21/03/2025
LET'S CELEBRATE NATIONAL DOGS IN YELLOW
DAY!
I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge all of the "yellow dog" guardians out there, working so hard and doing a fantastic job of keeping their fearful, anxious and reactive dogs feeling safe and happy.
Although these dogs are all superstars and we love them to bits, it can, of course, be really taxing at times. Stupid o'clock early morning dog walks to avoid triggers; walking in the rain because nobody else is daft enough to be out in it; diving into bushes to avoid an unwanted encounter with the "my dog is friendly and just wants to play" brigade - the list goes on.
Wouldn't it be lovely if everyone gave each other the space they need? It would make life so much easier.
As the guardian of a reactive dog, "distance is your friend" is something you will hear a LOT, and it is so true. Giving our dogs the space they need to feel safe will help them to cope better with the things that worry them, and it will reduce their day to day stress levels, positively impacting both ends of the lead.
If your dog is barking and lunging at other dogs, this is vital information that he needs more space to help him cope in that situation. We need to listen, respect their feelings, and take action. This means that we might have to risk appearing rude to other people sometimes, but it is okay to say, “no, we are in training and need space, please”, or, “no, my dog is nervous, he’d rather not say hello, thank you.” Find quieter areas to walk, choose low-traffic times, or hire a secure field for some stress-free quality time with your best boy or girl.
Don't feel pressured into walking your dog everyday - it is absolutely okay to have a break. For some dogs, the outside world is just too much, so entertaining them at home with some play, fun training, scentwork etc to keep them stimulated is a great alternative. Management is a major component of helping our dogs feel safe; don't allow others to make you feel guilty if walks are too much for you both!
Behaviour modification is founded on changing emotional responses to the things which worry our dogs. In order to create positive associations, we need to work at a neutral level of exposure, so providing our dogs with the space they need to stay within their coping threshold is vital. Yes, reactive outbursts can be embarrassing, but using punishment, scolding and intimidation to stop them only serves to suppress the behaviour, and will add further negativity to the dog’s struggles. Suppression is not the same as behaviour modification!
There are many reasons besides reactivity why a dog might need more space - here are just a few:
*In training
*Struggling with anxiety
*Recovering from a bad experience
*Recuperating from an illness or surgery
*Nervous of other dogs
*Nervous of people
*Age-related aches and pains
*Deaf and/or blind
*Their human prefers to avoid other people or dogs
*Their human has mobility issues
Whatever the reason for needing some space, having a well-practised exit strategy is something that we can all benefit from so that we can create distance quickly and keep our dogs feeling safe; teaching a "let's go!" cue is a huge help.
Remember: if in doubt, don’t hang about!
Life with a sensitive dog is stressful for both ends of the lead. Make time for some TLC: a (very large) glass of wine and a massive sharing (what’s that??!) sized box of chocolates for you, while your dog has something enjoyable to help him also wind down.
Reactive dogs need our understanding, our empathy, and our help with changing the underlying emotions which drive these behaviours. They aren't behaving badly, they are just struggling with some big feelings.
Remember: they are not deliberately being difficult and giving us a hard time; they are having a hard time!
To celebrate the efforts of the Dogs In Yellow campaign, I would love to see pictures of your lovely woofers rocking their yellow gear in the comments section!
🙏🫶
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www.trailiepawsforthought.com
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Image text: REACTIVE DOGS NEED SPACE!
Safety: Manage your dog and his environment to keep him feeling safe.
Practice: A well-rehearsed "Let's Go!" cue will help you create distance quickly. Hone those ninja skills, keep an eye out for triggers, and look out for objects in the environment to use as barriers.
Advocate: Speak up for your dog and be his voice. Protect him from wannabe space invaders!
Condition: Counter-conditioning paired with systematic desensitisation will develop new emotional responses to the things which worry your dog, creating long-term, positive change.
Enrichment: Activities which promote sniffing, licking and chewing will help your dog to relax and decompress, reducing the risk of trigger stacking.
