Whether your dog is barking, chewing, leash pulling, chasing, biting, or you name it, there is usually a solution to your problem. Dog’s just can’t say, “Hey mom, I’m stressed. I really need to talk…” But you can look at your dog, squint your eyes and ponder, what does my dog need and how can I meet those needs on MY terms, not the dogs?
Here are some examples:
STUIE barked and chewed & destroyed everything. He was a Dogs for the Deaf career change dog who was waiting to get adopted, and he jumped, barked and chewed and barked some more. He was a first rate hyper, stressed out dog. So… We dusted off the golf cart and started running him up and down the driveway along side the golf cart (with one driver and one dog handler of course) until he was, well, exhausted. Then, we filled his kennel with boxes & boxes full of treats & food & bones and KONGS which he promptly destroyed each night. Wish I had pictures! These two things helped Stuie immensely who by the way went on to become a peanut detection dog and was even on TV!
SIMON had terrible separation anxiety. I couldn’t be out of his sight for a even a second. First, I discovered he loved turkey stuffed in KONGs but only gave them to him when he was home alone. I also got out my “Treat & Train” which is a remote feeder that was set to dispense food randomly, so he was rewarded every few seconds for being alone. I made sure he’d had a long walk before I left him, gave him calming herbs & flower essences and lots & lots of food toys. After a few months, I was able to leave him alone for a few hours. And now he can be alone for up to 6-8 hours at a time if necessary…
CHAMP had anxiety issues. He was barking at everything and had even bitten. He was a first class worry wart with terrier genes. He was the perfect candidate for the “Learn to Earn” program where dogs earn all of their rewards. He earned lots of chews and food toys as well as long games of fetch and running to tire him out. Then we gave him flower essences several times a day for his fears & anxieties. Soon, he began to relax and not jump at every sound around him. We combined this program with a solid clicker training program to desensitize him to things he was afraid of and he progressed quickly…
PEPPER was a bark first ask questions later kind of dog. Mostly, she barked and barked at other dogs and was a nightmare to walk on leash. Again, she responded to enrichment such as food stuffed into tiny boxes (she was a chihuahua mix); field trips to calm places and lots and lots of clicker training. She got clicks and treats when she saw dogs and DIDN’T bark. Luckily she was really food motivated. She made fast progress…