Managing Social Anxieties

Dogs behave differently in public and social settings, compared to how they behave in the home setting with a singular handler. Some of us face challenges at dog parks, at the veterinary clinic, or on public walks. In this blog section, in particular, I am discussing reacting to a negative response by your dog in a social setting - particularly off leash.

First of all, you have to expect to demonstrate a level of leadership to your dog BEFORE you experience a confrontation. You cannot wait until problems arise to demonstrate proper decision making as an Alpha, particularly off leash. If you arrive at a dog park and unleash your dog, only to have his body language change and seem to key on a particular dog in the group. As an experienced handler, you have to understand that off leash communication is stimulated by your ability to read your dogs body language. To understand a different whine, a different stance, different tail activities......these are how your dog communicates "hive" thought to the pack - to be read and interpreted quickly, or to be acted upon. If you are expecting to be the Alpha in a group setting, or to simply maintain control of your dog within a group setting - you MUST be receptive to the "hive" communications, the signals sent that are actually telling you as the handler "hey - I don't like this dog." or "hey - I find that dog a threat." A good handler is constantly monitoring the external dialogue of his dog, because it predicts his reactions to the environment as he sees it.

Upon reading the tense or over stimulated body language, depending on his/her level of communication, the handler can react by taking physical control of the situation or by relaying the assurance that the body language was recognized and can be dismissed. This can be done by resetting the scenario with a recall or clap, and doing simple tasks that re-assert confidence in your communication with your dog. Even a "sit" will do. Remember this is off leash scenarios. Often you are tempted to leash, but remember the leash also takes away your "hive" communication in place of a tether......and a tether that is not generally used by todays handler as a 2 way form of communication.