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Putting it into practice
"hot tips"
Putting it into practice
"Hot tips"
Tone it down
If your dog is prone to be triggered into anxious obsessive-compulsive behaviours this is a sign that their adrenaline (stress) level is high and you want to create a calming environment for them to unwind. The quickest and easiest way to do this is "tone it down". This means slow down, turn the volume down, interact in a gentle and slow way. If your dog is triggered into an anxious obsessive-compulsive behaviour the best thing you can do is disconnect (below tip) and counterbalance their energy by being calm, quiet and gentle and watch your dog quickly follow your lead.
Disconnect
Our attention is one of the greatest rewards we can give our dog (second to treats). If your dog is expressing an anxious obsessive-compulsive behaviour we do not want to encourage this behaviour. Therefore retracting your attention from them when they are engaging in such behaviours we are letting them know that we do not like that behaviour and it will not be rewarded. Couple your disconnection with a gentle "no". If your dog continues to carry on with their behaviour after disconnecting, try walking away (coupled with another, slightly more serious "no"). Your dog will quickly learn the association between their undesirable behaviour, your disconnection, and the word "no", offering you an invaluable tool for directing your dogs behaviour for the better.
An area that this method can help your family see quick results is when greeting your dog. By ignoring them until they are calm, they will quickly un-learn their stressful behaviours, helping them wind-down in record timing.
Redirect
If your dog's anxious obsessive-compulsive behaviour does not subside after a few moments of disconnecting (above tip), this may be a sign that your dog is so full of adrenaline (anxious/stressful energy) that they are mentally unable to stop (this behaviour is a cry for help). In this case, it will be helpful to redirect them towards a peaceful adventure for the mind and body offering them an outlet and escape from wind-up.
Discernment
Every minute that an anxious/stressed dog is engaging in obsessive-compulsive behaviours they are unfortunately winding up their stress level (adrenaline). So it is important to be discerning about how long to disconnect and when to re-direct. Soon you will be able to read your dog and recognise when their stress is winding-up vs winding-down (the behavioural signs in step 2 will help). If you notice your dog's stress is winding up (e.g. barking getting louder and shorter intervals), you will want to redirect them towards a peaceful adventure asap. However, if you feel your dog's stress is plateauing or winding down (e.g. barking is becoming quite and more spares) then this is a great time to practice toning it down and disconnecting.
Reward calm and Independent behaviour
Reward your dog with sweet talk, love pats and treats every time they interact with you in a calm way e.g. greeting you or sitting net to you without jumping or wiggling (appeasement behaviour) too much. Reward them in the same way when they are resting peacefully on their bed, or playing peacefully with their toys. Attention is the greatest tool you have for guiding your dog away from stressful (wind-up) behaviours and towards calm (healthy) behaviours.
Inform everyone
Every minute that an anxious/stressed dog is engaging in obsessive-compulsive behaviours they are unfortunately winding up their stress level (adrenaline). So keep everyone informed, including house guests and park mates. I am sure by now it has become crystal clear that understanding is the key to success. Here is a text message you can send to all house guests and can be easily modified to suit any situation.
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"Hi. I just wanted to let you know that we have an anxious dog at home (her name is Saffy). She is quite harmless but can be easily triggered into anxious behaviours by strangers, loud noises and fast movements. She may bark or try to jump on you when you arrive. Please ignore her and speak and move in a gentle way until she is calm. When she decides to say hello to you please do so in a very subtle and gentle way. I am sure you two will be best friends by evenings end. Thank you thank you thank you."
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Get out in front of reactions
By understanding your dog's behaviour you can recognise when your dog's stress level is winding up and make a swift effort to diffuse it before their stress level reaches a point of no return (obsessive-compulsive reaction). If you notice your dog winding up e.g. fiddling, offer them guidance towards a peaceful adventure e.g. simple re-direction towards a trick, bed, toy, game or different area (see step three for more ideas). By getting out in front of these reactions we prevent wind-up and teach our dogs that they no longer need this reaction, instead, they only need to look towards us for some peaceful guidance.
Thank you thank you thank you