I've been working with a Tibetan terrier with nervous issues this week. Tommy hates being groomed and hides whenever a stranger approaches.
Faced with any challenging situation dogs have four options:
- Fight
- Flight
- Avoid
- Submit
Tommy had been practicing flight and avoidance all his life and despite the best intentions of his owners his nervousness had grown progressively worse.
I explained carefully that smothering Tommy with affection while he was in such a stressed state was pushing him deeper within himself. He would never overcome his phobias by flight and avoidance.
The only way to help Tommy was for him to submit to the experiences he feared. Given his panic his owners avoided grooming Tommy so that's exactly where I started his rehabilitation.
As soon as I placed the brush on him Tommy snapped at me. "He's never done anything like that before," said his distressed owner but no one had asked Tommy to face his fears before.
We had a few more aggressive incidents before Tommy finally submitted to the brush and relaxed. I did not shout become excited or angry by his behaviour knowing he needed my calm quiet energy to counter his panic.
An hour later I was massaging Tommy and brushing him at the same time and he was quiet as a lamb.
The fear resurfaced when I took him to the shops. His immediate response on seeing strangers was to run off and hide but that wasn't an option. I led him on the lead up and down the street without speaking a single word. I needed to give Tommy my confidence.
It will take a few months but I know Tommy will become a balanced sociable dog.
I've asked his owners to save the petting and fussing until then.
Read more training tips on Vic's website or text me direct at: 07590-560012.
