We see the barking, the reaction and we concentrate so much on that moment. We may also think we see the issue clearly because in that very moment, an issue occurred
My dog barked because a dog barked.
My dog lunged at another dog.
There is far more to this behaviour than just what we have seen as an issue.
What happens BEFORE is crucial to note. In those few minutes before the issue is often where a chain of events started that caused the end result...the "problem" behaviour.
Grab a pen and paper and write down the who, where, when and the before.
Did you notice I left out the why ?
Preconceived beliefs can be really problematic when looking at a dogs reactivity and unwanted behaviour.
Why do they behave this way?
The "why" seems easy...."My dog can't handle being near other dogs"
So if we are ONLY looking at that part as being the real issue....we won't see ALL of the other issues affecting this dog.
We will only ever concentrate on a very narrow belief.
The why can also be looked at for far longer than just a few minutes before the incident we saw as problematic.
Is this dog way over their threshold and super excited even before a walk?
Do they have stress in their environment that also needs addressed?
Is there an underlying physical condition that aggravates this behaviour?
Is this behaviour occuring only after you "tire" them out with high energy activities before a walk?
Has their behaviour "ramped up" because of a change in the household or even the neighbourhood? Is that connected?
Do we give cues they use that takes them way up and over that threshold before we leave the house?
THAT is information you can use to lower the threshold of excitement or lessen the stress, even before you start the walk.
If we are just looking at a reactive dog and trying to lessen the reactions because we have decided that is that IS the issue, it will take a very long time (if ever to make progress)
Often I hear, my dog "hates" all other dogs.
Do they really dislike them?
Are they fearful?
Over excited?
Is this only on lead ?
Is it really all dogs ?
It may seem like a dogs reaction is directed at all dogs, but again you may be surprised. It could be just the dogs in your immediate neighbourhood and not elsewhere.
Yet... we have already decided the "why" before investigating further.
It could be all lighter coloured dogs, or bouncy puppies that your dog reacts to...again that is information you can use.
Is it all large breeds?
Small female dogs?
Dogs that look very different to your dog ?
Are they ok with their own breed?
Are they able to be closer to some breeds than others?
If you take note of these outbursts...you may notice little coincidences that start to add up and point to the real "why" when you have a week or two of information.
Remember though, it is the before that is really important to note and not the actual behaviour itself....often that leads to the biggest breakthroughs in discovering the real issues involved.
Don't look at the why until you have ALL the information in front of you, journal it and and I am not kidding when I say it can be a real eye opener.....we may think we know the "why" but it is often just a small part of a bigger chain of events which started 10 minutes before the barking, destroying, and problematic behaviour.
If you feel you are stuck, grab a pen and paper and start taking notes.
"Barked at dog" is not going to be helpful to you or your dog.
"Max was a bit nervy when we passed the house on the corner that he doesn't really like and then he barked at the dog next to that house"
So from that we can see that the reaction was likely "fueled" by being nervy at the house on the corner....walking past that house made your dogs stress rise a little and then Max barked at the dog next to that house.
That is great information you can use!
You may want to start changing your dogs emotions (at a distance) from that house and work up to Max walking past it.
That may very well be your first step.
Look deeper at the "why" but always keep an open mind.
Give it a go, be detailed and you may just start to see the why clearer than ever before.
The why (the true why)....is the vital part in unlocking exactly what is happening.
ABC Dogs NZ
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