Doggie Do’s and Don’ts:
- Direct eye contact is an intimidating gesture in the canine world. Show appeasement, not confrontation.
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Invading a dogs space is rude and can evoke predictable aggression. Turning away is a neutral gesture, showing friendship.
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Encourage others to build positive association with your practice by bringing the dog in for their favorite treats regularly.
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Make your presence a positive experience that lasts by appreciating that dogs don’t have to like you so don’t force them to. The more treats the better!
- Capitalize on interactions with your dogs socialization exercises with other people to help build positive association: keep treats on you on walks and in every room of your house.
Remember that too much affection and at the wrong times does not make a dog happy. It makes them jealous (sometimes aggressive) when other people and dogs come close to you, insecure, anxious, over protective, and needy. Satisfying their instincts make them happy…
Giving affection in whatever state they are in often times encourages and nurtures unwanted behavior in most cases and makes them think it’s ok to feel that way.
While a human feels they are comforting there puppy, a dog sees it as the human being weak, as you are not providing strong energy the dog can feed from when you don’t give them enough independence/space, rules, boundaries and limitations.
