We are occasionally asked for advice on how to stop dogs barking when they are left tied up outside shops.
It would appear that some dogs seem to accept this situation more easily than others. However, for many the separation from the owner and the restriction of movement causes them to panic, and in a desperate attempt to be reunited, the dog begins to bark. For others, they bark simply because they cannot cope with the frustration. Teaching a dog to accept being left tied up in any unfamiliar environment without resorting to barking or becoming distressed would take a significant amount of time and effort. However, because we hold several strong reservations about leaving dogs tied up outside anywhere, our advice would simply be to avoid it. We do understand that many people find it convenient to get two things done at once, by combining the dog walk with a trip to the shops, but it is not worth the associated risks. What are some of these risks? Well, dogs that are left tied up outside are more likely to be stolen, often ending up being used for breeding or in the hands of criminal dog fighting circles. Also, it is worth remembering that if a dog feels threatened by an approaching stranger or dog, with no means of escape, the likelihood for aggressive behaviour is increased. Getting your dogs spayed or neutered, in line with your vets’ advice, will prevent them from being stolen by criminals for breeding purposes. Also, if your dog is lost or stolen, their microchip will allow your dog to be identified if he is found. So take our honest advice, leave the dog at home when it comes to shopping and enjoy separate walks with your dog without any unnecessary risk.© It is important to recognise that aggression is a natural and normal part of canine behaviour and that all dogs have the potential to bite.
Any situation that causes a dog to feel threatened can increase their need to display aggressive behaviour. For example, if a dog is wary of a child, he may attempt to stop the child entering his personal space by acting defensively. However, dogs also have an array of non-aggressive signals. They use these in response to a perceived threat, in order to show that they are uncomfortable with a particular situation and to avoid any physical confrontation. Biting tends to be a last resort. Non-aggressive signals include: moving away, yawning, blinking, averting gaze and lip licking. The correct response to these signals would be to immediately give the dog more space, in order to allow him to feel more comfortable. If these signals are not responded to appropriately, the dog will display more aggressive signals of unease such as growling, snapping and biting. Routinely ignoring non-aggressive signals may lead to a dog learning that only the more aggressive signals are reliable in reducing the perceived threat. Equally, punishment will increase the dog’s level of anxiety and may suppress the use of these signals, leading to the dog feel that he has no options left but to bite. Please be aware, a dog who is in pain, suddenly startled, restricted on a lead or even tied up outside a school/shop, will be more likely to react aggressively towards any perceived threat. Fact: Statistics highlight that dog bites are most common in children below 10 years of age and these are likely to occur to the face. © Here are some important points to remember when teaching your dog to be a well mannered member of society.
Firstly, a really good habit to get into is to regularly praise your dog whenever you see him behaving in a way that you think is appropriate, instead of falling into the trap of only offering him attention when he is acting inappropriately. For example, if your dog is led down quietly whilst you are eating, try to notice this and tell him that he is a “good boy”. Rewarding this good behaviour with your attention will make it much more likely to occur again, and will help to prevent him from sitting and drooling in front of you as you eat! Remember that dogs rely heavily on interpretation of body language and are not born with an understanding of our spoken word. With this in mind, try to keep any verbal requests short, clear and consistent. Whenever you are trying to teach your dog something new, keep your sessions short and begin in a quiet environment with minimal distractions. Just imagine how difficult it would be to try and learn a new language with your favourite television show playing in the background! Like us, dogs can get easily distracted, hindering the learning process. When the new behaviour has been taught and can be performed reliably in a quiet environment, it should be attempted in areas that gradually offer increasing levels of distraction. Dogs live in the moment, so it is important to reinforce the behaviour you want within a second of it occurring, otherwise the association may not be made. Finally, teaching can never be considered complete. It needs to be maintained throughout your dog’s life. If it is done in the right way, using a positive, reward-based approach, you will both enjoy learning together and you will have a well-behaved, happy dog to be proud of. Why not sign up for one of our classes? Your dog will thank you for it!© |