I talk about this a lot in classes and with fellow dog owners/lovers:  you have to advocate for your dog.  Your dog cannot talk.  Your dog cannot tell people he is uncomfortable, scared or nervous.  That falls on you.  That means you have to know your dog AND you have to be willing to speak up.  I don't care if your dog is a new puppy or the best trained dog in the world--all dogs have needs and wants and thresholds and it is up to us as their owners to know those things.

All over social media you hear stories of people whose dogs end up starved, hurt or "broken" in the hands of professionals.  And most of it occurs while the owner is standing nearby.  Why?  Because they believe that this trainer is doing what is best for their dog because they are the professional.  But that is not always the case.  

A few weeks ago I was talking to a client and she told me a story that she has given me permission to share with you.  And I have to tell you--I was so very proud of what she did and how she handled herself that I immediately congratulated her on her willingness to advocate for her dog.

She was in my basic foundations class and her dog is a puppy--a typical happy, bouncy excited puppy.  She is a great dog and so very smart and responds very well to positive reinforcement.  To help her walk better on leash, we started using an Easy Walk Harness and they had seen great improvement in her.  They were happy.  The dog was happy.  I was happy.

But, apparently, someone wasn't.

The owner and her family were going camping and they knew that their puppy wasn't quite ready for that yet, so they decided to board her.  They researched facilities and the weekend before they were leaving they took their dog to the facility they had chosen to introduce her to the surroundings.  The person who runs the facility is also a trainer.  When they arrived they had their dog on her Easy Walk and one of the first things the trainer does is reprimand them for chosing that walking aide for their dog.  Told them they should put a choke collar on her and that would be better.  Before they knew what was happening, this trainer had a choke collar on their dog and was walking her around.  She did okay (not great).  Then, as they were standing and talking and this puppy was simply standing there, the trainer gave a harsh leash pop and collar correction. The owner saw nothing that warrented any type of correction and immediately told the trainer to take the collar off her dog and give her back.  And they quickly left.  As they were leaving the trainer said "So, I'll see you guys next week."  He didn't see anything wrong with what he had done.  

She and her husband were furious.  When we talked she said "If he was willing to make that harsh of a correction when I was standing there, I couldn't imagine what he was willing to do if I wasn't there."  She also said that she was upset that he was offering unsolicited training advice since she was there for boarding.  She knew that there was no way they were leaving their dog at that facility for a week.  But they also knew they were short on time.  

They spent their entire day going around to various facilities in the area looking for another option.  Please keep in mind that they had already planned to leave their puppy in the hands of the trainer they had just left--but they knew that they would not feel safe or relaxed if they did.  This family gave up their whole day in order to make sure that their dog was happy, safe and unharmed.  They found a facility they liked and their dog had a great experience and they had a wonderful vacation.  

And this is what I mean by advocate for your dog.  The owner told me that she was uncomfortable from the beginning and although she went into it with an open mind, she knew that this facility was not right for her dog.  The atmosphere felt wrong and the training went against what she felt was right for her dog.  Was it convenient for her to give up a whole day?  Of course not.  But, did she do what she knew was right for her dog?  Yes.  100% yes.  

Never second guess that feeling--you know what is best for your dog.  You know your dog better than anyone.  Just because someone is a professional does not mean that they know your dog better than you do. Ask questions.  Be informed.  And, most importantly, be your dog's advocate.  They will thank you for it.  

Clients ask often if they will ever meet Garmin.  I tell them no and when they ask why I jokingly say "because one look at his behavior and you will seriously question my abilities as a dog trainer."  We get a good laugh and we move on.  

That isn't at all the truth.  Truth is, Garmin is SUPER smart, trainable, eager and quick to learn.  He loves to train, is the reason I learned clicker training and shaping.  You guys have seen him in videos--he is a sharp dude. He also can relax without issue in my house and is the sweetest, most snuggly boy.  

But, deep down, he is an anxious mess.

The truth of the matter is that I don't bring Garmin to class because he couldn't handle it.  It would be too much for him and he would be frantic and then he would shut down.  And since I talk often about advocating for your dogs, it would be unfair of me to place him into a situation that he would feel uncomfortable in.  

Does he love people?  Oh, yes.  He will launch himself at you, grinning all the while.  Does he like dogs?  Meh--he's indifferent.  He really ignores dogs if we go swimming or are in any situation where he may be off leash. On leash, he is different.  He does not like dogs on leash. We have worked on it and he is better, but he needs space, so I give it to him.  The only dog he can't live without is Gracie, so I am fortunate in that regard.  

Garmin has a near perfect heel/loose leash walk in my house.  He has a flawless loosh leash walk in my driveway.  But, take him somewhere off my property and suddenly the world is scary.  He hates the car.  Every leaf, bird, voice, dog barking, car engine--something to potentially be worried about.  He is hyper alert all the time when we are off my property.  He forgets all he knows about leash walking.  Not because he is being defiant, dominant (laugh) or stubborn.  But because his brain literally won't let him do it.  

He and I have been on a very long journey.  Three years long--all in hopes that one day we can take a walk like a normal team.  In a neighborhood with dogs and people and kids on bikes.  And we are getting there, but it is slow.  Do I sometimes get frustrated?  Of course I do.  Could I force him to do it?  Sure--I could flood him and force him to get over it, but at what price?  He trusts me.  And in a world where he thinks most things are scary, that is a precious thing and if I force him into a situation where he feels unsafe, I may lose that and I am not willing to take that chance.

If you find yourself the owner of an anxious dog, just remember that your dog will not progress like every other dog.  Your dog will not be as quick to rebound as other dogs.  Your dog may never be the social butterfly you had hoped he would be.  But he is your dog and you are his person--listen to him.  Learn from him and remember that your dog determines how fast you get to go.  He isn't on your schedule--you need to be on his.

Patience is your friend when you have an anxious dog.  Garmin is on his way to being more relaxed--he has come so far already.  There are days when it is hard for me to see that because I think "he should get this by now," but then I remember we aren't on my schedule.  We are on his. 

I know there are plenty of people out there who disagree and say that we should push these anxious dogs so that they can "get over it" faster, but, in the grand scheme of your relationship, what price are you willing to pay?