Dog Listening - Getting back to the basics

This week I wanted to share with you what has been going on for me personally over the festive period with my own dog Fudge.

As some of you may know I have been practicing Dog Listening with Fudge since she arrived with us at the age of 3 in January 2014. This has made living with her a wonderful experience. We have a very easy going relaxed dog. She fits in with our family life really well (most of the time). However, it's times like Christmas and New Year that things can go slightly awry and, this year they did!!!

 She started to:

🐶 follow me around the house

🐶 sit up on the sofa uninvited so she could keep her eye on our front door

🐶scavenge for food

🐶 when I was practising Stop-Start and change direction when we were out walking it felt like really hard work

‼️ she was so focused on everything else but me ‼️

 This meant I  didn't feel safe to even let her off the lead and the really worst part for me (I like my sleep and go to bed quite early) she took about 15 minutes to settle each night and would bark and cry - Arrrrggghhh so frustrating.  

Anyway, I share this with you as it is all normal dog behaviour when the dog is feeling worried and anxious.  A dog's behaviour will change with their state of mind in much the same as we do. They will often ask questions and become worried and scared when there is lots of change, either a physical change or emotional change in their humans.

 When I first started Dog Listening back in 2006, I thought there was some end goal for my dog, that one day they would just be perfect! Now I realise they are always behaving perfectly given their environment and the messages they are receiving.

If you can relate to any of this and have seen changes in your dog's behaviour, please DON'T PANIC! 😱

 Take a step away from the situation as best you can and go "back to basic's".

By that I mean ⬇️

👉🏼 take a look at the 4 Care Connections and how they apply to your dog and situation.

👉🏼 get really honest with yourself, what could you do to make life easier for your dog so they can relax and trust you again?

If you have not heard of the 4 Care Connections of Dog Listening you can download my Free Workbook Here 

Peaceful paws always. 

Julie x