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THE DOG GUARDIAN APPROACH
When a dog is showing undesirable behaviour, there is always something going on beneath the surface.
So before simply trying to stop the behaviour, I first want to understand what may be driving the response and what needs to change for the dog to behave differently.
To do that, I look at four areas of the dog’s wellbeing.
The Four Areas of a Dog's Well Being
1.
Needs
All behaviour is affected by a dog’s needs, whether those are physical needs, safety, belonging or esteem. That includes things such as rest, health, exercise, confidence, feeling safe, clarity within everyday life and much more.
My aim is to understand which need, or needs, may be driving the behaviour.
Understanding this gives us a clear goal. Once we know where we’re trying to get to, it becomes much easier to work out how to get there.
2.
Language
Dogs communicate their preferences, wants and needs through a range of language, including movement, posture, sounds, facial expressions, tail position and more.
Learning to recognise their language in the context of the situation helps us understand what the dog may be feeling and what they may need from us.
From there, we can respond in ways the dog understands, helping to create greater clarity, trust and confidence.
3.
Emotional State
A dog’s emotional state has a huge influence on how they behave and how well they are able to respond to us.
When excitement, frustration, fear or anxiety becomes too intense, it becomes much harder for the dog to process what is happening around them or respond in the way we would like.
For that reason, we need to understand what affects their emotional state and introduce situations thoughtfully, rather than simply expecting them to cope.
If their emotional state does rise, we also need to know how to help bring them back towards calm, so they are able to think, respond and learn again.
4.
Leadership
Good leadership starts with introspection: constantly evaluating what the dog needs from us and where we can improve.
It is not about controlling every decision they make. Rather, it is about knowing when to reassure, when to protect, when to set clear boundaries and when to guide them through something they find difficult.
There is no single way to lead every dog in every situation. It requires us to be adaptable, to recognise the role the dog needs from us at that moment, and to adjust what we are doing when something is not working.
SEE THE METHOD IN ACTION
When these four principles work together, they give us a much better understanding of the dog in front of us. Once they are applied thoughtfully and adapted to the individual dog, you will see profound changes in both behaviour and confidence.
Video example below
NOT SURE WHERE TO START?
If you are unsure which option is right for you and your dog, speak with one of the team.
The Dog Guardian
Dog behaviour help from Nigel Reed - author, TV expert and behaviourist with more than twenty-five years of experience.
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