Changing your dog is an experiment!
I love walking dogs out in nature, and I love learning about dog behavior modification.
There are so many contrasting opinions on dog training out there, and on my journey of continually broadening and refining my dog training/behaviorist approach, I see the pattern that different things work for different dogs. Working with a dog to modify their behavior means experimenting to discover what personally works for your dog, and for your lifestyle preferences.
We all love playbooks- a step by step instructional telling us how to get the exact results we want. We all love the security and confidence that comes with a guaranteed recipe- but what happens when the playbook’s approach isn’t resulting in the desired effects?
This is when experimentation comes in!
As a pet parent, your life is complex. You have your unique set of circumstances and preferences which affect what behavior modification approaches are right for you.
It’s crucial that your approach is not overwhelming: it must fit into your life so that it’s easy and enjoyable to engage in daily. Behavior modifcation of dogs requires modifying our own behaviors as we support our dogs to bring out the best in them (even if the only behavior modification we make is booking dog walks). Therefore, the approach must be accessible, enjoyable, and progressively adapted to fit the changing factors and stages.
Services like professional dog walkers, dog daycares and board & train programs help relieve pressure by supplying what your dog needs to prevent their behavioral symptoms, especially at the beginning of many people’s dog behavior modification journey.
The consequences of not approaching dog behavior modifcation as an experiment include situations like:
the dog is deemed as inherently problematic. In reality, a dog’s problematic behaviors present when their personalities and needs are frustrated and supportive resources are not accessed
Unnecessary rehoming or euthanasia
Accidentally causing more problematic behaviors when training techniques and philosophies incompatible with the dog’s unique needs are doubled down on, instead of considering what other techniques and philosophies may be most effective in this situation
If you haven’t found the right solution for you and your dog yet, remember the solution is there - you only need the willingness and assistance to experiment with different approaches. You and your dog’s wellness are interdependent, and it’s a long-term process to settle into totally different behavioral patterns. Just enjoy the process and life along the way, and don’t be afraid to ask for help!
