Living with a "reactive" dog can be emotionally hard
Daily walks may be very stressful for both you and your dog, especially if you live an an area where you meet something that scares the dog often, i.e. cats, other dogs, people.
It may seem that there is no way that things can change for the better, but you definitely can do something to reduce stress in your and your dog's daily life! In this article we want to give you little tips that will help you and your dog live a happier life together.
On the picture you see Heidi, a livestock guarding dog that was adopted from a shelter, where she spent most of her life. This article was inspired by Heidi and her amazing journey.
Start by finding something you and your dog enjoy doing together and practice it often. It can be something small such as lying together on a couch or something bigger like nosework. The most important thing is that you both enjoy it.
Talk more often about what you LOVE about your dog. Tell her / him every day how pretty they are, what a wonderful dog they are!
Find moments of calm and relaxation together - calm sessions, treat search, sniffari, sensory trail! There are so many things to help your dog practice calm behaviour. We are linking the articles about these activities, please check them out and practice such activities as much as possible.
Connect to other "reactive" dog guardians. Sharing and supporting each other can be very therapeutic!
Observe your neighborhood and change your walk schedule to match quieter times during the day, so there are fewer stressors.
Realize that reactive behavior (barking, lunging, jumping and pulling on the lead) comes from negative emotions such as fear, frustration, overexcitement, anxiety, etc. You as a guardian can help your dog feel more comfortable living in this world. Practice compassion.
Remember that to conquer their fears dogs, just like us, need time. Please give them that time.
Implementing these little things into your routine will help to emotionally connect with your dog which is so important to live a harmonic life together.
PS: Working with a qualified dog professional, if you have such a possibility, is a great idea. Make sure that the professional does not use punishment of any sort, uses an H-harness and a long lead only, and implements a science based positive approach to training. As the organization's members, we can recommend searching for a dog trainer on the Pet Dog Trainers of Europe (PDTE) website.
