Dine in or carry out? Go to the gym or out for a run? We make lots of daily decisions without much thought. But what about our dogs? We decide what they eat, where they sleep, whether they have a yard and when they get walks. We decide when they play (and usually who with) and even where and when they do their business. All these restrictions can make for unhappy dogs. But by giving our dogs more choices we improve how they feel, and better behavior often follows.<\/p>\n
Dogs are faced with the daily challenges of living in a human-centered world, so it\u2019s up to us to help them get along. We can support our dogs by giving choices and opportunities.<\/p>\n
Applied ethologist Kim Brophey says, \u201cFew modern dogs were evolutionarily, naturally prepared for the life of a \u2018pet\u2019 dog. The autonomy and instincts, the choices and actions that dogs have been historically developed for are not only no longer valued in most cases but even considered \u2018problem\u2019 behaviors.\u201d<\/p>\n
Take, for example, the terrier\u2019s need to hunt or the Border Collie\u2019s need to herd. When the terrier digs up the garden or the Border Collie nips at children\u2019s heels, it\u2019s labeled problem behavior from a \u201cbad\u201d dog. But dogs need outlets for their energy and time to just be dogs.<\/p>\n
Kim encourages us to \u201cLet them destroy their own belongings for the thrill of it; let them chew sticks and pinecones without diving into their mouths. We can let them spend as many hours as they want to in the fenced backyard, enjoying the elements unsupervised; take them for long hikes in the woods on 30-foot leashes in the middle of nowhere and let them be in the moment away from human insanity long enough to remember who they are in their bones.\u201d<\/p>\n
Let your dog problem solve<\/h3>\n
Choice empowers our dogs, encourages resilience and autonomy and helps boost confidence and independence. It expands their ability to make good choices without direction; a practical skill that stops us from micromanaging their behavior. Dogs are good at problem solving on their own if we let them.<\/p>\n
Certified dog behavior consultant Laura Donaldson advocates taking choice a step further by giving dogs agency, which is choice on steroids. Laura says, \u201cI define agency as dogs learning that they can influence their environment by using their behavior. They are not just responding to human \u2018commands\u2019 about what to do and when to do it. First and foremost, give them the time and space to think, so that they can problem-solve and make good decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n Giving dogs choices means providing at least two good options that are healthy, safe and don\u2019t reinforce unwanted behaviors. Here are some simple ways to get started:<\/p>\n By respecting dogs\u2019 decisions, we help prevent problems like learned helplessness where our dogs feel like they have no control over their environment and flooding, which happens when a dog is forced to experience something they find scary. Both make for unhappy dogs.<\/p>\n Certified dog behavior consultant Allie Bender explains, \u201cA number of maladaptive behaviors are exacerbated by or can even be caused by a lack of choice and\/or control. When we give our dogs the opportunity and skills to make better choices, we open the door to work with them, instead of fighting against them, to solve behavior issues.\u201d It\u2019s a win-win: When dogs have more control over their lives we see fewer undesirable behaviors.<\/p>\n In any given situation, check your dog\u2019s body language. If he doesn\u2019t want to do something, give him the freedom to opt out. Never underestimate your dog\u2019s attempts to communicate with you that he\u2019s uncomfortable.<\/p>\n Reading a dog\u2019s body language is a big picture kind of thing, but here are a few pointers on specific body parts:<\/p>\n Head should be upright and confident; turned away is avoidance or deferent, and a lowered head signals fear or submission.<\/p>\n Relaxed ears can either be forward or back; pinned back can mean submission or fearfulness while pricked forward indicates arousal (could be friendly or not).<\/p>\n Eyes should be soft and may even be squinty; averted eyes could mean fear or submission; and while eye contact is good, hard stares could be a sign of trouble.<\/p>\n The body should be loose, upright and confident; tense or lowered postures can mean a dog is feeling afraid, anxious or even aggressive.<\/p>\n Ideally the tail is carried low to medium, with a relaxed friendly wag; a tail carried high indicates arousal (could be play or aggressive) and tucked indicates fear or submission.<\/p>\n Observing our dogs\u2019 decision-making processes gifts us with daily opportunities to learn about their preferences, personalities, wants and needs so we can help them live their best lives. A solid combination of training life skills, meeting their physical, emotional and mental needs and providing choices helps our dogs feel better. And when they feel better they behave better.<\/p>\n This can be done often and is very helpful for creating a toy ladder (order of relevance to your dog) for reinforcing desired behaviors:<\/p>\n Not exactly sure how your dog is feeling? Here are some great resources on canine body language:<\/p>\n For more reading, check out sister publication Whole Dog Journal\u2019s articles on body language at: whole-dog-journal.com\/category\/behavior\/body-language\/<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n The post #TrendingInTraining: Giving Choices = Better Behavior<\/a> by Rachel Brix<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n The post #TrendingInTraining: Giving Choices = Better Behavior<\/a> by Rachel Brix<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n Dine in or carry out? Go to the gym or out for a run? We make lots of daily decisions without much thought. But what about our dogs? We decide what they eat, where they sleep, whether they have a yard and when they get walks. We decide when they play (and usually who with) and even where and when they do their business. All these restrictions can make for unhappy dogs. But by giving our dogs more choices we improve how they feel, and better behavior often follows.<\/p>\n Dogs are faced with the daily challenges of living in a human-centered world, so it\u2019s up to us to help them get along. We can support our dogs by giving choices and opportunities.<\/p>\n Applied ethologist Kim Brophey says, \u201cFew modern dogs were evolutionarily, naturally prepared for the life of a \u2018pet\u2019 dog. The autonomy and instincts, the choices and actions that dogs have been historically developed for are not only no longer valued in most cases but even considered \u2018problem\u2019 behaviors.\u201d<\/p>\n Take, for example, the terrier\u2019s need to hunt or the Border Collie\u2019s need to herd. When the terrier digs up the garden or the Border Collie nips at children\u2019s heels, it\u2019s labeled problem behavior from a \u201cbad\u201d dog. But dogs need outlets for their energy and time to just be dogs.<\/p>\n Kim encourages us to \u201cLet them destroy their own belongings for the thrill of it; let them chew sticks and pinecones without diving into their mouths. We can let them spend as many hours as they want to in the fenced backyard, enjoying the elements unsupervised; take them for long hikes in the woods on 30-foot leashes in the middle of nowhere and let them be in the moment away from human insanity long enough to remember who they are in their bones.\u201d<\/p>\n Choice empowers our dogs, encourages resilience and autonomy and helps boost confidence and independence. It expands their ability to make good choices without direction; a practical skill that stops us from micromanaging their behavior. Dogs are good at problem solving on their own if we let them.<\/p>\n Certified dog behavior consultant Laura Donaldson advocates taking choice a step further by giving dogs agency, which is choice on steroids. Laura says, \u201cI define agency as dogs learning that they can influence their environment by using their behavior. They are not just responding to human \u2018commands\u2019 about what to do and when to do it. First and foremost, give them the time and space to think, so that they can problem-solve and make good decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n Giving dogs choices means providing at least two good options that are healthy, safe and don\u2019t reinforce unwanted behaviors. Here are some simple ways to get started:<\/p>\n By respecting dogs\u2019 decisions, we help prevent problems like learned helplessness where our dogs feel like they have no control over their environment and flooding, which happens when a dog is forced to experience something they find scary. Both make for unhappy dogs.<\/p>\n Certified dog behavior consultant Allie Bender explains, \u201cA number of maladaptive behaviors are exacerbated by or can even be caused by a lack of choice and\/or control. When we give our dogs the opportunity and skills to make better choices, we open the door to work with them, instead of fighting against them, to solve behavior issues.\u201d It\u2019s a win-win: When dogs have more control over their lives we see fewer undesirable behaviors.<\/p>\n In any given situation, check your dog\u2019s body language. If he doesn\u2019t want to do something, give him the freedom to opt out. Never underestimate your dog\u2019s attempts to communicate with you that he\u2019s uncomfortable.<\/p>\n Reading a dog\u2019s body language is a big picture kind of thing, but here are a few pointers on specific body parts:<\/p>\n Head should be upright and confident; turned away is avoidance or deferent, and a lowered head signals fear or submission.<\/p>\n Relaxed ears can either be forward or back; pinned back can mean submission or fearfulness while pricked forward indicates arousal (could be friendly or not).<\/p>\n Eyes should be soft and may even be squinty; averted eyes could mean fear or submission; and while eye contact is good, hard stares could be a sign of trouble.<\/p>\n The body should be loose, upright and confident; tense or lowered postures can mean a dog is feeling afraid, anxious or even aggressive.<\/p>\n Ideally the tail is carried low to medium, with a relaxed friendly wag; a tail carried high indicates arousal (could be play or aggressive) and tucked indicates fear or submission.<\/p>\n Observing our dogs\u2019 decision-making processes gifts us with daily opportunities to learn about their preferences, personalities, wants and needs so we can help them live their best lives. A solid combination of training life skills, meeting their physical, emotional and mental needs and providing choices helps our dogs feel better. And when they feel better they behave better.<\/p>\n This can be done often and is very helpful for creating a toy ladder (order of relevance to your dog) for reinforcing desired behaviors:<\/p>\n Not exactly sure how your dog is feeling? Here are some great resources on canine body language:<\/p>\n For more reading, check out sister publication Whole Dog Journal\u2019s articles on body language at: whole-dog-journal.com\/category\/behavior\/body-language\/<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n The post #TrendingInTraining: Giving Choices = Better Behavior<\/a> by Rachel Brix<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12945","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s36700.pcdn.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2204_Feat_TrendingInTraining_PugWhiteBoard_GettyImages-1038853096-600x489.png\")
Easy ways to give choice<\/h3>\n
\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s36700.pcdn.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2204_Feat_TrendingInTraining_AussieWalking_GettyImages-960398842-600x435.png\")
Check in with your dog<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s36700.pcdn.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2204_Feat_TrendingInTraining_DogToys_GettyImages-1150664164-600x444.png\")
Simple Toy Preference Test<\/h3>\n
\n
Check That Body Language<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s36700.pcdn.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2204_Feat_TrendingInTraining_Book_LiliChinDoggieLanguage.jpg.optimal.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s36700.pcdn.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2204_Feat_TrendingInTraining_DogDecoderApp-323x600.png\")
Let your dog problem solve<\/h3>\n
Easy ways to give choice<\/h3>\n
\n
Check in with your dog<\/h3>\n
Simple Toy Preference Test<\/h3>\n
\n
Check That Body Language<\/h3>\n