Training Essentials
Please use these handling tips to help communicate with your dog safely, effectively, and prevent unwanted bad habits from forming.
Tools & Tips
Basic mechanics of body language: moving backwards summons the dog toward you. Moving towards them sends them away. This is counter intuitive! Refrain from sudden gestures or grabbing.
The drag leash: keeping a leash on allows you to guide the dog without putting too much pressure on them. Do not collar grab! Step on the leash, turn your side to the dog, and bend away instead of over the dog. Depending on your dog’s personality, this can be phased out slowly after several days or weeks. Many dogs are sensitive to being grabbed by the collar and it puts a lot of pressure on the dog and your hand too close to their mouths.
Don’t feel sorry for the dog! Dogs live in the moment and don’t emotionalize their past. It serves you and your dog for you to exemplify leadership, order, and balance.
Affection
Please limit affection for the first couple of weeks. Overwhelming a new dog with cuddles might seem comforting, but it can increase the chance the dog will develop separation anxiety which is the starting place for many behavioral problems. It is important to let them get used to their new home without the pressure of interaction from you and learn that affection is on your terms, not when they ask for it. This is even more important in a home with multiple dogs so they can bond with each other and do not start competing over human attention
When and how to pet
A dog that is feeling anxious, wary, possessive, insecure, or pushy may nudge, lean, paw, or demand a pet. Please do not affirm these behaviors. Instead, to ensure engaging the right state of mind, make sure that YOU call the dog up and initiate and end the pet. Only touch your dog when they are calm and do not invite excitement. If touch stirs them up, remove your hands and re-engage when they are calm. Make these moments intentional, infrequent, and earned. Asking your dog to come up also allows the dog to give their consent for touch.