dog_guardian

Should We Ban Fireworks Night? Rant and Advice

hello@thedogguardian.com (Nigel Reed) — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 16:10:50 GMT

Rant

Possibly a controversial opinion, but I wish fireworks night didn’t exist, and frankly, I think we should ban it. Or at the very least, get rid of the loud ones. It’s not that I’m a killjoy, nor am I unfamiliar with big, exciting productions. I was in Sydney for the millennium—one of the biggest fireworks displays ever—and still, I didn’t feel the urge to say, "wow wee." In fact, after about 10 minutes, I was honestly a bit bored.

Add to my lack of enthusiasm the fact that we know hundreds of thousands of dogs and other animals will be scared out of their fur, and I’m even less thrilled about it rolling around again.

Now, I can already hear the counterarguments: "But it’s tradition!" "It’s fun for the kids!" And sure, I’m not saying we all sit in the dark knitting while the 5th of November passes by. But is the fleeting thrill of a multiple bangs really worth the mass hysteria it causes in pets? Let’s be honest, if we can switch to paper straws nearly overnight to save the turtles, surely we can rethink the whole fireworks situation?

But we are where we are, so this blog is all about how to prepare for the upcoming chaos.

Advice

You may be familiar with my theory: if every dog had total confidence in three areas—

Their owner as a leader,
Their environment,
How they should behave—

then ALL behavioural issues (except for those linked to health) would disappear.

I’d be out of a job—fine, I can live with that—because it would mean a world full of happy dogs and owners. Sounds like a fair trade to me. I’ll get a job working with cats!

So, how do we get our dogs confident in these areas?

Establishing Leadership: The Role You Play

Building confidence in your dog starts with you. You’re not just a nurturer (though most of us probably lean too heavily on that role), you’re also their coach, authority figure, and protector. Take authority first: how many rules are there in your house? Are you consistent with them? Dogs need boundaries, and when you set them clearly, they feel more secure. If your dog is always making decisions, like jumping up at guests or deciding the speed of walks, you need to step in and calmly assert that you’re the one calling the shots.

Then comes the protector role, and this is where the all-important “I got this” attitude comes in. Let’s say your dog barks at the postman or strangers. Are they doing it because they’re curious, or because they feel they need to deal with the threat? Often, it’s the latter. You’ve got to step in and say, "I got this." Calmly place yourself between your dog and the threat, using body language to show that you’re in control. If they get too worked up, remove them from the situation or give them a little timeout. This shows them that you’ve got everything under control—they don’t need to play protector.

Creating a Safe Environment: Their Fortress of Calm

Now onto their environment. One of the best ways to build a dog’s confidence, especially with fireworks, is to create a place where they feel totally safe. Think of it as building a mini ‘Fort Knox’—a fortress of calm. Close the curtains, play some relaxing music, and drown out the outside chaos as much as possible. You’re creating a space where your dog knows that nothing bad will happen. This also sends them the message: “You’re safe here, I’ve got everything under control.”

To desensitise your dog to fireworks, break it down into manageable steps:

Start small – Play fireworks sounds on YouTube at a low volume while your dog is in a safe space. Pair this with treats or playtime so the sounds become a positive experience.
Increase gradually – Slowly turn up the volume as your dog gets comfortable. Keep going until the volume is at maximum, but only if your dog remains relaxed.
Take it outside – Once they’re handling the sounds indoors, start taking them to busier places where sudden noises are more common. This will help them adjust to unpredictable noises in the real world .

Leading by Example: Show Them How to Behave

Your dog takes its cues from you, so if you’re anxious and jittery about fireworks, they’ll pick up on it. Even if you secretly despise fireworks night (like me), act like it’s no big deal. Laugh with your partner, move confidently around the house, and show your dog that nothing’s wrong. They’ll start to believe it themselves in time. As their coach, it’s your job to demonstrate how to behave in stressful situations. Put on your best performance and pretend to enjoy the display—your calm energy will rub off on them.

Small advantages

When it comes to managing a dog's fear of fireworks, some owners consider using medications or herbal remedies. But here’s the thing—medications and herbal remedies may address the symptoms, but they won’t get to the root of the problem. That’s where the leadership, environment, and behaviour work we talked about earlier comes in. Building confidence in those areas tackles the cause.

That being said, medications, herbal remedies, or items such as a Thundercoat (which works by applying gentle, constant pressure to calm the dog) can work for some dogs, so it may be worth a try. Any edge you can get adds up. Combining improvements in your leadership, adjusting the environment, showing your dog how to behave, and trying herbal/medical remedies along with Thundercoats will make some difference. At the very least, you’ll know you’ve covered all your bases. If you're interested in trying herbal medication to see if it makes a difference, here’s a link to a product one of my clients found helpful: link to product . They mentioned it made a noticeable improvement. Put the code THEDOGGUARDIAN at the checkout to get 70% off.

For more help on addressing your dog’s behaviour, check out my books and online dog training courses at https://www.thedogguardian.com

Stop dog on dog aggression - Oreo's story

hello@thedogguardian.com (Nigel Reed) — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 15:49:06 GMT

In this blog, complemented by an engaging video, we embark on the journey of Oreo, a dog who faced extreme reactivity challenges. The narrative unfolds through my engagement with Natalie, a single mum of three, exploring the depths of dog-on-dog aggression and its effects not only on the family but also on Oreo himself.

Understanding Canine Aggression

Understanding why dogs like Oreo exhibit aggressive behaviours towards other dogs and certain individuals is paramount. Factors such as fear, territorial instincts, misunderstanding of authority, and inadequate socialisation often lie at the core. Identifying these triggers is the first step in our approach to tackle the issue at its root.

Leadership

There is much debate around leadership and how to apply it. I believe leadership involves 4 elements:

Establishing Authority

Clear rules and boundaries are essential for asserting yourself as an authority figure. This involves being consistent and fair, reinforcing your position as a trusted leader whom your dog can rely on.

Embracing the Role of a Coach

Constant drills provide the best learning opportunities. Employing consistent training methods and drills prepares your dog to behave appropriately in various scenarios. Be that the drill of walking out the door or being calm when a visitor arrives.

Becoming the protector

Your dog needs to feel secure under your leadership. Building this trust by choosing a defence response for the dog each time will significantly decrease their defensive reactions towards other dogs and people.

Nurturing

Positive reinforcement through treats and praise is crucial in encouraging good behaviour, thereby strengthening the bond between you and your dog.

Acclimatising to the Environment

Gradual exposure to potential triggers in a controlled setting is crucial whatever the issue your dog struggles with. This method helps to reduce anxiety and aggression, making the issue of dog-on-dog aggression more manageable.

Cultivating Appropriate Behaviour

Employing direct corrective measures, such as moving the dog back and resetting them when they pull and the "3 strike rule," is fundamental in teaching dogs the expected behaviours. This approach reinforces confidence in their interactions, laying the groundwork for a well-behaved pet.

Conclusion: A Path Forward

Addressing dog-on-dog aggression with a comprehensive strategy focusing on building confidence in leadership, the environment, and behaviour reflects the best practices in dog training. By following this guide, you're not just addressing aggression issues but also enhancing the overall relationship with your dog.

This narrative is invaluable for anyone confronted with similar challenges, offering not just hope but actionable solutions. Through the journey of Natalie and Oreo, we showcase the effectiveness of our strategies in establishing leadership, building confidence, and ensuring a secure environment for all involved.If you need a personalised plan on addressing your dogs reactive behaviour check out my online course and one to one help.

How to address in-house dog aggression

hello@thedogguardian.com (Nigel Reed) — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 16:44:26 GMT

Stress on both dogs and humans

Addressing in-house dog aggression is an extremely stressful situation for the guardian and the dogs' fighting. The dogs often don't feel safe in each other's company and will react in many ways to demonstrate their discomfort, sometimes ending up into a full blown fight, as they have nowhere to disperse and calm down.

This article offers practical advice for managing and addressing the aggression within your home, featuring a case study on two Labradors. For a more in-depth exploration and tailored guidance, our online dog training courses provide extensive resources and expert instruction.

Key Strategies for Mitigating In-Home Dog Conflicts

Strengthening Leadership and Structure : Learn the crucial role of establishing yourself as a consistent leader. Many problems arise when dogs fight for their owner's attention. If both dogs see you as leader they will understand you will give out attention when you decide and therefore not believe they are telling you what to do.
Keep them apart: Once they have fought, their stress levels will be heightened and anticipating the next fight leading to agitated behaviour where they cannot properly rest. If you keep them apart for long enough, the memory of them fighting will fade.
Reintroduction in stages: There will always be a place where they are comfortable with one another be that in another room where they can hear the other dog, or out on walks 5 meters apart. This will be your starting point. Then you can gradually get them closer over time, if they are comfortable.

Case Study

I was called by a client called Tony re his two Labradors, Max and Charlie. Max, the older of the two, had always been the more dominant dog, but as Charlie matured, he began to challenge this hierarchy, leading to tension and fights that disrupted the household's tranquility.

Initial Assessment and Observations

Upon my first visit, the signs of stress and anxiety were evident not just in Max and Charlie, but throughout their home. Both dogs exhibited signs of distress such as pacing, growling, and avoidance behaviours. Their owners, deeply committed to their pets' welfare, were understandably distressed by this sudden shift in dynamics.

Implementing a Structured Leadership Approach

The first step was to re-establish a sense of order and leadership within the household. This involved training sessions focused on reinforcing the owners' status as the decision makers and protectors. Simple commands and exercises were introduced to build respect and a bond between the dogs and their owners.

Zone-Based Management for Stress Reduction

To address the competition and human guarding that were fuelling the aggression, separate zones for feeding, playing, and resting were established but all was now done on the owner's terms. Max and Charlie were given their own spaces, equipped with their own beds, and feeding areas. This separation was crucial for reducing immediate tension and preventing further conflicts.

Gradual Reintroduction

With the household structure and individual needs addressed, the next phase involved the careful reintroduction of Max and Charlie under controlled and supervised conditions. Initial interactions were short and always positive on walks staying far apart but getting closer as they looked calm. They were in the front room separated by a divider with a blanket on it so they would be calm together but couldn't see each other. Over weeks, the blankets on the boundaries were removed, so they could see each other. On walks they were happy to interact so the last stage was to remove the boundary. At this point there were no issues.

Monitoring Progress and Adjusting Strategies

Throughout the reintroduction process, close monitoring was essential. If they hard stared one another they were put in timeout and the boundaries were brought back for another week.

A Harmonious Conclusion

After several months of consistent application of these strategies, Max and Charlie's relationship transformed. The aggression that once marked their interactions gave way to a calm coexistence, with moments of playfulness and mutual respect becoming the new norm. Their owners reported a significant improvement in the overall atmosphere of their home, reflecting the success of the tailored approach to managing in-house dog aggression.

This detailed journey of Max and Charlie from conflict to harmony underscores the effectiveness of structured leadership, time apart to calm, and careful reintroduction strategies in resolving in-house dog aggression. For those seeking more in-depth guidance, our online dog training courses offer extensive resources to navigate these challenges and more, providing dog owners with the tools needed to foster peace and stability in their homes.

Please find a video below for a before and after transformation.

My dog Sky's health transformation

hello@thedogguardian.com (Nigel Reed) — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 15:29:51 GMT

A somewhat Embarrassing Confession

I want to share a personal, and frankly, quite challenging experience I had with my dog, Sky. It’s a story about a mistake I made, one that I hope you can learn from. I am by no means an expert on dog nutrition; I'm a dog owner and behaviourist who wanted to do the best for his pet. This tale is about our journey through dietary choices and the lessons learned along the way.

The Initial Struggle: Choosing Sky's Diet

When Sky, a former street dog from Spain, became part of my family, I was recommended a specific low-protein diet, believing it mimicked what she had access to while fending for herself. Unfortunately, this advice led us down a path filled with unforeseen issues. Sky's digestion suffered, leading to excessive defecation and disturbingly frequent nocturnal outings, which greatly affected our sleep.

Confronting the Challenge: Trusting Instincts Over Guidance

As Sky's condition worsened, with incessant itching and failure to gain weight, I clung to the hope that following the professional's advice was the right choice. Yet, deep down, something felt amiss. This period taught me an invaluable lesson: sometimes, it's essential to seek a second opinion or trust your instincts when something doesn't seem right.

The Turning Point: Discovering the Right Diet for Sky

Despite trying various other food brands, Sky's health issues persisted until I decided to switch to a fresh diet, similar to what I had used for my late dog, Rex. The impact was immediate and profound. Sky's health improved significantly—her digestion stabilised, and her weight began to normalise, highlighting the importance of finding the right nutritional fit for each pet.

Conclusion: Embracing Our Mistakes and Growing Together

Reflecting on this journey, I realise the importance of sharing our experiences, both good and bad. Admitting my mistake was not easy, but I believe there's power in our shared stories. If you're considering dietary changes for your dog, remember to consult with a professional, as every dog's needs are unique. I shared my story not because I'm a nutrition expert, but to offer a perspective from someone who's been through a similar struggle.

What diet was it ?

For those curious about the specific diet that made a difference for Sky, take a look at Butternut Box. While it was a game-changer for us, always consider consulting a professional to ensure it meets your dog’s individual needs. Here is a link to Butternut Box with 50% discount off your first order: https://butternutbox.com/Nigel40 should you take that route

The 4 leadership hats of dog training

hello@thedogguardian.com (Nigel Reed) — Thu, 18 May 2023 13:55:49 GMT

Everyday we talk about how to address problem dog behaviour with tools and techniques. These ideas divide opinions however I feel it is very useful if we talk about the energy we need when working with dogs as different leadership skills are needed in different situations.

I feel there are generally 4 hats of leadership that we can wear.

The first hat is your Nurturer Hat: This hat involves spending quality time with your dog, providing affection, taking care of their health, and ensuring their well-being. It includes activities like playtime, feeding, and showing love and care.

The 2nd hat is your Coach Hat: Similar to a sports coach, this hat involves teaching and training your dog through drills and exercises. You guide them through various skills and behaviours, offering encouragement when they get it right and correcting them when they make mistakes. The focus is on doing drills to build their skills and confidence to get desired patterns of behaviour.

The 3rd hat is your Authority Hat: With the authority hat on, you establish boundaries and set rules for your dog. This includes teaching them to respect your leadership and follow commands such as waiting at the door, not jumping on furniture without permission, or not begging for food.

and the 4th hat is your Bodyguard Hat: The bodyguard hat represents your role as a protector for your dog. You demonstrate that you will keep them safe from harm. This can involve removing them from dangerous situations, positioning yourself between them and a potential threat, or taking action to defend them if necessary.

It's important to recognise which hat(s) to wear in different situations and to be adaptable. Dogs may need a combination of hats depending on their needs, the environment, and their behaviour.

Being able to assess the situation and choose the appropriate hat(s) is crucial for effective dog training and leadership.

Check out this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9YOzoF90Io for more information on how to perfect your leadership approach with the 4 hats.

The bed your dog deserves

hello@thedogguardian.com (Nigel Reed) — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 12:43:46 GMT

My senior dog Rex has recently been avoiding his bed and sleeping on our carpet. This is typical every summer due to the heat but as it is winter, I thought it was strange. I investigated his bed and noticed how badly worn down it was.

I instantly felt a sense of guilt as my girlfriend mentioned on a few occasions it smelt and was ragged looking. For a sense of perspective Rex is the reason my girlfriend and I are together, why my child exists, he has helped my career and brought us so much happiness - so to alleviate my guilt I wanted to make it up to him by getting him the best bed I could find. After much looking, I stumbled across the new Topology bed.

The Topology bed has a memory foam that moulds around Rex’s body. It's comfortable and good for his joints in his old age. The mattress is enclosed in a waterproof case that can be washed in the machine so hairs and smells will be thing of the past. The bed is raised off the floor for hygiene. And you have have many stylish looks to choose from to suit your home!!! Which then scored me points with my girlfriend!!

The only issue we have now is my foster dog Dante squeezes into it when Rex gets out. So now I have been told to get another bigger one!

Link to the bed

Blog 1 – Becoming the leader your dog deserves

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 12:54:13 GMT

Becoming the leader your dog deserves

There is an abundance of information available through the Internet, T.V and books on how to become a good leader to your dog. I believe however the majority of it is just that, information, rather than knowledge. There are many dedicated owners who invest a lot of time, effort and money caring for their dog only to find themselves experiencing a range of problem behaviour including aggression, pulling on the lead, separation anxiety, not coming back when called and much more. Even the most experienced owners have admitted defeat when up against a particularly challenging dog.

If you’ve struggled to address your dogs behavioural issues there are generally two reasons why:

People do not talk in detail about the most fundamental aspect of the dogs well being; it’s needs and how to fulfil them.

Instead conversations and advice from dog experts, dog walkers, family, friends and the man in the park are primarily geared towards discussing a model of behaviour, which consists of the following:

Exercising
Socialisation
Training

The problem with this model is that it unknowingly shifts many owners into autopilot fulfilling the actions without considering their dog’s actual needs. The moment we address a to do list of actions to nurture our dogs rather than looking at their needs as a whole – assessing what they need at each point in time – is the moment we inadvertently discard our most basic nurturing instincts and listening skills. Here are some examples of this:

Exercising

I regularly hear owners claim, ‘my dog does not like going out when it is raining’, to which I would reply, ‘then do not take your dog out for a walk when it is raining’. People often look puzzled by this response, due to the deep-set belief that you must strictly abide by the list and take your dog out a certain number of times a day, rain or shine, or you are a bad dog owner, despite the dog communicating a need to stay at home where it is warm and dry.

Owners may comment that their dog will misbehave in the home if they do not walk them for a certain amount of time per day. The dog not having enough exercise is often used as an excuse for undesirable behaviour. But here is where it becomes less obvious – undesirable behaviour frequently originates from a different unmet need altogether. For example, the dog could be pacing up and down in the home and garden in an attempt to deal with perceived security needs. Or it may be constantly pestering the owner because it believes it is in charge of the household and so makes the decisions. The undesirable behaviour that occurred in the home is often reduced after a walk, as the dog has burnt off its nervous energy. However, walking the dog for these reasons fails to identify or address why the problematic behaviour occurred in the first place. Exercising the dog in this scenario will result in simply treating the symptoms rather than the disease. The dog will wake up the next day with the same problem behaviours and the guardian will likely repeat the same exercising and distraction technique. All that is really achieved by doing this is producing a fitter dog. Likewise, if you had debts and decided to go for a run, you will likely feel better afterwards. However, the next day, you would wake up with the same problems.

Socialising: this should be an important part of a dogs daily life, designed to boost their confidence needs by getting them used to other dogs. However if you stand back and allow your dog to get bullied or scared the experience will be unpleasant and her needs won’t be being fulfilled. In turn she may choose aggressive behaviour to warn dogs off in the future. In moments your dog feels uncertain in, it is necessary as her leader, you intervene so she understands that you will protect her.

Training: If your dog does develop behavioural issues and you are advised to use a training method that controls the dog such as a shock collar to stop it attacking, a spray collar to stop it barking or a haulti to stop a dog pulling you are merely silencing the dog and it’s concerns.

Each of these tactics may appear to ‘work in the form of the dogs problem behaviour subsiding. But the techniques again do not address the core issue – why does the dog feel it is necessary to protect the house in the first place? Why was it so stressed?

Now of course I am not saying do not exercise, socialise or train your dogs rather I am saying consider their actual needs with every activity in each moment.

2. We don’t understand how the dog interprets our language

Many of us struggle to communicate effectively with our dogs because we are unaware of how our language appears to them when they have a genuine concern regarding their needs. For example when someone comes to the home and posts a leaflet through the letterbox, the dog, not knowing the delivery person’s intentions, commonly alerts the pack to the perceived danger by barking. However, we know the delivery person’s intentions, and so can be guilty of trying to quieten the dog in frustration. The dog then may assesses our body language and tonality at such times and sees a lack of positive action because, as far as it is concerned, we are failing to check out the danger. It therefore can perceive our attempt to silence it as us looking to it to protect us. In its mind, we are putting it in the role as leader. The harsh tone from us to quieten our dog only reinforces its assumption that it is its responsibility to protect the pack. If the dog doesn’t see us taking care of what it perceives as danger in a convincing, physical manner, it will try to fill the vacuum.

If the dog’s needs are not recognised or we are not using the correct language to communicate that we will provide for them, they will become stressed and their state will heighten. In these moments it is vital we learn actions to calm our dogs in each moment. Be that if the dogs state rises when she sees another dog – in which we could walk in the other way to demonstrate that we are aware of the perceived danger and are choosing to. If she jumps up excitedly at visitors – where we could put her in another room to calm down and show her a consequence of her bad manners. Or if our dog gets over excited each time we pick up the lead to go for a walk – to put it down again and only move forward once they are calm and responsive.

To summarise, our dogs need us to be emotionally aware of their needs and the individual actions needed to fulfil them. They need us to recognise their concerns and communicate clearly that we understand them. And they need this message backed up in a calm, consistent and convincing fashion to reinforce we are capable of the job. Once you’re able to do this then your dog will truly have the leader it so deserves.

Blog 2 – Understanding the world from your dogs perspective

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 12:54:12 GMT

The most common mistake made by dog guardians is to assume their knowledge of the world on to the dog. The problem stems from an overfamiliarity of our environment knowing we are safe and so think the dog should know what we know. This assumption can be detrimental to the relationship if the dog does not fully understand you make the decisions relating to their needs.

We know the postman coming to the door is delivering mail, the dog on the other side of the street has no intention to come near us, the jogger is just jogging past, the vacuum cleaner is there to clean the floor, so we don’t get up and check the situation out.

The dog only has it’s guardian to look to for guidance when an unfamiliar and potentially dangerous situation presents itself. If at this moment the dog is fearful and we are not seen to act because we know the situation is not a problem. Then often the dog does not think we are doing anything about it. If a dog does not feel safe, it needs you the decision maker to be seen to be dealing with the problem. If you are not, they will have no choice but to do it themselves.

“ A dog wants to feel safe or in control but will only give up control once they feel safe”

Blog 3 – How to stop puppy biting

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 12:54:11 GMT

In the wild, it is in a puppy’s nature to bark, nip and invade other pack members space to play and see where they fit in the pack . When a pup play bites or nips another wolf they will get a mouth full of fur. When a domestic puppy nips a human’s bare flesh with their pin sharp teeth it can hurt. To make it completely clear to your pup that play biting is not a welcome behaviour – you should take them by the collar, each time they nip you, and move them back a couple of meters without looking or speaking to them. If your pup persists on play biting repeat the action but move them back a bit further to make the message clearer, that you do not wish to engage in this game. If your puppy still persists take it a step further by isolating them in another room where they cannot see you. This will give them time for their state to calm and the opportunity to think about the consequence of their actions. When your pup is calm, let them out and go back to what you were doing. If your dog comes over and attempts to carry on with the play biting , repeat the isolation method until your puppy gives up.

As leader you decide when it is time to interact and teach your dog manners in play.

Once the dog is calm and has left you alone, you can teach them a desired response by calling them into your space and show them what is allowed for example cuddling or light playing. If they then again become too excitable and bite, repeat the method until they realise they took it too far.

In this scenario of moving the pup away (and isolating if necessary) each time it nips you, someone has to give up. Do not let it be you. I have had a severe case where I have had to isolate a dog over forty times in one day because they believed they dictated when to interact and had no manners. Eventually the dog got the message. Your reaction should always be calm, convincing and consistent by never giving up. You cannot fail.

Do you have Britain’s worst behaved dog? One to one help and book giveaway.

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 12:54:11 GMT

To celebrate the release of my book The Dog Guardian: Your Guide to a Happy, Well- Behaved Dog , I am giving away a one to one consultation for you and your dog, plus 10 runners up will receive free copies of the book.

All you need to do is contact me on Facebook , Twitter or Instagram and send in a photo of your naughty dog explaining its problem behaviour.

The owner with the naughtiest dog will get a book and a free one to one consultation with me. This involves a visit to your home to assess the environment and discover why your dog’s problem behaviour is occurring.

I will then guide you on how to communicate with your dog in a kind, non-confrontational language so that he/she listens and responds to your requests. The advice will empower you to achieve the perfect relationship with your dog to ensure they are happy and well behaved.

10 runners up will receive free books explaining how to address the issues. The Dog Guardian book includes access to step by step training videos.

Contact me on Facebook , Twitter or Instagram and send in a photo of your naughty dog explaining its problem behaviour #DogGuardianHelp

Terms and Conditions apply.

Dear Chihuahua owners

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 12:54:10 GMT

If you are experiencing problem behaviour with your dog it is not because they are a yappy breed or because they suffer with small person syndrome. It’s likely due to them being treated differently because they are cute! I’ll explain – Good looks and cuteness in the dog world are a curse. Your dog’s cuteness acts as a magnet to spoil, fuss over and allow it to get away with murder – not literally! This in turn creates what I call ‘celebrity syndrome’ – the scenario where ones’ demands are constantly appeased and they’re rarely told no. This naturally hinders an individual’s ability to be and feel grounded.

Now I know your dog is VERY important to you, it’s part of your family. But think to yourself where is your dog’s actual place in your pack? Are they more important than your family, friends or partner? I am assuming not (in most cases anyway) but who gets the more enthusiastic greeting after a separation? If it’s your dog then they will likely believe they are more important.

Think how they feel in times when well-intentioned strangers invade their space to pet them – does your dog enjoy the fuss. Many dogs won’t like a stranger encroaching in their space and so will bark or growl to tell them to back off. This reaction from Chihuahua will often be laughed at and not taken seriously. Where as most wouldn’t even consider invading a Rottweiler’s space, a Chihuahua is not so lucky. This can make them feel threatened and unsafe, and you need to show your Chihuahua that you are there to protect them. You can read a case study of this behaviour, the story of Sydney the Chihuahua and how I helped him and his guardian, in my new book The Dog Guardian.

So to summarise little dogs are treated differently and so different behaviours often form. To prevent these behaviours happening show your partner, family and friends after every separation that they are more important than the dog by greeting them first. Fulfil your dog’s needs but do not give in to their constant demands – instead decide when interaction starts and stops. And intervene if someone attempts to invade your dog’s space.

If you want to learn more about addressing your dog’s behaviour you can my buy book ‘ The Dog Guardian ' from Amazon and tune into Chihuahua power’s live Q and A on the 14th of July where I will be available to answer your questions.

visit my site at www.thedogguardian.com

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Reading your dog’s subtle body language signals – nervousness to aggression

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 12:54:08 GMT

If you dog feels threatened it has an inbuilt defence response of

Flight – to run away
Freeze – to stay where they are or to investigate the situation
Fight – to attack

The behaviours are on a spectrum ranging from subtle to dramatic behaviour.

For example a dramatic version of flight is running away and a subtle version is turning their head and moving away.

There are 3 types of freeze; submissive, assertive and aggressive.

The submissive freeze is getting lower than the threat to appease the situation.

An assertive freeze is standing their ground – Here they may appear friendly to pacify the situation or they may use their body language to communicate to the threat they are not to be messed with by standing tall, making themselves bigger etc.

And an aggressive freeze is lunging and barking.

Then fighting is attacking .

The response the dog chooses depends on many factors including how stressful they perceive the situation to be, their options and your response.

It is very common for dog guardians to pick up on the dramatic behaviours of running away, barking & lunging and attacking. However subtle versions of flight (avoidance behaviours) and submissive and assertive freezes often go unnoticed. If we fail to pick up on our dog’s subtle signals demonstrating they feel threatened, it will likely turn into more dramatic behaviour that will get noticed.

It’s our job as our dog’s guardians to provide for their safety needs. If we don’t do it they will have no choice but to do it themselves.

" If each time our dog’s appear concerned, we step up and communicate that we will provide for their safety needs using clear language, they will look us to for guidance and follow our lead."

See video underneath for visual examples of language...

For help on how to deal with any nervous or aggressive behaviour look at my services or check out my online course at https://the-dog-guardian.teachable.com/p/dog-aggression-and-nervousness-course