This week's question comes from a Christchurch reader:
We have a two-and-a-half-year-old minature schnauzer and she growls at any noise (car outside, someone walking past the house, inside door closing, someone entering the room etc) which seems to have got worse after the earthquakes.
She also does it when someoneapproaches her. She does not curl her lip or back away or have a fixed posture, but people find it quite frightening (even frequent visitors and family).
I let her do it but then say, "That's enough, you know ..." but it takes a while for her to settle. Are there any commands that you know work well?
If she starts barking etc, I put her in her basket and tell her to stay and she usually settles, but it can take 5-10 minutes for her to calm.
I feel for both the two-and-four-legged victims of this natural disaster and can't imagine the unease it has created for some. Just as human confidence would have taken time to rebuild, the confidence of our dogs will also need rebuilding.
We cannot explain in simple terms to our dogs that what happened happened and it is time to move on, but we can take the opportunity to rebuild the trust of our dogs.
By building trust, we build confidence as our dogs see us as partners and a team capable of dealing with any situation.
This is an ideal time for all owners in this region to revisit basic training. By spending time refreshing commands using structured sessions and positive reinforcement, you re-establish the trust and bond between you, which ultimately results in our dogs looking at us for guidance as to how to act in a situation, rather reacting negatively due to uncertainty.
In your case, I would also have her go to her basket when people arrive and give her time in a space where she feels safe and allow her to approach new people on her own terms. This will also show her that they are not a threat and you have the situation under control without her thinking she is having step up because you cannot deal with it or show a warning because she is overwhelmed, which are both factors contributing to her behaviour.
Paw point of the week:
By training basic foundation commands, our dogs learn to enjoy our direction and will look to us for guidance when they are unsure of a situation.
Contact me for the chance to have your question selected for publication at nadines@dogguru.co.nz for further information on Dog Guru visit www.dogguru.co.nz
