Stress Crisis: Dogs and Humans Under Pressure

 

Michael Baugh CDBC CPDT-KSA

The biggest challenge in dog training these days is us.

We humans are stressed out. Life is coming at us (coming for us) from all directions. Work pressure is endemic. Social media is a constant mirror to our perceived inadequacies. It’s an election year.

This summer the U.S. Surgeon General actually issued a mental health advisory. Let’s not take that lightly. The Surgeon General reserves health advisories for big stuff, like warnings about smoking or AIDS. This advisory sounded the alarm about the mental health of parents. Forty-eight percent of parents say their stress is “completely overwhelming.” They’re worried about money, safety, their children’s future. And they’re worried about time. They’ve maxed out their schedules. They simply don’t have enough time in a day to do everything they need to do.

One of the more popular theories is that our brain’s evolution hasn’t been able to keep up with all of our technological advancements. We’ve made the world too complicated and fast-paced for our own good. That might be true.

We humans crave joy. I think more than that even; we crave peace. We just want some relief from the cacophony of daily life. So, we get a dog to help.

The trouble is (this is my opinion), our dog’s brain evolution hasn’t been able to keep up with all the changes either. Dogs evolved with us. Nature tied their lives inextricably to ours. The joke online these days is “I got a dog for my anxiety and ended up with a dog with anxiety.” It’s not funny, probably because the truth of the matter is so stark. We are under pressure and, inadvertently or otherwise, we put our dogs under a great deal of pressure, too. Dogs who traditionally hunted, guarded, or herded are now our surrogate children (or, worse, our mental health caretakers). Most do well. They walk tethered to us, wait patiently under tables at our favorite ice house, pass the hours with the mob at daycare.

Some, the ones I meet, succumb to the pressure. They growl, snarl, snap, and bite. We balk. Dogs are supposed to be good. We should know better, though. Dogs are doing the best they can, just like we are.

I can’t address the pressure we humans are under. At a minimum, we all need a good friend to talk to. We’d all probably do well with some therapy, or at least a nice group hug. But your dog’s stress, that I can help with.

Here are some ideas you can start today that take very little extra time out of your schedule. I think you’ll enjoy some of them, too.

Notice your dog. Observe. Watch what your dog does when they don’t know you’re looking. It’s fun. I think it’s fascinating and relaxing at the same time. It can also be downright entertaining.

Spend some quiet time with your dog together every day in physical contact, petting, or cuddling. It’s good for you. It’s good for your dog.

Play. This is how social animals bond. It’s how we can bond with our dog. Every human-dog pairing is different. My last dog played fetch. My current dog loves to play tug. Find the interactive game that works best for you and your dog.

Train. Don’t think of dog training as a chore. Think of it as a way of starting a dialogue with your dog. Communication helps us feel less isolated, more connected. I suspect it feels that way to our dogs as well.

There is good news. Again, this is my opinion. It might be true that our legacy brains (and those of our dogs) are struggling to keep up with the world we’ve created. It sure feels like that most days. But here’s what else is true: we humans are amazing learners. We adapt. Humans can tap into ancient wisdom for comfort and insight. We are rich in philosophy and faith. And, there’s more good news. Our dogs are amazing learners alongside us. We’ve co-evolved navigating change and learning together.

There’s hope for us, I think.

If the pressure feels like too much some days (every day?), that’s okay. I feel it. I think we’re normal. Reach out for help. Reach out to a friend, trusted clergy, a therapist. We are social creatures. Human existence was never meant to be a solo endeavor.

If you see your dog is having a hard time, well, that happens too. There’s help for both of y’all. I’m here for you. At the very least, I can connect you to help for your dog.

The romantic in me wants to shout out: “we can get through this together.” The truth is we are already, day by day. Evolution be damned. You, me, our dogs – we’ve got this.

 

Michael Baugh teaches dog training in Houston, TX. He specializes in aggressive dog training.

Dog Resource Guarding – a Simple Technique to Diffuse the Bomb

 

Michael Baugh CDBC

It will stop you in your tracks, a dog hunkered over a prized item, snarling and growling. Worse if it’s our own dog. It’s even more frightening if the dog launches off the item to charge and bite us. They do that sometimes.

Most of us have heard the term “resource guarding.” Dogs want to access and protect food, primarily. They will also guard things they find (tissues are a favorite), chew toys, dead things. The list goes on. Some dogs will guard valued sleeping spots. Others still guard people. Possession is key. Maintaining possession is where the conflict comes in.

Guarding resources is normal. We guard stuff, our cars, our homes. We have locks and alarm systems. Some of us are armed. None of us would take kindly to a passerby snatching a French fry from our plate at a restaurant. I sometimes call resource guarding evolutionarily adaptive. It keeps organisms alive long enough to pass on their genes.

The thing is, our dogs have plenty of food, lots of toys, comfy beds and kind people who love them. They have nothing to worry about. Still, the guarding shows up out of any rational context. It’s hard wired in even if it’s unnecessary.

How can we humans help?

Here’s what not to do. The answer is not to teach the dog who is boss and force the issue. That escalates the conflict. Escalation leads to bites. And I don’t think it’s about coercing the dog to let us reach and take an object from them. That can yield the same poor result.

Here’s what I recommend: teach a strong coming when called. Pick a cue. I use “Charlie Come!” Reinforce with high-value food every time you use the cue. Every time. If you’re just starting out, you can say the cue at a close distance, pause, and feed. Keep your promise. Every time I say “Charlie Come!” I pay with food. I never take a freebie (I reinforce with food every time he comes). If you want to learn more about this technique, you can contact me or watch the video “Really Reliable Recall.”

Let’s look at that hunkered, snarling dog again. What if we could simply call him to us and away from the guarded object? A well trained coming when called gives us that option. We aren’t chasing or scolding him. In fact, the best approach is to present ourselves as if the item doesn’t matter to us at all. We are calling our dog to us for a lovely treat, like we’ve done hundreds of times before. Because we trained with positive reinforcement, we are changing the subject altogether. Nothing to guard here.

When our dog comes to us, he has two acceptable options.

1) He can bring the item with him. He will drop it for the treat he always gets when he responds to the cue. We can choose to toss the treat away and recover the item. Or, if it’s his own bone or toy, we can treat him and give the item right back (nice training rep).

2) Alternatively, he can leave the item behind. We can toss his treat away and recover the item, or if we’ve taught a reliable “stay” cue, we can ask our dog to wait while we go get it.

This training process takes conflict out of the equation. We can call our dogs away from guarded spaces, too. We can even interrupt the guarding of people.

If your dog has bitten. Or if you think your dog is at risk of injuring a person or another animal, I recommend you work with a qualified Certified Dog Behavior Consultant familiar with using positive reinforcement to mediate aggressive behavior.

There is hope, even for dogs who seem particularly aggressive. No case is completely hopeless.

 

Michael Baugh specializes in aggressive dog training. He helps dog training clients all over North America. 

Preparing our Dogs for Emergencies – Teaching Emotional Resilience

Michael Baugh CDBC CPDT-KSA

There is a very good chance that we will have to pick up and do somewhere with our dog at a moment’s notice. This is most likely to occur in hurricane season. But life is full of variables. It could happen at any time. We may have to stay with our dog at a family member’s house, a hotel, or even a shelter. There will be new people there, new dogs, unfamiliar smells, sights and sounds. Dogs who have a successful history navigating novel environments and circumstances will do well. Others will need our help.

I define emotional resilience as the ability to stay calm, pro-social, and behaviorally flexible in a variety of circumstances and settings. Dogs who are emotionally resilient seem to go with the flow. Owners recognize their dogs as being their normal selves, behaving in new settings just as they do at home.

Can we teach this? Yes. Some dogs are just more easy-going than others. Teaching a degree of emotional resilience and behavior flexibility varies depending on the individual dog. Many of our dogs have emotional and behavioral challenges. We’ll need to make special considerations for them.

Here are some things you do to help your dog ahead of time:

Charlie at the Houston airport after the derecho

Practice being your dog’s go-to. Yes, this means training. Dogs who have a regular positive reinforcement training routine look to their humans for direction and support. We want this. Practice. When in doubt (e.g., when in a new setting), our dog will look to us for guidance. Having us as a reference point can be very calming to our dogs. Be your dog’s emotional support human. The key here is teaching joyfully with positive reinforcement training. Keep it light and help your dog succeed. No dog wants a person barking commands when they’re already stressed out.

Create safe spaces. No matter where you land in an emergency, set up a safe, quiet space for your dog. It would be great if your dog could meet the novel people and animals where you are staying. Even if that’s the case, your dog will eventually want a place to rest. A crate is fine. A room behind a door or baby gate might be even better. Bring familiar bedding and favorite items. Some dogs can’t tolerate being separated, especially in a new space. That’s okay. Create a safe space near you where people and other animals won’t bother them.

Keep a consistent schedule. Feed. Walk. Play. Cuddle. Do your best to maintain the routine you had at home.

Look for new opportunities. When we headed west during Covid, my dogs discovered a new love of hiking. Regardless of where you are, there are enticing adventures awaiting. Most dogs enjoy exploring with their noses. Some might forge new human or canine friendships. Take advantage of those wins. Nothing relieves stress like fun.

We can’t prepare for everything, of course. Do your best. Have a “go bag” with your dog’s medical records, medications, microchip number. Research veterinary care at your point of destination. Plan. But try not to obsess.

As the philosopher once said, shit happens. Somehow, we persevere. Take care of yourself and your family. Don’t be afraid to comfort your dog. It’s why many of us got a dog. We wanted someone to take care of, a friend, someone to be by our side no matter what life throws at us. You’ll be okay. You’ll get through it together.

 

Michael Baugh teaches dog training in Houston TX. He specializes in aggressive dog training.