ADVICE: The Common-sense dog

Many people have dogs that are struggling with fear, anxiety, or aggression. I typically see people unsure of how to address these issues. They don’t know where to start, and sometimes it can be daunting and frightening, especially if the dog is biting. Let’s give you some peace of mind with this article.

In our training programs, we deal with many dogs with long bite histories or who have shown they are on the verge of biting. Safety is incredibly important for myself, my staff, my family, my clients and the dogs. In fact, it is the MOST important part of the whole training process. Here are some safety measures you can take in your home if you have a dog that has bitten or is showing signs of biting:

1. Condition your dog to a muzzle. So many bites and dog fights can be avoided simply by teaching a fearful, anxious or aggressive dog to be comfortable wearing a muzzle. That being said, not all muzzles are created equal. Muzzles that strap tight around the dog’s mouth should not be worn for more than a few minutes. For longer periods of use, the dog should always be wearing a basket muzzle (we always recommend the Baskerville brand to our clients because they allow the dog to eat, drink, and pant.) This will offer the most amount of comfort to the dog for those longer stretches when guests are over or you are walking in public.

To condition a dog to enjoy wearing the muzzle, start feeding them their meals by taping a towel around the outside of the muzzle and putting small handfuls of food down into the muzzle. You are not strapping the straps at this point. Simply let the dog put its head in and out freely. This will encourage the dog to put its nose into the muzzle repeatedly and help create a positive association with the safety device. Do this often. After a few days of doing this, start strapping the straps for short periods of time. Give your dog a poke or pull on a leash if the dog attempts to remove the muzzle. Put the muzzle on periodically each day, ever if you don’t need it. This will help the dog feel that the muzzle is commonplace and not just a tool you use when something stressful is about to happen.

2. Leave a leash on your dog. Too often we are unable to give direction to our dogs when they are struggling because we have moved away from tools too soon. Buy a 6-foot leash and cut the loop off the end. Let your dog drag the leash around while you are home (never leave a leashed dog unattended). By keeping a leash on the dog, you can successfully intervene if the dog is becoming fearful, anxious or aggressive. And since the dog will be wearing a muzzle, you can put your focus on helping the dog become better, rather than tending to a bite or apologizing to guests.

3.Consult a professional. If your dog is becoming dangerous, it is always best to seek professional help in addition to these safety steps.

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Stephanie Vichinsky is the owner/head trainer of Method K9 in Post Falls. 208-964-4806