Is your dog a hyperhound or a scaredy-dog?
Many of the dogs coming to class recently have fallen into two groups.
The first group pull their owners into the arena, panting furiously, eyes out on stalks, lunging towards other dogs and barking, while their owners desperately hang on to the lead with both hands, digging their heels in to avoid being face-planted into the sand. These dogs commonly ignore any people around. I feel as though I have Harry Potters invisibility cloak on at times.
Dogs from the second group walk slowly towards the arena, pausing frequently, bodies tense, half-hiding behind their owners, ready to hide or run away if another dog comes too close, while their owners plead and cajole them forward. They are scared of meeting new people, too. Gareth and I have to check we’ve not suddenly grown devil horns, or huge witchy warts on our noses.
Both groups don’t contain the calm, happy dogs their owners want.
We’re seeing more dogs that are unnerved by new people and other dogs because they’re nervous or because they’re over-excited, because of lockdown. Dogs simply haven’t had the opportunities they had previously to see and meet people, or other dogs.
And it’s been far worse for the many hundreds of lockdown puppies who have missed out on crucial early socialisation.
Have you used the enforced time at home to get a puppy? There are good reasons to have done so – time at home to be able to house train properly, get your puppy used to you, your family and your house and of course time for lots of cuddles.
But for puppies to become friendly, calm adult dogs they need to have seen and met all the things they will encounter throughout life, especially people, other dogs, noises, traffic, places and sights.
And that’s been really difficult over the past few months – and still is, given that you still have to socially distance, even though you can go out more.
It’s no fun for your dog to be an adrenaline freak when they see other dogs or people, or to feel scared every time they meet something or somebody new. And these problems can have long-term health effects too.
If your pup is a hyperhound or a scaredy-dog, luckily there’s still a lot you can do to help your dog be more comfortable around people and around other dogs and to cope better with new places and experiences.
Keep training and keep safe,
Carol