How do you react when your dog is triggered by external factors while you’re enjoying a walk together?
The answer is almost never the same across the board, however, a common mistake is to react to the trigger alongside our dogs. Unfortunately, we can’t guard our dogs against all the potential triggers in the world. What we can do is offer support.
In this episode of the Enlightened By Dogs podcast, Kathy explains how staying connected with our dogs in these situations can be beneficial. She also runs us through some useful tips for leash walking our dogs.
In this episode:
- How to support our dogs when they are triggered
- When and how to rely on the safe, calm, and happy protocol
- Why a dynamic partnership with our dogs is beneficial
Quotes:
“You are either a #winner or #learner, and learner equals winner.”
“The more experience we get, the more competent we get at staying connected with our dogs.”
“If we cannot feel safe, calm, and happy in situations our dog needs us to be, things won’t go well.”
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3 Responses
My highly reactive rescue is very easy triggered. We walk on a very busy bike path (close/loud vehicles, dog walkers, bikers, runners) that runs in front of our condo. (Pretty much our only choice for potty as we have no fenced in yard.) If I can’t tunr and go the other way, I have learned to sit my dog down just prior to the coming encounter, her back to the item/person above and I say “look at me” meaning look me in the eye and then give her a freeze-dried liver treat as her reward. This keeps her eyes and mind busy and on me during the encounter. We walk our high energy dog 5- to 9 miles per day so avoiding an encounter is pretty much impossible. I had to learn techniques to manage her. Putting myself in between the other dog and my dog is a great idea.
My German Shepherd pup her name is Precious and she’s very hiper and today she pulled me over and scrapped up my knees and hands
I always get so much out of these sessions, no matter how many times I listen. There is always a new inspiration to be found.