Does your dog bark or lunge at visitors to the house or garden? Or at other dogs or people on walks? Or both?! We prefer the term ‘reactive’ to ‘aggressive’ at Contented Canines. We understand how upsetting it is to be unable to invite friends and relatives round for a visit. We know how unbelievably stressful it can be to walk a dog when you are terrified of coming across another dog for fear of your dogs reaction.
Believe it or not, the majority of reactive behaviours are fear based. Your dog is actually scared of visitors, and frightened of other dogs and people on a walk. His dramatic displays of teeth and strength are based on the fight or flight response. He feels trapped in the house and garden around people, or on lead around people or other dogs so the flight option is not available for him. He must choose fight! He is hoping to scare away those people or other dogs away!
Sadly many owners don’t understand the reasons for their dogs reactive behaviours and may scold or even smack their dogs for reacting. This damages the trust between dog and owner and certainly does nothing to help the problem. In fact it will make an already highly stressed and anxious dog even worse!
In order to remove the reactions we need to remove the fear. It is our job to teach the dog that there is nothing to be scared of and that alternative coping techniques are available.
Let us help you with this job and put together a detailed step-by-step training programme with you taking you through the path to a happier, more relaxed and confident dog.
Dog Walking Service
Work commitments, illness and injury and busy lifestyles could all contribute to a need for help exercising your dog. Dog walks from Contented PetCare break up the day and allow your dogs to stretch their legs, relieve themselves, and even make new friends!
But don’t just take our word for it! Read this case study, recommendation and reference from one Contented Canine and his happy owner!
I had met Strauss for some puppy training when he first joined the Bentley family. Sadly due to some bad experiences Strauss had begun to react to visitors coming to the house, people on walks and some dogs. He was barking and lunging and becoming difficult to control, and the family was worried about inviting guests to the house.
Tamla’s owners Jonathon and Ellen got in touch as she was extremely reactive around visitors to the house. Inviting guests to the house was a very stressful experience for Tamla and for her owners as she would lunge and bark at everyone. She was a very anxious little dog.
I have known Elsie since she was a tiny puppy as she attended our training classes. After some bad experiences on a walk she then developed some reactive behaviours so her owner got in touch to book some home training sessions to focus on this.
