Trainer and behaviourist Jackie Drakeford is full of ideas on how to help your dog be happy, calm, and confident.
Have you ever spotted a dog trotting along on a loose lead? Every now and then he looks up at his owner, who is so ‘together’ with him that she always returns his eye contact.
This is a dog who goes past noisy traffic, family groups, and any number of dogs, without feeling challenged or threatened, because he knows his owner will keep him safe.
If necessary, she will step between her dog and anything that might upset him, deftly bar the approach of the toddler who in all innocence just wants to make a new friend, or cross the road well ahead of the dustcart so her dog’s sensitive hearing isn’t hurt. We can all be this person, and I’m sure many of you already are. But, dogs and owners alike, few of us started out this way.
Just like us, some dogs are born confident, while others are naturally shy. Life experiences can alter either attitude, so you need to know how you can help the bold dogs stay that way without getting themselves into trouble, and enhance the courage of those who find the world worrying. Some breeds are naturally more confident or sensitive than others, and you cannot install whatever is not part of the breed bias, so what can you do to make the most of what is inborn?
1 Choose your litter carefully. Good breeders go to endless trouble to familiarise their puppies with the outside world, giving them rides in the car, going to the vet’s to meet friendly staff as a separate exercise from their vaccination visits, meeting different ages and types of visitor, getting them used to radio and television sounds, and playing on different surfaces indoors and out. You can continue that good work by giving your puppy short, happy experiences whenever possible. Your presence is supportive, and your puppy should see you as a protector and best friend.
2 If you are taking on an older dog who may already have had bad experiences, the approach is the same but you have to go more slowly. First, your dog has to learn to trust you, then trust in your support and protection. The first stage can take a long time, especially if the dog is a very sensitive breed type. There are natural developmental fear stages, which are biological and can’t be avoided. They exist to prevent growing pups from becoming too adventurous and getting themselves into situations they are too young to handle. If a dog has suffered trauma during one of these phases, he may always be nervous in t
