Anxiety

Anxiety in pet dogs is typically a display of behavior due to the dog feeling uncertain, worried, and/or anticipating something negative happening in the face of a particular stimuli, situation, and/or environment. These cases are quite common for what I see.

What Anxiety Cases Entail

Dogs can develop anxiety through a number of ways including genetics, challenges in early development, lack of appropriate socialization, traumatic events, or any combination thereof.

Anxiety in your dog may look like frantic behavior, pacing, abnormal panting, excessive whining/crying, an inability to settle, etc. and may occur around other animals, other people, when in certain environments, on walks, or even around yourself and in your own home.

These cases include but are not limited to:

Anxiety when left alone
Anxiety when confined
Anxiety in the car
Anxiety in new places
Anxiety on walks

Having a dog who displays anxiety can be emotionally draining and stressful. It’s very different from having to deal with “basic” behavior problems (like jumping and leash pulling) because there’s a huge emotional component at play. Therefore in most cases we cannot treat anxiety as we would treat obedience problems. Most other dog owners and even many dog trainers don’t understand this, which is why I’m here to help.

Realistic Expectations for Anxious Dogs

It’s important to understand what anxiety is and how to differentiate between normal and even acceptable displays of anxiety, versus displays of anxiety that could potentially escalate to self injurious behavior, and/or excessive anxiety that can inhibit the dog’s quality of life. Anxious dogs are not having a good time, and usually their owners aren’t, either. Forming realistic expectations for your individual dog is imperative, along with accepting who your dog is and what they are capable of.

This can all seem incredibly daunting, but with the right mindset shift and solid commitment we can greatly reduce the overall stress that both you and your dog are experiencing. Together, I can help you understand how to reduce your dog’s overall stress, how to help them feel more comfortable, and how to create more structure and predictably in their daily routines.

PRO TIP

If you are currently experiencing situations where your dog is displaying fear, it is best advised to avoid putting your dog into these situations entirely until you have a professional plan set in place. However if that is not entirely possible at the moment, try creating a daily routine for your dog that is predictable for them - because when we know what to expect, we don’t need to worry.

And For More Tips...

MUZZLE MONDAY: Muzzle Sizing Modifications

The Baskerville Ultra muzzle in my opinion usually doesn’t fit most dogs that great. The biggest issue I see with it, is that the space between the actual basket and the neck strap is too long/large for most dogs, which ends up making the basket sit a little bit tilted upwards on the dog’s nose. This then makes it easy for the dog to paw the bottom of the basket forward and off the chin.

When you take the loop on the neck strap that is intended for the collar and put a keyring or a small carabiner clip onto it and bring it forward to attach to the bottom center bar of the basket, it resolves this issue. The gap between the basket and the neck strap is shortened and the basket sits at a more neutral angle on the dog’s nose.

Small modifications can make a big difference.

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When we, as humans, live with other people (a significant other, a roommate, a family member, etc) we have the option and the ability to LEAVE the house, any time we want. We leave to go to work, visit friends, partake in activities, exercise, etc. And even if someone doesn’t have a car, they can still step outside and walk somewhere. By choice, if they need a break they can leave.

When our dogs live with other dogs, they cannot.

If they get frustrated, stressed, or upset with one another, they can’t just step outside and walk themselves somewhere, go for a drive, or blow off steam at the gym. They are stuck.

And THIS is why it’s so important to have individual confinement spaces AND designated time away from each other EVERY day, when you have a multi dog household.

In the “wild” there is plenty of space to regulate emotions around social situations. In our homes, there is not. We need to give our dogs breaks from one another so that way they don’t feel the need to act out with inappropriate behaviors towards each other, or worse, displays of aggression. Altar their daily routines before they try to altar it themselves.

Prevention in maintaining healthy relationships between housemates can go a long way.

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“HE DOESN’T KNOW HIS [REAL] NAME”

During one of our sessions my clients were telling me about how their dog, Elmo, doesn’t know his name because he doesn’t respond to it.

As we proceeded with the session, it became apparent as to why.

They called him 47 different names throughout the hour.

No wonder he didn’t know his real name!

I know a lot of us call our dogs different things. I am guilty of it as well. But we do have to be consistent with what we call them when you are engaging with them during training and/or situations that we need to have a response from them!

Thankfully once it became apparent what one of the problems was with his name recognition, he does respond more to his real name now, though they still use a variety of things to call him in general haha.

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs

Grateful to listen to Jay Jack, Larry Krohn, and Joel Silverman at the @canineprofessionals conference talk about collaboration in the industry. Truly a breath of fresh air.

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs #dogswhobite

Story Time: “Too soft” for one side and “too cruel” for the other. For a long time I’ve never fit in with any of the dog training “camps” and just float around somewhere in the middle, and that’s ok. We all want to belong somewhere but sometimes labels do more harm than good.

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Few people know and understand the immense gratitude and celebration to have dogs who once had to be completely separated within the home due to fighting, be able to spend time together, finally, especially without muzzles.

The work is intense. The commitment is deep. The resources required are a lot. But effort pays off when the expectations and environment are set up for success.

This family has gone above and beyond what the average family would, despite all obstacles. Their success continues to even amaze me.

One simple picture, represents so much.

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs #dogswhobite

Grateful to have been chosen as a contributor to the International Association of Canine Professional’s journal for their current issue. Read about how Behavior Modification Overrides Obedience in behavior cases.

See link in stories and Articles highlight.

https://iacpdogs.org/canine-professional-journal-archives/summer-2026-canine-professional-journal/behavior-modification-overrides-obedience/

I never know who I am going to meet when I have a new appointment.

Nor do I know how the client is going to turn out based off of that first session.

I have met clients where in the initial consult they were very abrasive and then they turned into clients that I still keep in touch with 10 + years later. I have clients who questioned my ability as a trainer and they are still working with me 15 years later through multiple dogs. I have clients who ghosted me on the first session only to come back later and then end up becoming great friends. I have met clients who became part of my personal life in ways that permanently pivoted me forever. I have met clients who have become chosen family.

One thing I have learned, after so many years of doing this, is to never judge initial interactions because they’re not always the best indicators of validity. I try to stay as nonjudgmental and neutral in the middle path as possible. Because I truly never know how client relationships will begin to unfold with time. And that’s something that’s really beautiful about being able to meet so many people.

I’m grateful to always have such an amazing client base. When life gets hard, having a career that helps people and their dogs and also gives back so much in return, is worth it all.

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs #dogswhobite

Story Time: I Couldn’t Believe What This Dog Trainer Recommended …

One of my clients told me about their experience with a dog trainer in the past and it blew my mind.

We as an industry need to be able to make realistic, reasonable recommendations to our clients. And as a dog owner, if a dog trainer recommends something to you that doesn’t sit well with you - then go somewhere else! There’s plenty of us around.

🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs #dogswhobite

REMOTE SESSIONS CAN STILL WORK WONDERS!

There are so many behavior problems that can benefit from remote sessions. I work remotely with people all over the country and the impact it can have on people’s lives is just as significant as in person sessions.

Bubba, pictured below, had made some massive improvements in his behavior and therefore his owner’s quality of life by implementing just a few suggestions from our remote session and they are happily moving on to implementing more.

Getting behavior change is not always contingent on my physical presence. Especially because MY goal is to teach owners how to better handle their dog. That’s why remote sessions can still work so well for many behavior problems.

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs #dogswhobite

MUZZLE MONDAY: Preventing Harm from Redirected Aggression onto Owners

Some dogs who display aggression on the leash can escalate to redirecting that aggression onto their owner, instead. Sometimes it’s because the owner is “in the way,”; sometimes it’s because the dog figures out that they can take their frustration out on their owner and get self reinforcement for it; and sometimes it’s actually not even “redirected” aggression and more so conflict related aggression as the owner attempts to get control over the dog. All of these situations can end very badly. It is not uncommon for this to occur (and sadly I see it a lot in the Doberman breed).

Even the simple act of giving a food reward, for some dogs, can elicit a redirected aggression response. We want to make sure that we are not on the dog’s menu as well.

Muzzles - appropriately chosen and fitted for outdoor use, ventilation, etc - help prevent any injury to the owner as a result of a bite from redirected aggression on the leash. They also help prevent the dog from ever getting self reinforcement from going after their owners. And it allows the owner to feel safe enough to be able to follow through with the training plan, without the risk of being injured. With some dogs, it’s nearly impossible to achieve this without the muzzle initially. I’ve known dog owners who avoided working on their dog’s leash “reactivity” for years because they were too afraid to get close to them due to redirected aggression.

It doesn’t have to be that way!

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs #dogswhobite #muzzlemonday

Hosted my first RotNDog Client Pack Walk and we had a solid group to start with with! A wide range of ages, sizes, and breeds. Everyone did amazing! Considering that some of these dogs couldn’t even see another dog or person within 100 ft without barking, lunging, and growling, the walk really allowed everyone to see what their dogs are capable of doing! I’m grateful to have the best clients to work with and I’m looking forward to doing many more.

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs #dogswhobite

Kit is estimated to be around 5 years old and was just recently adopted a few months ago. His owner found her way to me to work on his separation distress - he’s hyper attached to her, she has trouble when leaving him home alone, and he’s very impulsive with his desires.

When I found out that he didn’t even know how to sit, we had to add that into our plan on the second session in order to start implementing some impulse control and slow thinking exercises for his wants and needs.

This is his first session learning how to sit. His owner gives the verbal cue, followed by the hand signal, and then I have her wait. It’s just about a full 10 seconds before he finally puts his butt down. Despite it feeling like an eternity for the owner in this situation, it’s a a VERY crucial moment for a dog to learn something new: giving them the time to think and process and figure it out on their own.

When we don’t give the dog a chance to turn their wheels, trouble shoot, and experiment with their own choices, we rob them of the ability to ingrain this learning deeper. If we helped him too much by offering repeated commands, lures, etc, at this stage we are not doing much to help strengthen the behavior. So many people want the dog to instantly respond. Here, Kit stays actively engaged while he decides what he wants to do. And then he gets it because we offer him patience.

LET. THE. DOG. THINK.

We are so use to faster phones, faster computers, and instant gratification. A brain learning something new doesn’t work at a technological speed. It works at a biological one. Us included. Try learning something new as an adult - it’s not easy! We need time to process. Dogs are the same.

When a new behavior becomes conditioned well enough, of course if you want a faster response time you can work towards that. But in the beginning, honor the brain’s natural processing and allow the dog to truly figure it out as long as they remain engaged. Sacrificing 10 seconds for the sake of the dog feeling empowered to figure something out on their own is nothing to worry about.

#rotndog #rotndogtraining #dogbehavior #anxiety #dogtraining #palmbeach #dogtrainer #broward

JUST ANOTHER REASON WHY I PREFER TO GIVE HIGH VALUE EDIBLE ITEMS IN A DOG’S CRATE OR CONFINEMENT SPACE ONLY

High value edible items like rawhides, no-hides, bones, tracheas, pig ears, hooves, etc have a greater chance of eliciting resource guarding, especially in dogs who already have a history of guarding but also in dogs who don’t typically display resource guarding. Resource guarding is a normal, adaptive trait. We should always honor that while also making sure we don’t allow the dog to practice it.

Sometimes, dogs will take one of these high value items and stash them or “bury” them in places such as furniture cushions (pictured), under blankets, under beds, in corners, etc. They may not want the item at that moment but they will want to return to it later.

The problem here is that it can cause the dog to remain on edge, vigilant, and always watching for if or when someone decides to walk near it. This causes an immense amount of unnecessary stress and it can also create negative associations with other members of the household. The dog may still guard the area, because they don’t want anyone approaching their hidden prize. This is not good.

Instead, I always suggest to give these items to the dogs in their crates or confinement spaces that are not shared with others. This way they can enjoy them in peace (which I believe is a basic biological need) and there is no perceived competition created in the shared spaces of the home. Nor do you have to worry about them being hidden anywhere if you maintain the rule that the bones are not allowed to be taken out of the crate or confinement space.

Simple changes of applying rules and boundaries to your daily routines can help reduce unwanted dangerous behaviors and unwanted stress easily.

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs #dogswhobite

Where do you train your dog? Here, we’re in the bathroom and the toilet is the perfect chair for this PBGV’s owner to practice the exercises.

The male dog has significant fear during storms (the female is just there for moral support, in hopes she’ll get something lol).

We are teaching a conditioned relaxation exercise that eventually can be associated with a certain location +/- can be moveable at some point also.

The bathroom is a place where he already seeks comfort during storms - as many dogs do. Bathrooms typically don’t have windows and are often times more towards the center of the home, and therefore feel a little more sheltered. Rather than initially trying to create more comfort in a totally different place, we are piggybacking on what the dog already prefers.

So if it benefits the dog to train in the bathroom, we will train in the bathroom!

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training

DOG TALK TUESDAY: Stalking

Stalking is a normal part of the predatory sequence. Predation is food acquisition behavior - necessary for wild canids to survive.

Nowadays a lot of dogs were breed to not display the full predatory sequence or only parts of it. And because our dogs are well fed and don’t need to hunt for themselves, they often times will display predatory behaviors towards small critters more so for fun.

Stalking occurs where the dog stares/fixates visually, moves very slowly, stays very still, with head lowered and very controlled body movements to gradually and stealthily get closer to said prey target. It is often followed by rushing/chasing/pouncing. The interesting thing with the dog videoed here is that he stalks, and then chooses to not go any further in the sequence despite having the ability to do so. He can “let it go” quite quickly. Which is a good characteristic for a pet dog in the city.

As always, when reading body language we have to remember to read it like we would read a sentence. Understand that it’s all the words together that create the meaning of a sentence, not one word alone. Thereby we also need to take all of the dog’s body language signals combined to create a meaning, and not focus on one single body part by itself.

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs #dogswhobite #dogtalktuesday

MUZZLE MONDAY: Close Quarters

My dogs are great together and their personalities mesh well. However, when I have to have both of them in the close quarters of the car, they wear their muzzles just to be safe, in case someone gets grumpy. One of them does have a history of attacking other dogs when frustrated and of redirecting his aggression onto whoever is near him. While that has never happened with the other dog I have now, since it’s been only two of them, I still acknowledge his history and choose to prevent any altercations from escalating to cause injury.

Sometimes we choose to use muzzles in situations that haven’t been an “issue” but where we don’t ever want them to become an “issue.”

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs #dogswhobite #muzzlemonday

Story Time: Videos and Aggression Cases.

Everyone wants to see the elaborate videos working extensively on changing behavior. But that’s not always part of a successful case outcome. For many moderate to severe aggression cases,the average owner just wants a better way to live with their dog. And that can happen in ways that aren’t possible to “video” and share. If the outcome involves the owners keeping the dog, the owners being able to provide for the dog’s basic needs, if overall stress is drastically reduced, and if everyone (owners, dog, and community) are safe, then that’s still success.

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs #dogswhobite

So many small dog owners want to just shove their dog in a bag for a long flight so they can travel together, without any training for it. Unfortunately, that can cause a lot of stress to the dog if they are not adequately prepared. The carry on travel carriers for dogs (and cats) are much smaller than standard crates or even travel crates. Plus the extended length of time spent in it + all the distractions are added challenges.

If you have a small dog and you know you want to travel with them, I always recommend to do training ahead of time with the travel carrier. Practicing long down and settle exercises in them, practicing long durations in them, and practicing being around distractions in them are all helpful ways to prep your small dog for a flight and avoid them having a potentially negative (or even traumatic) experience as a result of it all.

Theo’s owner’s hard work paid off for their long flight. I wish all small dog owners did this for their dogs!

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs #dogswhobite

Over the last two decades I have had MANY veterinarians as clients of mine. Currently I have several and lately I’ve had the privilege of working with a few of our local board certified specialists as well.

It’s always an absolute honor to have veterinarians as well as specialty veterinarians trust my work and expertise for their own dogs. My personal vet told me that’s how I know I’m the best. I’ll take the compliment!

Pictured is Kindle, whose mom is an amazing internist here in Palm Beach County.

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs

Here’s a clip from “My Prong Collar Story” that I just uploaded to YouTube. Check it out under my @RotNDogTraining handle. These are conversations we all need to be having.

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs #dogswhobite

STORY TIME: My Prong Collar Story

“I am not here to say that anything is right or wrong, I’m just here to talk about what is.”

YouTube link in stories & highlights.

https://youtu.be/tZ3stgw4nqc?is=pqabyMF3K2VaHyB3

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs #dogswhobite

MUZZLE MONDAY

Muzzles open up doorways to experiences that otherwise would not be safe enough to do.

The dog on the left in this video is wearing her muzzle. Originally, these two dogs could not even walk across the street from one another without displays of aggression and reactivity - and yet with the help of the muzzle in conjunction with training exercises, these two dogs have been able to begin to learn how to accept the presence of the other in close proximity walks.

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs #dogswhobite #muzzlemonday

Slat mills - treadmills where the dog can dictate their own speed - are great options for high energy dogs that want to GO. There’s no limitations on the speed like a regular electric treadmill and the jogging or running that a dog can do on it can be incredibly fulfilling and tiring for them.

Here in South Florida giving our dogs proper exercise can sometimes be a challenge when it’s so hot out … or raining!

Treadmills are a great alternative to outdoor activities when needed.

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs #dogswhobite

REASONS A DOG MAY BE “DESTRUCTIVE”

From chewing up furniture and shoes to ripping apart blinds and desecrating plants, there’s many reasons why a dog may engage in destructive behavior.

👉🏽 Boredom: they just have nothing else to do.

👉🏽 Lack of mental/physical stimulation: the dog is trying to meet their own needs for engagement when they aren’t getting enough exercise and object/toy play.

👉🏽 It’s just fun: a dog can be fully fulfilled by their owners but just find self reinforcement in the behavior.

👉🏽 Frustration: high arousal and frustration can get redirected onto objects as an outlet.

👉🏽 Stress: this can also be a time where energy is displaced onto objects.

👉🏽 Habit: if it’s practiced for long enough sometimes it also just becomes habit even when the underlying original motivators aren’t present any more.

It’s important to look at the reasons why when creating a plan to prevent destructive behavior but also make sure that the dog’s needs are being met.

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs #dogswhobite

There’s a “show me your dog” rhetoric in the dog training industry where when trainers express disagreements online, they are countered with asking to see proof that your own dogs know enough skills and can perform at a level equal to or greater than what you portray to know.

I’ll be clear first and foremost that I do not engage in disagreements online outside of my own comment sections. I don’t have the time for that nor do I want to waste energy in it.

And yet, whenever I see or hear someone that says “show me your dog,” I laugh.

Why?

Well, here’s my dog, El Chupacabra, sleeping in my home on his dog bed for the last five years and I still have all of my fingers.

He doesn’t know fancy obedience. He doesn’t do any sports. We don’t even venture into busy public places. Hell, he barely knows some basic commands. But those things don’t matter in my line of work. Because in El Chupacabra’s previous home, he severely bit everyone in the household during daily routines and basic care, so much so to the point that he bit one of his owner’s fingers off.

So I don’t care if he can’t perform some extravagant commands. I care that he has become a well adjusted member of my household and that he is SAFE to be around. And that I have all my fingers.

That’s my dog to show off.

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs #dogswhobite

If our dogs are too stressed on a regular basis, then there’s not enough room for positive emotions to be present.

Since I focus so heavily on trying to reduce as much unneeded stress as possible in a dog’s life from the beginning of the very first appointment and on, my goal is to make space for more positive emotions to be felt.

It’s common for clients to report back to me that after reducing unneeded stress, their dog becomes more playful, more affectionate, and more happy. And that’s just because there wasn’t enough room for these emotions to exist before.

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs #dogswhobite

Why might a dog decide to listen to one person in the house over another?

We’ve all seen it. The dogs in the home listen beautifully to one person and then give the fuzzy middle finger to another.

Just because a dog will not listen to every single person in the household, does not mean that the dog doesn’t understand what is requested or isn’t “trained.”

There’s a lot of reasons why a dog may listen to one member of the household and not others.

Here are some of them:

The dog may feel more safe and comfortable with one over another.

The dog may spend more time with one individual over another.

The dog may have more positive experiences with one person over another.

The dog may learn that they can’t get away with noncompliance with one person versus they can get away with noncompliance with another.

Or maybe the dog doesn’t receive any daily basic care from anyone else in the household except for one member.

In some households this isn’t a big deal and in other households it is. If it’s something that needs to be worked on then it’s imperative that we get by in from the person who is listened to “less” so we can improve their relationship with the dog. And have the dog give the fuzzy middle finger a little less.

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs #dogswhobite

When you have a “cute” dog or a dog that historically is associated with being “friendly” it can be even more challenging to work on things like aggression towards strangers because of the number of people who tend to approach you.

This is why I always recommend to have bright colored gear on your dogs when going into public. Not that it works for every person who may think about approaching, but can work for many and help keep a comfortable distance.

#RotNDog #RotNDogTraining #dogtrainer #dogtraining #dogbehavior #soflo #palmbeach #broward #puppies #puppytraining #gooddog #goodpuppy #obedience #aggression #fear #anxiety #behavior #training #muzzle #adopt #rescue #shelterdogs #dogswhobite

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