Most of us that share our lives with dogs have experienced a difficult situation at some point, or several difficult situations. It is very demanding to maintain a cheerful and positive attitude when things are not going our way, especially if trouble goes on for quite some time. We can think of many issues that can cause stress for our dogs and ourselves, from a dog that has problems with putting their harness on, making the daily routine of going out very hard, to a dog that feels overwhelmed by all the stimuli around them. There is a big, wide spectrum of scenarios.

We are all unique. Just because another person doesn’t see something as a problem, doesn’t mean that is not a problem for us.

Deep changes take a long time. Prepare for the long haul, take care of yourself as well as your dog. This is an endurance race not a sprint. Here at the Smiling Leash, we all have personal experience with dogs with very troubled pasts that came to be our life companions. And although there are challenges along the road, now there are more beautiful days than bad days. If you feel in a dark place, we want to give you a bit of hope. We want to share a few pointers that have worked not only for us and our dogs, but also for our clients and their dogs.

It is key to understand that the first step in the journey must be that your dog feels safe. This can sometimes take an unusual form. For example, you might think that the room you have prepared for her is a safe space, but your dog prefers a different spot in the house, maybe under a table or in the car or somewhere in the garden. Listen to her. Respect this space, this will be a solid base for continuing to grow her trust in her family. If you don’t feel safe, you can’t eat, you can’t sleep and you don’t relax, always alert at things happening around you. The same goes for dogs.

Feeling safe is never about food. It is not about the person that feeds you, but about the person and environment that makes you feel secure and out of harm’s way.

THE BASICS:

Learn how dogs communicate. If you know what your dogs is telling you, you can act accordingly. Maybe your dog is stressed by a situation, and you notice it. This way you can help her immediately. Be your dog’s advocate.
Provide the dog with the right walking equipment. A comfortable H-harness and a long leash that allow freedom of movement. And book a session with someone well educated in leashwork. We cannot stress enough how important it is to learn to handle the leash well, to avoid tension and promote decision making.
Walk slowly during your walks. Let you dog explore and stop when she does. Dogs see with their noses and sniffing is what they were born to do. It calms them and they like it, so do as much as this as they want.
Walk the right amount. This is not about distance but about quality. Adjust your walk based on health, age, stress levels, sensitivity etc. Each dog is an individual and we must learn what is right for each one of them.
Learn what stimuli your dogs likes and which ones she doesn’t. We always talk about allowing our dogs to use all their senses but thin about YOUR dog. Is she scared by noises? Look for quiet places. Is she triggered by movement? Go to tranquil places where there is less movement. Is she touch sensitive?Choose very carefully where she is going to walk on and so on.
Promote natural agility and proprioceptive exercises, always within what is safe for you and your dog. What do we mean by this? Going over some tree trunks or crossing a stream, feeling the resistance of the water, jumping over a low obstacle, or climbing some steps, using a ramp, stretching to pick up a scent … think natural instead of exercise and extreme. Knowing where all the parts of their body are and being able to use them, makes dogs more assertive and it also develops their brain.
Learn to manage the environment. Think about curves and how dogs avoid things that worry then using this movement. We can help them curve sometimes. Also learn how we can help them using barriers. Read about splitting up, another dog technique that we can use to help them.
Avoid stressful situations and whatever it is that triggers your dog. Practice makes permanent. Repeating behaviours such as barking and lunging will only make them stronger and more automatic.
Give your dog the social contact she needs. This could be quite tricky if you have a dog that is reactive with other dogs, but it absolutely can and should be done. Look again for an ethical trainer that has the right education. Social walks can be tailored to accommodate your dog and be a key part of her rehabilitation.
Look for therapies that are proven to help dogs and choose the ones that are likely to help yours. Some examples of things we have personal experience with are tracking (looking for an odour), massage, music and zoopharmacognosy. We encourage you to research accredited sources to explore this avenue.
Food is extremely important! There is so much new research on this area and how it affects behaviour. There is a direct connection between the gut and the brain. So, whatever you choose to feed your dog remember how closely related we are, and what is the advice for humas: eat fresh, varied, good quality food.
Do not forget to have fun with your dog. Affiliative behaviours and play are part of the ethogram of the dog, and ours, too. Building that special relationship must include this.

In the picture you see Sara and Blu. Blu has trouble in several areas, some of them have now been overcome, but others remain, like relationships with other dogs. Sara has done so much for Blu. Only an approach based on kindness and respect can achieve true change and she is making it happen. Blu needed to feel safe and learn to trust again. His relationship with Sara has changed completely. Here he is attending a social walk, and he is a regular at these events. With a bit of planning they are possible and help Blu get that canine contact he needs. Even if there is some distance between him and other dogs he knows perfectly well he is in a group.

It is easy to get isolated when problems occur. We feel bad, we may think we are failing our dogs or we do not know how to help them, and we can’t see when or how it is going to end. Our mental state also plays a big part in how our dogs are feeling. Trying to stay calm when the situations are difficult is a big ask but remember that you are your dog’s safe place, that person they rely on when help is needed. If we stay calm and they see that, we have a much better chance at helping them come out of the situation.

Also, do give yourself a break. You are doing so much for your dog, and if you are on this page, you are trying to learn more about dogs and how to help them in a kind and respectful way.

We encourage you to keep learning and be that safe figure for your dog.