OpClicker Modern Dog Training

12/07/2023

📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/v/p2BsVfyhhgvxmqbS/?mibextid=7eNqk6

07/28/2023

THE GIFT OF THE GROWL
Dogs don’t bite if a growl will suffice

Not all growling is a sign that a dog’s unhappy. Some growls may be part of a particular play style, seeking attention, from frustration or other reasons.

They may all sound a little different and may be unique to that particular dog.

This post is not about different types of growls, but about reactive, aggressive or early warning growls.

When a dog growls, especially when it’s directed at us, our natural human response is to feel offended and maybe even angry.

Surely dogs need to learn not to growl, growling is bad, it’s not acceptable, a problem that needs to be stopped or punished so a dog learns that it’s wrong, disrespectful and unacceptable, right?

This couldn’t be further from the truth! A dog that growls has just provided us with very valuable information. In their way, they have just told us how they feel without resorting to a bite.

Dogs use growling in an attempt to avoid having to resort to biting, not to initiate it. They could just as easily not have even bothered to growl and gone straight to a bite.

A dog that growls is trying to communicate how they feel. Ignoring or punishing it only suppresses this communication. Punishment increases the level of a dog's discomfort and creates more stress.

A dog that bites without the warning of a growl is a far more serious problem than a dog that growls but doesn’t bite.

Look for any other early warning signals that may precede a growl. Learn to recognise body language. Take note of what makes your dog feel uncomfortable and create distance or give them space.

Be grateful for the gift of a growl – the growl is an early warning signal that we need to respect, understand & acknowledge.

10/05/2022

09/14/2022

[1/6] Meet Kay, a graduate of The Seeing Eye — and (more recently) college as well! Over the next week, you’ll get to know Kay and her Seeing Eye dog, Zenith, and hear about how they navigated life in college together.

“I have albinism, and I’m legally blind. My vision changes a lot with the lighting — if it’s bright outside, I can’t see anything. I also have a hard time at night with street lights drowning out everything else. That’s why I have a Seeing Eye dog. Zenith is my first dog. I got him right after I graduated from high school, and he’s just been the best. He made college so much fun and safer, and he loved every second of it. Now we’re starting our new post-grad adventure in Washington, DC, and he seems to be really excited about that — as am I!

“The #1 reason I got a Seeing Eye dog was to be safe. That’s the most important thing. During college, I had a couple of traffic checks. That’s when a car almost hits you, and the dog pulls you away so you don’t get hit. Also, there were pedestrian walkways at my school, but sometimes there would be trucks making deliveries on the walkways — not where you would expect a truck to be. With Zenith, it was great getting to class on time and safely, not bumping into every obstacle, being able to move around confidently and walk quickly.

“When I first went to The Seeing Eye, I wasn’t expecting it to be so emotional, but it totally was…and I was definitely a little scared, because I knew how big a change it was going to be. I remember thinking, wow, my whole life is about to change forever. And it did. My life will never be the same.”

*In tomorrow’s post, you’ll learn more about the role Zenith played in Kay’s college social life. Stay tuned!*

📸 Photo Description: Kay is jumping in the air joyfully, wearing her black graduation gown and sunglasses. Zenith, her golden retriever Seeing Eye dog, is standing beside her in harness and looking up at her. Photo by Zachary Gutherman

08/27/2022