Thanks for growling?!?!

The front page of the Whistler Question on Thursday September 2, 2010 had a picture of a dog that was taking part in a recent WAG fundraiser. The dog was in a crowded room at the k9 Wine and Dine event along with other four and two legged guests in a hotel banquet room type setting. The dog was dressed in a shirt, seated on a chair at a table, and was being hugged by two children that were family members -- and then made to pose for the camera. The dog was obviously stressed as could be seen by his facial tension, ears held back, whites of eyes showing, tongue lip licking, mouth pulled back, avoidance and that was without seeing the rest of the body! How far would this dog go sending "help" signals before someone noticed and helped him out of an uncomfortable situation. Maybe his owners never considered that just one more stressor could put their usually easygoing dog over the edge. Was he really fine or was he only worried about the camera? Was it the last drop that overflowed the bucket or was it the many small drops before that? Would this dog bite? Maybe, maybe not.... How do you feel when you are stressed and then faced with more and more stressors? Have you ever "snapped"?

This video is well known amongst dog trainers. Watch it carefully. Did this dog "suddenly bite out of the blue"? Watch for early warning signs that the dog is uncomfortable. If we educate ourselves on recognizing the early warning signs of stress in our dogs and help them get out of situations we can prevent unnecessary risk and possible injury. You may be able to help teach your dog to find their way out of a situation but sometimes it is up to us to step in before things escalate. If your dog is growling you may have already missed some subtle cues. Don't punish the growl. Watch your dog closely and help them before they feel the need to growl.



This is a highly recommended article by respected professional dog trainer and author Pat Miller. Pass it on to anyone you know with a dog!
http://www.peaceablepaws.com/articles.php?subaction=showfull&id=1282173843&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&type=Pat

If you are already seeing multiple stress signs in your dog you may want to consider some professional help. Contact us at maren@pawinhand.com or 604-892-4278