As Oliver ’ s behavior has continued to improve , he has an easier time getting along with other dogs .
Teaching a dog to relax is the first step in many behavior-modification protocols . The goal is to turn on the parasympathetic nervous system to reduce stress and anxiety . The process begins with sitting next to your dog on the floor and spreading small bits of medium value treats on a mat or towel . You continuously reinforce sniffing and foraging , while looking for signs of increasing calm , and spreading more treats around particularly when you see those signs from the dog . Once your dog is consistently showing less intense behaviors , you no longer keep a steady supply of treats on the mat , you only drop treats for these behaviors . Continue to select for looser and looser body language , resulting ultimately in the dog sitting , lying down , lying down with a rolled hip , and even placing his / her chin down . Each time your pup shows a new sign of relaxation , feed generously and quickly before slowing down again as you wait for the next sign of relaxation .
Variations include :
• Do everything above , without a mat
• Do everything above , on leash
• Do everything above , with your pup in a pen or crate
In addition to the Relaxation Conditioning , I created a Guest Protocol specific to apartment living and Oliver ’ s behavior . Dogs can experience a range of emotions when a guest comes over ; excitement , fear , frustration , happiness . This range of emotions can be challenging to manage , especially if the dog is afraid and has behaved aggressively in the past towards visitors .
The door itself can be a ‘ hot zone .’ A lot of chaos occurs when the door knocker knocks ; everyone is calm and suddenly there ’ s an eruption in activity . The result is the same with a buzzer if you live in an apartment . The energy in the home spikes and the dog feels that . Whether the dog doesn ’ t like it when guests visit , or the dog loves visitors and overwhelms them with his enthusiastic greeting , following this protocol helps the dog feel comfortable and in control . In addition , dogs do well with rituals . If this protocol is followed every time someone visits , the predictability of the context will help the dog better manage their emotions , thereby their behavior .
We worked on creating a Safe Space for Oliver , using Jenna ’ s bedroom . She spent a week feeding Oliver in the bedroom , giving him a Snuffle Mat , stuffed Kongs , and LickiMats while the gate and bedroom door were shut . Jenna was able to observe Oliver from the camera and saw that he was comfortable , working on whatever she gave him . After about 20 minutes , she let him out and picked up the item ( s ) she had given him . She practiced this daily so Oliver could get comfortable being separated and confined without any association with people visiting . Jenna had also been practicing Relaxation Conditioning with Oliver for the week prior to our consult .
Guest Protocol :
• Put the dog away in a quiet part of the house , such as the bedroom , at least 10 minutes before the guest arrives . You might even have the crate set up in the quiet part of the home , tucked away from the door and main living area . This is your dog ’ s Safe Space .
• Give a chewie or stuffed Kong to help keep your dog busy and feeling good while separated . The reason you want to put him
Photo : Bobbie Bhambree The APDT Chronicle of the Dog | Spring 2022 33