How do we work with dogs?  What do we actually do?

The easiest way to explain is the four C’s. These are foundations upon which other things can be built. We all know that shaky foundations can cause things to break down so having a solid foundation is essential

We teach CALM.  If a dog is not calm, he cannot learn, he does not feel good. Feeling calm needs to feel good.

We look for CONNECTION next.  Having connection is so much better than needing control. Connection needs to feel really good too.  We don’t use cues, we don’t hold treats up to our eyes saying “Watch me” we don’t call the dog. We actually stay silent until we get the connection and then we praise and reinforce.

Where do choices come in?  By giving our dogs choices it actually increases their confidence.  We control so much of our dog’s lives; when they get up, when they eat, when they exercise, where they sleep, where they walk etc.  Some things we do need to control – we cannot just let our dogs out alone and we have various responsibilities such as work, family etc. But by providing choices where we can, will help reduce stress and anxiety. 

Choice helps build resilience and self-confidence – we can provide choice in so many ways. When we leave the house, which way does the dog want to walk, left or right? Where does he prefer to sleep – multiple resting places and beds allows dogs to choose where to sleep. Dogs that are anxious about nail trimming, veterinary treatment etc can be empowered by using techniques such as Chirag Patel’s Bucket Game or Chin Targeting. These dogs can cope better with their individual stressors, knowing they will be listened to and begin to feel more confident.

If we have the four C’s in place, we can then begin working on the individual issues.