Are you new to Fresno or Clovis and struggling with your dog? Are you unsure about how to prepare your dog for an upcoming baby?
We get this A LOT. A large chunk of our clients come for dog behavioral training after major life changes, including:
– moving
– relationship changes
– new roommates
– new jobs / work schedules
– new family members, including babies
– home renovations
– new dog/puppy/cat
Dogs are creatures of habit and change is hard for them, particularly those prone to anxiety, insecurity, or fearfulness.
But there are ways we can make things easier on our dogs, and thus easier on ourselves as well. In fact, all of this advice is aimed towards making things ultimately easier on you.
The key question: How can I prevent major life changes from leading to horrible regressions in behavior from my dog?
– First, expect some changes in your dog and respond with more structure and less freedom. Don’t assume that house manners will translate flawlessly to a new environment. (They rarely do.) Be extra strict with management at first, and you can always loosen up once you’re confident your dog has aced the transition. Structure is a gift. It helps dogs make sense of their place in the world.
– Even better, once you know the change is coming, ask yourself: What can I get a jumpstart on? If you’re moving to a more crowded neighborhood, start practicing the neighborhood leash walking now. Get your dogs used to things like strollers, baby swings and baby noises (those interested in this example should follow along on Facebook, where I’ll be posting baby prep videos). If you’re adding another animal to the house, does the current dog have a strong obedience foundation?
– The fact that “life happens” — often unexpectedly — is one reason I recommend maintaining crate training, even for dogs who don’t currently need it. Life is a lot easier and safer when you have a secure, happy place to keep your dog. In chaotic times, you may need a little more management. That’s okay. We’re not punishing the dog. We’re helping them to adjust.
– Prevent major problems from developing by looking for early signs of discomfort in your dog (this is particularly important when there are issues with new people/new animals). There’s a common misconception that dogs will simply “work things out themselves.” Yes, this can happen, but often it involves some pretty nasty aggression along the way. Better that WE resolve the issues in a manner appropriate to our lifestyles and values.
– Advocate for your dog. Don’t let the new puppy or roommate terrorize them, or violate their space. Dogs thrive with clear rules and they need to trust that you have their best interest at heart.
– At the same time, if a behavior is falling apart (like say leash walking or house manners), rebuild it up from the roots. It will not take nearly as long as it did to initially build the behavior. By staying on top of the small things, we prevent the bigger issues from arising.
– Don’t just assume that your dog(s) will adjust in the manner that we’d like. Unless dogs have very solid training they rarely respond to change in the way that we’d hope. Often they’ll cope by becoming more reactive, aggressive, anxious, or destructive. The thought It’s normal for my dog to need some time to adjust is an awesome, compassionate thought. But it should be followed with: now let’s make sure we guide them to the right adjustments. On this note, if your dog is not listening as well as they should, don’t forget our old friend.
– You may be thinking, I’m busy and I don’t have time for all of this. And I understand. But like with most maintenance in life, if you stay on top of the issues, it’s a minor annoyance to fix the problem. Now if you wait until things hit “disaster mode”, it’s a lot more challenging. (We’ll help you either way, but you’ll enjoy the proactive route more.) Often it’s an issue of adjusting your focus and attention, rather than tons more time. Time matters, but it’s far from the only thing that matters.
Life changes are both wonderful opportunities and potential “stress storms”. Take on a little near-term stress and inconvenience by preparing for the change, and we’ll get you a lot more “wonderful” in the long run.
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Dog related highlights from Fresno and Clovis’s most popular dog social media pages:
– A Rhodesian ridgeback puppy in Clovis practicing the first stages of stay
– Recent research on PTSD service dogs
– Clovis dogs of different sizes learning proper play and social skills (very cute). More play if you enjoyed the first one.
– A Fresno terrier puppy taking her mat training outside (teach this skill to your dog if you haven’t already!)
– Pop quiz/ mini-lesson on dog body language (did you get the right answer?)
– For fans of Shark Tank
– Mixing obedience practice with games
If you like what you see, we’d love to have you join us daily on Facebook and Instagram.
If you’re looking for help training your dog in the Fresno or Clovis area, drop us a quick message. We specialize in helping people through these major life transitions!
Nate Hess is a dog behavior specialist and the owner of Dogspring Training, which provides premium dog training and behavior services in Fresno and Clovis, California. He is a graduate of Stanford University and the Karen Pryor Academy, a member of the International Association of Animal Behavioral Consultants (IAABC) and Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), and an evaluator for the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and S.T.A.R. Puppy programs. He lives in Clovis, CA, with his wife and some lovely dogs.