How can I teach my dog appropriate body language when I don’t know any appropriate dogs?
How can I build my dog’s confidence when people always try to touch him?
These are problems faced by our clients every day, and we completely see your frustration! The general public often spoil our progress and cause setbacks.
The sad truth is that the above situations are always going to happen. I wish I could wave a magic wand and create a protective bubble over every one of my clients!
Your best options:
• Train an emergency down stay
• Make your relationship & obedience bulletproof so you can control your dog
• Use your voice – ‘do not touch him!’ (‘No thank you’ doesn’t always work – you have to be blunt)
• Make the effort to go on walks with reputable dogs – yes they are rare but they do exist.
• Power up your enrichment & play and give your dog a stimulating breed-appropriate outlet so that if your walks are currently not as fun & relaxing as you’d like, at least you have your new hobby 🏆
If this helps, even professionals feel dread & annoyance when faced with a clueless dog owner. No one likes being disturbed, and imagine the pressure when the dog you’re handling belongs to a client who’s spent hundreds or even thousands on their training 😂
