Gouves+Animal+Shelter+Paws+for+Thoughts+January+issue+2020

Indoor Voice, Please
Our first instinct when our dogs take off
is to chase them and yell — we know
they could potentially run into danger,
and we want to avoid that at all costs.
The problem is, our dogs don’t
understand that. They only know that
we’re mad and we’re chasing after
them — which scares them, so they run
faster and farther.
Although you are thinking, ‘Oh no,
you’re going to die, you’re my dog and I
love you and I don’t want you to die!’
the dog is thinking, ‘Oh no, the longer
you chase me yelling, the farther I’m
running.’”
Using positive reinforcement means
more effective — and humane —
results.
If your dog does come to you, don’t use
that opportunity to scare him.
If you “sweet talk” him over, then start
yelling at him, your dog will learn that
he can’t trust you, no matter your tone.
Your dog needs to know that coming
when he is called is a rewarding
experience for him — not a scary one.
When your dog comes to you, praise
him like it’s the most amazing thing in
the universe. He’ll soon understand
that coming to you nets him what he
likes best — your affection.
Preventing your dog from
running away
Despite all of our loving precautions, it
is still possible that a scared dog could
escape from the house or without
knowing better, run away from his or
her parents. Even with a leash, safety
harness and training, you can’t be
100% sure that your dog won’t escape.
For that reason, a GPS tracker is
recommended for dogs who are prone
to fear and anxiety attacks. With a GPS
tracker, the dog can be found quickly,
preventing them from coming into
harm’s way.
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