2020: The year of the trigger

What triggers you? What  word or phrase that creates that  negative emotional response that  makes your jaw clench, turns your nerves to static &  cause racing responses that smash around in your head like a pin ball machine? 
 
The dog training industry is full of triggers …here are a few: Fur baby, shock collar, e collar, clicker, fear free, balanced training,  purely positive training, accountability, no pull harness’s, prong collar...just to name a few
Add any of these words to a dog training face book group and watch the sparks fly.  
 
Here is the kicker though… each one of us has a choice on how to respond to a trigger. We don’t have to get into senseless battles with complete strangers on face book with no results other than raising blood pressure. 
 
We can keep scrolling …enjoy pictures of sunsets and funny memes.  We can decide how we want to spend our time on social media.

’what does this have to do with dog training?’…you might ask.

Leash reactivity: this general term that describes dogs barking, lunging, growling and seemingly ‘lose their mind’ at the sight of a trigger.  Triggers are generally other dogs, people, cars, bikes, skateboards etc.
Replace that person arguing with strangers on the internet with a dog that blows up at the sight of another dog….and there you have it.

The dog has an emotional response to what they are seeing which creates arousal. Arousal creates the crazy leash behavior. The INTENT of the dog could be aggression, excitement, fear, frustration, but the behavior we see is usually the same.

So how can this behavior be addressed? How can I teach my dog to keep 'scrolling'?

• Consider your relationship with your dog. If your dog spends time at dog daycare or several hours a week at the dog park and can’t cope with seeing a dog on a leash, then take a step back and focus on the relationship . Your dog doesn’t need social time with dogs; it needs dependable leadership & quality time with you.  Be an advocate not an activities director.  
• Address the emotional component. Reactivity is the dog being unable to cope with what he/she is seeing or hearing. It doesn’t know HOW to 'scroll' on by and ‘stay in their lane’. Desensitizing/counter conditioning exercises are the foundation of any good program. ​Work toward building a mentally resilient dog.  
• ​Dependable structure. How does your dog live with you? If he is screaming at the window at everything walking by, the leash reactivity will never go away.  Teach your dog that your home isn’t romper room. Use a crate on the regular which may mean taking away some freedom to give him a reboot so he can earn it back
• Foundation obedience skills such as ‘coming when called’ a structured heel & place training are paramount. Most of the reactive dogs we work with also don’t come when called, have no understanding of walking on a leash and are acting bonkers in the house.  Teach life skills to fall back on.​
• Don’t be afraid of tools: Educate yourself. So many don’t want to ‘rely’ on a clicker, don’t understand how to properly use an e collar or cringe at the sight of a head collar or prong collar.  If you don’t understand how something works or how it can help you, find a trainer with proven experience that shows results in their work and ask them a lot of questions. Be inquisitive & get references. Find a trainer who is transparent, has a plan and explains the process step by step.      

At the end of the day, teach your dog (and yourself) to scroll. That doesn’t mean you need to be blind to realities. Your dog is an emotional & imperfect creature, not a robot.  Enjoy them, advocate for them and help them be the best version of themselves.