Counterconditioning: IT’S NOT A RACE!
As you may know from personal experience, Counterconditioning and Desensitisation can have marvellous results.
And as you also may know - it takes time!
Don’t be like the reader who told me “I tried that once and it didn’t work”. You need to incorporate it into your daily life with your dog.
You may have read this blogpost of mine from last April:
https://www.brilliantfamilydog.com/blog/do-you-ask-your-dogs-permission-for-handling-him
which explains what to do. In this case I was faced with a fearful dog who did not like his feet being touched at all.
We’ve slowly moved on, just a small bit at a time, and now I am allowed to clip AND grind both Yannick’s front feet!
For the first time he allowed himself to be upended on my lap, when previously it was like trying to wrestle a clawed dragon. He’s since shown that he’d prefer to stay on the ground, so that’s where we do ‘em.
So … we got there in the end!
Smash and Grab!
I was shocked to see a dog trainer’s website recently . . . well, she calls herself a “dog behaviourist, Reactivity and Aggression Specialist” but shows NO qualifications whatever.
Coco steps forward to take his meds
And she said, as one of her benefits, "No need for bulk buying sessions rarely more than two needed"
I dread to think how she transforms a reactive, fearful, and aggressive dog in TWO SESSIONS.
I think we can guess. 😳 💥
And I, for one, am happy to take as long as it takes to bring my dog with me and change his experience of the world for the better.
Want to get started with this?
You can certainly start with The Bucket Game, as shown in the video in this post on treating your dog with respect.
Or you can go much deeper in From Growly Dog to Confident Dog.
Take a look at our free Masterclass for Growly Dogs to get you started!
