer that has the right education. Social walks can be tailored to accommodate your dog and be a key part of her rehabilitation.
🟢 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐬 that are proven to help dogs and choose the ones that are likely to help yours. Some examples of things we have personal experience with are tracking (looking for an odour), massage, music and zoopharmacognosy. We encourage you to research accredited sources to explore this avenue.
🟢 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭! There is so much new research on this area and how it affects behaviour. There is a direct connection between the gut and the brain. So, whatever you choose to feed your dog remember how closely related we are, and what is the advice for humas: eat fresh, varied, good quality food.
🟢 𝐃𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐠. 😄 Affiliative behaviours and play are part of the ethogram of the dog, and ours, too. Building that special relationship must include this.
In the picture you see Sara and Blu. Blu has trouble in several areas, some of them have now been overcome, but others remain, like relationships with other dogs. Sara has done so much for Blu. Only an approach based on kindness and respect can achieve true change and she is making it happen. Blu needed to feel safe and learn to trust again. His relationship with Sara has changed completely. Here he is attending a social walk, and he is a regular at these events. With a bit of planning they are possible and help Blu get that canine contact he needs. Even if there is some distance between him and other dogs he knows perfectly well he is in a group.
It is easy to get isolated when problems occur. We feel bad, we may think we are failing our dogs or we do not know how to help them, and we can’t see when or how it is going to end. Our mental state also plays a big part in how our dogs are feeling. Trying to stay calm when the situations are difficult is a big ask but remember that you are your dog’s safe place, that person they rely on when help is needed. If we stay calm and they see that, we have a much better chance at helping them come out of the situation.
Also, do give yourself a break. You are doing so much for your dog, and if you are on this page, you are trying to learn more about dogs and how to help them in a kind and respectful way.
𝑾𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒂𝒇𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒐𝒈. 💛
Some articles that you may find useful:
How to introduce a harness - https://www.smilingleash.com/blog/how-to-introduce-a-harness
Practicing Mindfulness -
https://www.smilingleash.com/blog/practicing-mindfulness
Feeling Safe -
https://www.smilingleash.com/blog/feeling-safe
Living with a "reactive" dog can be emotionally hard -
https://www.smilingleash.com/blog/living-with-a-reactive-dog-can-be-emotionally-hard
Can reactive dogs have Smiling Leash walks -
https://www.smilingleash.com/blog/can-reactive-dogs-have-smiling-leash-walks
