Three Things Your Reactive Dog Wants To Know Before He Stops Reacting
As a dog trainer who travels the country training dogs and working with 20-30 families a week in their homes it is so important for folks to understand how a dog thinks. And when there is no authority figure present, the kind of chaos and bad behavior that can happen. Remember the bad behavior of your dog is not the problem it is just the outcome of a breakdown of leadership in your home.
My friend, co-host of the Train The Trainers Seminar Series, and LA dog training colleague Sean O’Shea from The Good Dog Training and Rehabilitation puts out such a great blog that I feature it here on my blog. Since the message is so powerful and important it needs to be shared by all. Enjoy the read and feel free to also join his Facebook Fan Page.
Three Things Your Reactive Dog Wants To Know Before He Stops Reacting
By Sean O’Shea
The three things you’re reactive dog wants to know before he/she stops reacting…
1) Can you believably control yourself? (In times of stress and pressure are you calm, relaxed, confident, in control? Or are you unsure, nervous, tentative, angry, and stressed?)
2) Can you believably control him or her? (Are you able to keep your dog relaxed, calm, and tuned-in to you even in situations that would cause stress, anxiety, or explosions?)
3) Can you believably control the environment? (Are you able to create a safe zone around you and your dog that no other dog or person can violate?)
When you’re able to effectively master all three of these challenges, your dog will finally be able to relax knowing you’re qualified to keep them safe. Once they truly believe that you’ve “got it” they will finally be able to give up the job of attempting to do it themselves.
Without these three in place, the stress and anxiety that comes from not trusting you, themselves, or the world, will continue the cycle of reactivity.
How are you doing with the Big Three??
Sean’s website www.thegooddog.net
Sean’s Facebook Page
Sean’s groundbreaking do-it-yourself training video/PDF training booklet Learn to Train The Good Dog Way: The Foundation is now available for pre-order at a discounted price – click HERE to watch the new TEASER video, and find out how to to order your copy on Sean’s website!
The Good Dog Training and Rehabilitation
4867 Bellflower Ave.
North Hollywood, CA 91601
(818) 441-1837
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(401) 274 1078
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www.solidk9training.com/brooklyn-dog-training-location
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If you are disabled and unable to control your emotions, unable to control your own levels of anxiety without the use of xanex and even then, you still struggle, still freak out, how do you do this with your dog? Many people with things like agoraphobia get dogs to help them, what do you recommend to people who can not control their emotions very well outdoors?
you are asking me a question more suitable for a professional medical person, we all struggle with mental issues. some of us more than others. there is lots of help out there find out what works for you and start working on it daily. if you keep repeating the same thing and getting the same unwanted results it is time to change. make small changes daily to get the results you are looking for.build your confidence inside the house first and then work out slowly to new situations in small steps.
As a person with 5 dogs and having taken 3 dogs through CGC certification as well as handling over 100 dogs on a leash in dog rescue events, I will add this:1) A person can think ahead and plan what to do… a dog cannot.
2) You can be that person and Sean O’Shea is giving you the basic tools and pointers for free. Likewise Jeff Gellman and Tyler Muto. All three men are professionals.
3) You can follow their instructions ‘to the letter’ and stop making excuses or making up theories about a dog. Do what they show you to do and study their video clips.