Big Feelings lead to Big Behaviours

When we get excited about something then our behaviours become more energised, we are more overt, maybe louder and our movements are sometimes more erratic or not like our usual state of play.

If the excited feelings have a lead up of anticipation of an event then our nervous systems may become adrenal fatigued by the time the event actually happens. Our thoughts will be cloudy, our emotions high and we may make silly choices as far as our behaviours. Have a look at the old footage of when the Beatles came to Australia and the girls responses to finally being close to their Idols. Fainting, crying, constant screaming...maybe not what they were actually like as people on an ordinary day.

Scenario:

Now think about a dog that just cannot seem to keep it together at all when it see's another dog out on it's walk with you. The excited vocalising, pulling, dragging their whole body weight into the lead in the aim of meeting that random dog. So you naturally grab that lead tighter and try to drag the dog away or you may be the compliant type and obediently allow your dog to drag itself and you into the other dogs space to take what it wants.

Mission accomplished, behaviour rewarded and reinforced and then the next event will be even more heightened as the anticipation will build faster and the behaviours will escalate quicker and to all new levels of silly.

So let's break this down into what is happening on both ends of the lead.

Dog:

1. Has a history of getting what it wants by using leash pressure and being over excited to have something it wants/needs.

2. May have limited social interactions or at least ones that are sensible with other dogs.

3. Feels the tight leash and becomes frustrated and naturally pulls in harder to achieve the outcome as this has always worked for them in the past, prior learning. They may also try lungeing out quickly to pull the owner over and this leads to an even quicker satisfactory conclusion for the dog.

4. May be wearing a harness/equipment that allows this behaviour to happen comfortably (for the dog) as well as disabling effective handling from the owner. A harness also encourages the dog to be out in front and accessing the environment on a whimsy...totally disconnected from the wants/directions of the owner.

5. May have been bribed by the owner in the past in the hopes of reducing this dangerous behaviour. "If you are good then Mummy will give you a treat". The speed at which a dog then learns to either ignore the lower value option of the bribe or to go into the behaviour so as to trigger the treat giving from the owner...I call this The Pez Dispenser outcome. (Google it if you are too young to remember these nifty little jiggers.)

Owner:

1. Has a history of trying but failing to change the behaviour with the dog so has 'given up'.

2. Feels that the dog should get what ever it wants and that to deny them access to what gets them excited is 'cruel'.

3. Has been told to only use the 'kinder' equipment on their dog or again they being 'cruel'.

4. Has been told that they must ignore the behaviour and it will go away

5. Has been told that they should use a treat to lure the dog out of the behaviour and then reward the dog once the behaviour stops or reduces.

6. Has been told to hold the dog in a sit right in front of the other dog until 'it calms down'.

7. Has been told to just walk the dog off lead as it is the lead that is the problem not the actual dog itself.

8. Has been told that it 'will grow out of the behaviour, it's just a puppy (dog is 16 months old)

9. Has been told that dogs "should' greet every dog they meet as 'they need to socialise'.

10. Feel that if the other dog becomes reactive towards their little darling that it is a 'you' problem not a 'me' problem.

What is actually happening?? All feelings aside??

Ok from the dog's perspective they do not have the emotional stability to handle being that close to what they want but should not have...Why? Usually because they just have not had the opportunity to learn in a calm and structured way with clear communication, correct equipment, a competent handler and a controlled environment.

see the articles on 'drive, focus, reinforcement, critical distance..." etc

Q: How can we provide the dog with all of these critical components??

A: TRAINING

Q: How can we provide the handler with the required skillset to achieve the desired outcomes of a loose leash walk and a calm dog?

A: TRAINING

Q: How can we reduce the conflict in the dog?

A: CRITICAL DISTANCE and a LOOSE LEAD and TRAINING.

Q: How can we reduce the conflict in the handler?

A: Reverse the prior conditioning they have received, advocate for changes and enable them to achieve this in a relaxed and supportive way. Training in well structured consults or classes.

Trainer:

We as trainers need to address the myths from facts, be honest, be direct, be kind, be supportive.

Our job is to coach the dog/handler team through until they are a team that communicates well, are operant in their response to each other and the environment and more importantly advocate for themselves when confronted by idiots.

We can provide well structured consults, classes, group walks etc so that they can practice their skills until they achieve the outcomes they want/need to have a happy and well balanced dog with a calm mind.

We can advocate for dog/handler safety and correct etiquette for dog owners while out and about with our own dogs or while working in public with our clients.

We can teach our handlers how best to stop/block incoming idiots and how to change their handling and body language so as to leave NO DOUBT that they require space for themselves and DO NOT want contact with randoms.

Basically how to be assertive and advocate for themselves despite maybe a lifetime of conditioning to the contrary.

Summary:

All of the points above crop up for trainers on a daily basis.

We get told the most ridiculous reasons whey events happened, what the outcomes were and are now in the position of being the one to try and unravel that shit show and provide positive outcomes.

We see dogs with such chaotic minds due to often good intentions but poor education on dog behaviour.

Dogs that cannot hold a thought or a position, that cannot hear a cue when given if there is the slightest distraction.

Sometimes, sadly that the dogs don't leave the property anymore as the owner is too scared/embarrassed to be in public with their hyped dogs.

The worst things we see are dogs that are drugged to the gills to suppress all of these big feelings and big behaviours but not actually addressing the underlying causes. Everything is labelled as 'anxiety' instead of poor education.

I have BIG feelings about that last one, so far avoiding BIG behaviours but hey, not done yet.