Dog Training Blog
In this blog, you will find dog training tips, as well as relatable content for reactive dog guardians.
"You Should Get a Different Dog"
Dog Training Blog
This is what a man helpfully yelled at me when I told him he could not pet my dog: “No, sorry, he doesn’t like strangers touching him.” After his extremely insightful response I said, “I happen to like this one,” and walked away. “What a tool,” I cheerfully whispered to Strider. “I think you’re amazing.”
It is worth mentioning that Strider was playing the “Look at That” game with me this entire time—looking at the man then making eye contact with me for a treat. The best part of the story is that this insecure man proceeded to yell the same patronizing statement THREE TIMES after this! Whenever we saw him coming on his bike, we braced ourselves for his comment. I don’t want to say that it upset me, but as someone who worked insanely hard training my dog, it did. But obviously not as much as it upset the man who was told no by a teenage girl.
I have a much thicker skin now. Six years of advocating for my dog has calloused me. It is amazing what we expect from our canine companions—be good with other dogs and people of all ages. No barking. No begging for food. No digging in our yards. No jumping up. Go to the dog park and enjoy it. Never destroy anything in the house. Love car rides. Behave in every single environment and situation we put them in.
I remember the first time I met with a trainer for Strider and mentioned how he did at the dog park—he would only be able to meet other dogs without snapping at them if he was biked there and extremely tired. “A tired dog is a happy dog,” I told myself. Now I know he was showing clear stress signals the entire time. I mentioned to this trainer that I would like Strider to be able to go to the dog park and enjoy it. She then asked something that stumped me: “Why does he have to go to the dog park? What is he getting out of it?” I had never asked myself these questions before. I just thought that all dogs should be going to the dog park, because of course they love it—it’s a DOG park! But, needless to say, Strider hasn’t been to the dog park since we had this conversation. I was honestly disappointed in myself for not realizing sooner how detrimental it was to keep taking him, and I felt ashamed for subjecting him (and frankly, the well-socialized dogs at the park) to undue stress.
We tend to lump all dogs together, even when we have our own. I was certainly no different. Strider has taught me that dogs, like people, have different likes, dislikes, fears, and social needs. Like my dog, I do not appreciate strangers touching me. I tend to get overwhelmed in crowded places. I need time to decompress after socializing. I respect these parts of myself and understand that they are preferences, not issues. I implore you to do the same with your dog—watch them carefully in the situations you are putting them in. Do they look happy at the dog park (hint: very few dogs are)? Do they really love car rides? Are they actually having a good time at daycare? Are they comfortable being poked and prodded by kids? Never feel shame for accommodating these preferences. It does not mean you have to make your dog’s life smaller. It is OKAY to have a dog that isn’t a social butterfly, and it is okay to tell someone “no” when you know your dog will not do well in a certain situation. This is the first step in being an advocate for your dog and strengthening the bond that you share.
Be Someone Your Dog Wants to Come Back to
Recall is hard. Think about it from your dog’s perspective; there’s an endless number of amazing smells that tell your dog so much about the world. There’s also so many interesting sights…birds, squirrels, other dogs, joggers, cyclists…the distractions are endless! Here are my tips for building a reliable recall:
- Choose your cue. Your cue is the word you use to ask for a behaviour. I don’t love using “Dog’s name, here!” because most people have a history of using this phrase and their dog not responding. It is also a cue that is easy to say in a frustrated tone. I like using “come, come, come!”. It is difficult to say in an angry tone, and it is unique.
- Start on leash. Having your dog off leash without a solid recall is a huge safety risk. I like to start on a standard 6ft leash, then move to a long lead. It is important to gradually increase the distance you are recalling your dog.
- Make yourself interesting. I like to change up my body position, my speed, and my direction when teaching recall. For example, on a standard leash, walk quickly backwards, then click and treat when your dog comes to you. Repeat throughout your walks, especially around distractions. On a long line, I like to run away from my dog, then click and treat when they come. I also like to crouch or raise my arms to encourage my dog to want to investigate me.
- Gradually increase distraction level. When just starting your recall training, your dog is not going to respond to the cue the same around a leaf blowing vs a stray cat. It is so important to start your training in an environment that your dog finds minimally distracting! If you move too quickly, chances are your dog will not respond to the cue, which can turn it into white noise over time. I always recommend starting in the home, then moving to the yard, in front of the house, and then training in various outdoor environments from there.
- Be someone your dog wants to come back to. This not only happens when you increase distraction level and distance over time, but also when you use extremely high-value treats. Remember, the treats need to match the environment. It is also important to keep your tone of voice light and cheerful, and use a ton of verbal praise when your dog comes to you! It is so common for guardians to get frustrated when their dog isn’t responding and say the cue repeatedly in an angry tone. Your dog will not want to come to you if you are yelling at them.
In summary, set your dog up for success by moving gradually while training recall. Work on increasing distraction levels and distance separately. If you find that during a particular training session your dog is not responding, evaluate your environment: is the environment too distracting for my dog at this stage in our training? Am I too far away from my dog? Am I calling them in a frustrated tone? Am I calling them in a flat, uninteresting way? Are my treats high value enough? Building a reliable recall takes time. Be patient with your dog and make sure your training sessions are fun for everyone involved. Happy training!