After three sessions with an unruly Staffie I asked his owner why she was so tense. "I don't trust him," she replied and right there was the answer for her lack of progress.
"You cannot expect your dog to trust you if don't trust him," I told her.
"But he pulled me over lunging at another dog and dislocated my shoulder so how can I trust him after that?" she asked.
I explained that dogs let go of the past and are always ready to change. It's humans that constantly regurgitate bad experiences keeping themselves and their dogs trapped in the same mode.
Along with leadership and education you need trust to change your dog's behaviour. If you have ever had a boss you didn't trust you will know how difficult it is to work together.
Dogs will detect your lack of trust in a nano-second and learn to distrust you making progress impossible.
If your dog has a behaviour problem he needs education on how to deal with his anxieties but he won't listen if he knows you don't trust him. Why would he take guidance from someone he can't trust?
Strong leadership and a willingness to let go of the past are prerequisites for success.
Often I'll walk a dog with alleged aggression problems right past the target of his aggression with little or no reaction. This always puzzles owners but it's no mystery.
I supply strong leadership by making him walk respectfully to heel on a slack lead and (genuinely) do not anticipate a problem. I'm relaxed and quiet which changes all the usual signals the dog receives. Most importantly, I trust the dog to follow my lead and he/she usually does.
Once you've seen this happen it changes your perception and the source of the problem - you.
If you're struggling with an unruly dog check out my website or text me on 075-905-60012.
