Anxiety in Dogs Series - Article 3 - 3 Mistakes I commonly hear

Anxiety in Dogs Series - Article 3

3 MISTAKES I COMMONLY HEAR

Over the past blogs we have explored Sometimes anxiety doesn't shout - it whispers and How I came to teach canine confidence. Today I want to discuss 3 mistakes people make when considering a plan to help their anxious dog.

I work with clients who often say 'how I wish I had done things differently, I have made a huge mistake'. Let's clear one thing up, although 'mistake' and 'miss take', sound alike, I like to think of mistakes as MISS TAKES - because when we know better, we can take a different course of action.

After all, we can only act based on what we know, right?

Miss Take Number 1. 'One Size Fits All'.

Every dog is an individual and perceives life differently. A dog's confidence is shaped by several factors: their genetic makeup, their mother's condition during pregnancy and her stress levels, their early environment, diet, and the home they eventually settle in.

Believing that a 'one-size-fits-all' approach will resolve canine anxiety is a Miss Take. Anxiety in dogs is as unique as it is in humans - tailoring a programme to suit the individual dog is the best route to success.

Miss Take Number 2. 'You'll Ruin That Dog With Kindness'.

To have empathy for your dog's experience enables you to seek solutions. Taking the time to fully understand the root cause of your dog's behaviour allows you to find creative solutions and workarounds. This results in a happier dog, a more harmonious home and a stronger bond between you and your pet.

The best partnerships between dog's and their guardians are build on mutual respect, with the dog knowing their human 'has their back'.

Miss Take Number 3. 'It's Only a Dog - They Don't Feel Emotions'.

Scientific evidence suggests that because dogs mature emotionally much faster than humans, they have the emotional range of a 2 to 2 and a half year old child. This means they experience the fundamental emotions such as joy, fear, anger and love. However complex emotions such as guilt, pride and shame are less likely.

Surely, it seems more supportive to change the experience your dog has rather than to just ask him to perform a different behaviour in the face of their trigger?

Working together for change

In the years I have been supporting dogs, the most profound transformations occur when we work as a team - dog, their humans and me.
As a natural wellness practitioner there is nothing more rewarding than seeing a previously terrified dog achieve something they couldn't before.

Looking to support your dog without making these and many more Miss Takes?

All my courses are delivered by zoom, so you don't even have to leave the comfort of your home.

To learn more about my programmes click here.

Let's chat about the best way to support your dog.
Email: caninesenses@btinternet.com