Communication: Action over Words

Our dogs live on a human directed schedule in an environment designed by people, for people. This requires adaptation from dogs whether it’s done well, neutrally or with difficulty. Our job is to give them coping and management behavior options, designed with their needs in mind. This gives them some traction as they negotiate the lifestyles and environments we’re choosing for them. They get to do things their way or at least we give them the opportunity to participate on their terms.

To begin, how might they perceive the situation(s) we present to them as required. What misunderstandings might arise due to assumptions that our dogs can “just roll with it”? Because when they don’t just roll with it there are often repercussions both in real time and in our relationship with them.

It’s like we don’t have a real or tangible plan for how to help our dog in a situation but there is a shadow assumption that whatever happens, we can deal with it. These open ended and possibly difficult events are presented to our dogs randomly and often, especially to our newly adopted dogs and puppies.

Possible difficult events for our dogs may be:

• Separation

  • When they are left home alone

  • When we ignore our dogs to work or play on our phones and computers

• Company - Whether they are jumping on or running away from company, they feel like they have to do something and the options are many.

• Fence Line Drama Overly rambunctious behavior at fence line

• Rapid Environmental Changes - This is going from little to no activity to a lot of activity with limited communicated warning (Head’s up)for the dog. Dogs, like people, appreciate and benefit from being given time to adapt to changes.

  • This is a broad category including waking them up with no warning while they are sleeping or resting.

  • bringing groups of people into the house.

  • Having a stranger come to the house to take care of them without introducing the person and practicing all the things that will happen during the visit.

Dogs appreciate options and agency much like we do!

So how can we do better?

Framing Solution based Thinking

Dogs don’t use words. They take information from their environment, including how events have made them feel in the past.

Changes may make a dog’s immediate experience exciting or aversive. I call a sudden change in the environment an Environmental Spark Plugs. It can be anything that happens to make their current state of mind shift from comfortable to vigilant, uncomfortable or afraid.

Real spark plugs are not big but they create powerful motion.

(Also an opportunity for immediate success- Our preparedness can make the difference)

Spark Plug Feelings might be:

• Stage Fright - Multiple Choices for ‘what to do next’ with little to no experience in the situation

  • AKA ’ We have never done this before and now we’re doing it on stage with no script or marks to hit’

• Our Reaction History - Prior choices by the dog upsetting their human. The person may bring a lack of enthusiasm or anxiety to the event which is contagious. This can be isolating for both the dog and the human!

  • How we think and behave directly impacts our dogs and they perceive more than we think. It’s a two way leash.

Spark Plug Events might be:

• Sudden/Surprising sounds and creatures ( dogs, cats, wildlife). Do we move closer, move away or keep going like it’s not even there? Options are opportunities for adjusting to startling events together.

• *Human Strangers* Strangers are unpredictable and come in different shapes,sizes, volumes and scents! The affect(s) strangers have on us and our dogs can create a jumble of emotions running up and down the leash both literally and figuratively.

• Anything your dog shows you they have a difficult time recovering from being exposed to or they become so stimulated that focus becomes difficult to impossible for them. Your dog’s voice is the information you get from their actions.

Language

Communication is part of teamwork. Words are our primary communication method with people. When communicating with dogs, presentation is intrinsic to explaining or translating what we’re doing next.

Another point to remember about communication is that how we sound is more valuable to our dogs than what we are saying. When a sudden shift or change occurs, our words won’t register as helpful. The direct communication with them is our demeanor and options we give them for relaxing, redirecting as we negotiate the change we’re experiencing as well.

How do we meet them where they are?

It’s all about the presentation!!

The goal is to help them get from Point A to Points B, C or D etc. minimizing confusion or friction. Think about what your destination behaviors look like and how you can help your dog acquire those behaviors.

We need reliable and repeatable answers to environmental quandries or insecurities.

Following these steps can help us help our dogs:

• Select aspects of your dogs daily experiences you’d like to help them experience with more confidence (What does my dog need to be able to do comfortably)

• Think about how the situation/environment possibly presents to your dog?

• Locate the Spark Plugs!

• Negotiating around and through the SPs by giving your dog options meeting them where their needs are.

• Embed practice as a part of life so it becomes a routine not a performance.

Nurturing and maintaining a united front is aspirational Creative thinking and planning for how we introduce newness or manage and improve trouble spots accomplishes:

• Empowering you and your dog - You’re using your power of thinking to help your dog! The future stress they don’t feel is because you went out of your way to help them today.

• You have a new skill! - As you help your dog sort out their environment you get to know and understand them better so you can help them more in the future.

• Opening new possibilities! - With diminishing daily stress and strengthened communication, more adventures become possible. What an adventure is depends on the dog and their person. We don’t all need to climb mountains to feel on top of the world and our game!