Desperate Lacey

I sometimes come across people who seem to overlook the simplest solutions to overcoming their dogís issues. Now when youíre watching the show, itís easy to judge someone else, but when I arrive at a clientís home, I never judge them or make them feel wrong. I simply believe these people are lacking information.

Most people aren’t used to seeing the subtle behaviors that can easily escalate into major behavioral problems. But everything in the animal world counts: the way they move, the way they breathe, the energy they project and their body language

Trash Can Dog

There are several ways to help a dog who is fearful of an object or place. You can use positive reinforcement, exposureñsome people call it ìfloodingî ñor a combination of the two. But any strategy should be based on professional advice, what you know about your own dog, and your intuition.

This is how I rehabilitate dogs, but Iím also open to new ideas. If one way isnít working, I donít grit my teeth and say, ìYouíre gonna do it, dang it!î, I am open to adapting or changing strategies. With Sadie, I was able to use a combination of exposure and positive reinforcement, because she seemed to be telling me two things: ìMy fear is not that intense,î and ìI expect to be rewarded for my courage.î

We should always be open to different ideas when helping dogs, but itís most important to remember to always be in a calm assertive state. If your energy is negative, angry, frustrated, fearful, desperate, pitying, you can have the best intentions, but you will be doing more harm than good.

Bullying Bulldog

Often, there are warning signs that a dog gives before her behavior escalates into full-blown aggression. But if an owner fails to calmly and assertively stop the escalation at the early warning stage, itís often too late because the dog now sees the owner coming at her with a weaker state of mind, becoming more powerful at each encounter. This results in a cycle of aggression.

If you are uncomfortable or unsure about how to correct during the early warning signals your dog gives you, or if you are already in such a cycle, contact a professional for help.