Going out
Should
you bring your dog ... just because you
can?
/ Kate Godfrey Comprehensive Canine Training There are many reasons why people are
bringing their dogs to more “human” events—it can be really fun to have your dog with you, for one! However, it’s important to learn how to read your dog’s subtle signals so that you aren’t unknowingly putting them in a situation that stresses them out. Not all people do well in crowded places with lots of activity and noise, and the same goes for our dogs. Maybe you have a dog that wouldn’t be comfortable at a concert, festival, or sporting event, but may enjoy a less busy venue like a coffee shop patio, lowkey restaurant patio, or park. If your dog is sensitive to sounds and noise, consider that when planning an outing. Some dogs are sensitive to motion—think children playing, bikes, skateboards, or running humans. Don’t put your dog into situations in which they can’t cope. You don’t want to go full-hog and expose this type of dog to such things (this is called “flooding” and is not a sound training method). Take the time to figure out what outings your dog might enjoy, and respect them. How do you know if your dog is comfortable? The dog’s body language will give you all sorts of clues as to their comfort level— the more you get to know your dog, the better you’ll be at picking up the subtle and not-so-subtle messages he sends you. Signs of canine fear, anxiety, and stress include but are not limited to: Lip licking, tail tucking, turning their head away from stressful
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stimuli, yawning, lifting a front paw, trembling, wet dog shaking when the dog is not wet or dirty, scratching, sniffing around, excessive salivation/ drooling, nose dripping, hackles up, half-moon/ whale eye (google that!), refusal to take treats or play with a toy they otherwise love, actively trying to leave the situation, hiding under a table or behind you, and paw sweating. Paw sweating is real. If you take your dog somewhere and see that they’re leaving paw prints on the floor, do them a favor and get them to a space where they’re more comfortable. The behaviors listed above can be thought of as “whispers” in which a dog is quietly telling you—and other dogs—that they’re in distress.
More obvious signs of fear, anxiety, and stress are: Growling, baring teeth, snarling, snapping, and actually biting. A dog doing anything on this list is no longer whispering, it’s shouting, please, please, I need my space—I am warning you! Of note, it’s a bad idea to punish a dog for growling—growling is a warning that should be heeded. Growling is what a dog will resort to when the subtle signs of distress have been ignored or disregarded. If you punish a growl, you’ll create a More obvious dog that no longer gives a warning. Instead, interrupt what is happening signs of fear, and get the dog to a place it’s anxiety, & stress more comfortable. If you need more help, consult with a trainer are: Growling, that practices modern, sciencebaring teeth, based training methods that do not endorse the use of force, fear, snarling, pain, or dominance theory. snapping, A wagging tail isn’t always actually biting indicative of a happy dog. Take a
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