MORE ABOUT THE POWER OF "DOING NOTHING"

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

A few months ago I did a discussion about how powerful I found "just waiting" to be with Murph.  Because he's excitable, giving commands with constant corrections for non-compliance wasn't the best training answer for him.  As an example, today it took us almost 50 minutes to get from the car to the dog park entrance with both boys.  There were dogs running and barking inside the park and that just set off both of my guys.  We got out of the car and just waited until they calmed down....which meant that Guinness had to stop crying and Murph had to lose that "stiff body".  Eventually Murph gave it up and just lied down and Guinness stopped the whining.  So we started to move forward.  Every time they got too excited, we stopped and just waited.  After 45 minutes we finally were able to walk in...it was reinforcement to them that "nothing good happens when your in that excited frame of mind".  This is something that our trainer has worked on with us for months.  Anyway here's a video that explains this philosophy way better than I ever could.  It could me my trainer saying these words.  What do you think?

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm so glad Nicky!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Today I didn't have to wait at all, they both waited quietly for me to go out first and then came behind me calmly. I have been using this when I come into the house to stop them getting excited and doing all that spinning and jumping around (they don't jump on me). I have just been coming in very calmly and not talking to them or making any contact and just waiting until they are totally calm.  It's working for this too. I can't believe something so simple like just being calm and respectful is having such a dramatic effect.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Woo Hoo!  I find it works for so many things too...it's all about calm.  When they're excited they stop thinking.

[BG and Gavin]

I remember my trainer saying the best way to avoid any separation anxiety and all the jumping around upon return is to always act like coming and going is no big deal.  When you get home, ignore the dog, take off your coat, put the groceries away and then give a pet when nice and settled.  Also leave the house the same way.  Do not make eye contact, do not say good bye, just leave.  She says the pack leader comes and goes as they please and do not throw a party upon return.  Hard to do, but it really does work.  Isn't it great to have such a clarifying moment!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

This has NEVER worked for us, BG, but I sure am glad that it works for some.  We have never made coming and going a big deal, but our Springer makes it a HUGE deal and has gotten our doodles to react with him.  It is such a pita.

[BG and Gavin]

Nancy, as with many behaviors, I suspect that Nature also plays a big role.  Oh Gordie!

[Adina P]

I'm the queen of ignoring during comings and goings.  I am usually rushed to make a meal or get the kids to nap or unloading groceries, etc to make a big deal of my arrival and greet the dogs as I would people in the house.  However, usually the FIRST thing I do if I've been gone for more than 30-60 minutes is to go to the mud room where the dogs are gated (and Boca is crated), and send them outside for a chance to potty.  Leaving is easy and uneventful because I gate/crate the dogs again before I go. So they aren't confined and not able to act all hyped up.  Boca will sometimes whine when we get home or when she can sense we are leaving, but mostly only if Rosco is free in the house or coming with us and she's left behind. 

[BG and Gavin]

So today an opportunity arose to use this technique.  Captain excitement is always looking for socialization opportunities with other dogs we see on walk which results in a heightened state of arousal and often a pull to get to the other dog.  An older man with an older lab were in front of us, so I followed them.  When Gavin's tail went up and he got the end of the leash I stopped and waited.  When the tail went down and he looked back at me we moved forward.  We repeated this exercise until he was keeping about house yard and a half distance between us and them with no pulling and no excitement. (I don't think the man was to thrilled that we followed his so long but...oh well!)  Later on the walk we met an off leash small dog and Gavin was curious, but not excited and he sat nicely for the owner to pet him.  Later we passed a husky pup on leash with just a causal glance.  I really felt like we set the table with the first exercise.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I really do think when we just wait and let them figure out what it is we're asking of them, they are able to apply that moving forward (in the same context).  In a different context or even a different day...they need to figure it out again.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

do they eventually start to figure it out quicker in new situations?

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Yes it does seem so, but it's kind of hard to measure, because the distractions can vary so much in excitement.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

That is so simple and awesome. I think the hard part is our own patience. I don't think I would be able to wait 50 minutes to go to the dog park. Like most people, I just want to be done with it fast and let them run.

How would you apply this approach to leash reactiveness? I know you have a lot of experiences with this.