Auntie Al’s Dog Training Services
A Gentle Touch - Outstanding Results
604-868-0341
Alix Balfour - Trainer
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Auntie Al’s Dog Training Services A Gentle Touch - Outstanding Results 604-868-0341 Alix Balfour - Trainer
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Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On When dogs are meeting for the first time or don’t know each other well, it is always good to try to have initial introductions in neutral territory. The stakes aren’t as high; neither dog is trying to defend anything other than itself. Dogs are territorial and if introduced on home land; if one dog feels an intruder has arrived, a “conversation” will take place. When dogs do meet it can sometimes be quite the fireworks display, snarling, lunging, hackles are up, teeth are bared and gnashing. This happened to Chico the other night. We had been invited to another person’s home but when we arrived, the owner and her dog were out. I put Chico’s bed down in a corner near where I was sitting and he lay down. A few moments later the house dog, a black lab, came through the back door. She came into the room and the hackles were up immediately. Now, she and Chico have met before and been in this house together before but she had been home the first time we visited; she had been there to accept and receive. This time there had been an intrusion; a dog had entered her home without her say-so. For Chico, whom I have spent extensive time training to be gentle and accepting, in his own home and elsewhere, he had innocently gotten up to say hello only to discover that his presence was considered suspicious and possibly unwanted. The lab lunged at Chico and the “conversation” was on. She picked Chico up in her jaws and started shaking him. Both dogs were making screaming noises in their throats; their bodies thrashed. I was behind the lab and I heard myself scream sharp and high. I reached out and grabbed the dog by the loose folds of flesh on her neck and lower back, picking her up off the floor. My friend extracted Chico from her mouth then led the lab to another room where the dog stayed for the rest of the evening. I have never seen Chico tremble as badly as he did then. His eyes were wide with fright and he held himself low to the floor. I immediately sat on his bed encouraging him to join me. He snuggled up tight to my side and shook and shook and shook. I placed calm hands on his body. I did not pat him, instead I let my hands act like a warm heavy blanket, weighing him down with comfort and serenity. “You are such a good boy, Chico.” I said quietly with a smile on my face. “I am so proud of you, what a good dog.” My hands now started to explore his body, looking for any wounds. I massage Chico regularly; my hands know his body well and would immediately spot anything out of place. There was nothing. Nothing bitten, broken or slashed, he was fine. I continued to tell him what a good boy he is. I would never ask in a concerned voice “Are you okay?” Dogs communicate using vocal tones. To ask a worried “Are you okay?” is to use a whiney, worried sounding vocal tone. With dogs, the tone can be interpreted as submission and weakness, a sound made by pups when frightened. If an upsetting moment has occurred and you’re using a whining voice, you are communicating your fear and insecurity. If you’re supposed to be the “alpha” and you’re communicating fear and insecurity, the dog will be unsure of his own safety. No matter how upset you may be, you have to remain calm for your dog. You have to let your dog know that the danger has passed, that you’re in charge, you’ll take care of everything and life goes on. So I sat with Chico, inspecting his body and telling him with a happy voice what a good dog he is. Five minutes later I was back in my seat at the table and dinner was served. The owner of the lab looked at Chico resting comfortably on his bed. He was not shaking or anxiously looking about, his head was down and his eyes were closed. “Wow” she said. “Look how calm he is!” That's my boy. “Good boy, Chico.” |
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