DOG PSYCHOLOGY / DOG TRAINING & CONSULTING

A dog does not have to become insecure or fearful only after a traumatic experience. Most dog owners do not know that after the puppy period follows a phase in which young dogs are less curious, but more cautious.
Normal, because nature brings it with itself that a growing animal must also learn to recognize dangers. Not only the time of puberty makes a young dog forget what he has learned, but also his normal development. To put more pressure on your young dog now would be fatal, would be fatal, because what he needs now is your support and no stress!
Traumatic experiences: It only takes one negative experience to traumatize a dog. Most dog owners are not even aware of this!
Often, we even encourage fear and insecurity through our own behavior. Do you have an insecure or very fearful dog, who has perhaps already snapped or even bitten? Please NEVER lose confidence in your dog! Now it is important to find the cause with professional support and be there for your dog.

Offensive barking, jumping into the leash, attacking other dogs and people, snapping or even biting – the whole dog is just under power and unresponsive! The dog is described and labeled as aggressive and even vicious.
Have you ever thought about what the word “aggression” actually means? After all, it comes more from the world of humans than from the animal kingdom. In rhetoric, the word is a “negative word” and tends to refer to deliberate bad behavior emanating from a person. Arguably, this includes inflicting injury, whether verbal or physical. We humans can consciously control this behavior, but can dogs? Personally, I find this designation in connection with the dog very unfortunate, means the behavior but simply “only”: MORE DISTANCE to the stimulus source. No dog decides from now on to show defensive behavior to such an extent. There was a time in his past when the process for this defensive behavior began, which we as dog owners overlooked and did not notice! When we understand and comprehend where the origin of this defensive behavior lies, what exactly is causing this behavior, we can work with the dog on a new behavior.
Again, NEVER lose trust in your dog. If you don’t trust your dog, he can’t trust you either! Strictness and violence has never led to a solution! If you have lost trust in your dog, you have abandoned him and have already given up.

Unwanted behavior & behavioral problems

Unwanted behavior or behavior conspicuousness defines pretty much everyone differently. One likes it when a dog goes completely crazy with joy and another is totally distraught when the pelt-nose is hyperactive and can’t seem to settle down. The dog as a constant shadow behind his human or the one that has to eat everything that is lying around. The leash walker that causes shoulder pain, the constant barking that comments on even the smallest movements. Or the one that just won’t listen and does what he wants. … probably more harmless examples, but which can be annoying over time. Some behavior we want and others again not. So it is quite clear to us what needs to change.
Unwanted behavior, which we can eliminate through training and the use of rules, which are valid for both humans and dogs, into desired behavior.
Unexpected behavior that you wonder about: the dog no longer eats, is not housebroken, is constantly scratching, seems apathetic, barks more, seems insecure or or or …..
In such cases, you should first have your dog’s health checked by a vet. If everything is in the green area, it is time to look psychologically for the causes. Do not wait too long to seek professional advice. If your four-legged friend is not helped, the behavior can worsen and indeed become a health problem for your dog. What you then treat with medication is only the symptom, but the cause of his problem!
By the way: Inform yourself about how behavioral problems can arise.
Then you can prevent them in your life with your dog!

Every dog owner loves to tell about his dog, and there are also the countless stories about them with joy. Often the descriptions of how the dog reacted or behaved in situations are missing. We perceive the movements and facial expressions of our dogs quite consciously and pass them on in our stories. Humans can do this really well, but there is much more that we can observe and interpret in our dogs. Even when he sleeps, he reveals to us how his day has been.
The dog also expresses himself through his behavior and communicates with his environment by means of his body language, his behavior, his sounds (barking, growling, whining, howling, etc.) and his facial expression.
“Undesirable behavior” we try to stop by training or correction, but it tends to get worse instead of better or another behavior occurs. Why? Because we don’t interpret the dog’s communication to us correctly.
Before you try to train your dog to stop growling or barking, always look for a reason for the unwanted behavior. Don’t push your dog to sit when he doesn’t want to sit; there may be a reason for his reluctance.
Just imagine the following situation: You’re stressed out for whatever reason, or completely preoccupied.
Someone comes and demands that you remain calm and sit down. If your stress level is very high, you will probably hardly be able to sit down calmly on the chair. There are people who can calm down better if they keep moving.
It’s the same with dogs! Depending on the dog’s idiosyncrasy, he may not be able to sit down right now, but will feel safer if he is allowed to stay standing next to you!
Misunderstandings can be the beginning of future problems.
Therefore, be aware of your dog’s communication with you and question his behavior first,
before you answer your dog with strictness or pressure.

Are there golden rules for the proper upbringing of a dog?
How many dog owners have searched for the golden rules of success-bringing dog training? The shelf is full of specialized literature, changing dog trainers and yet they have not found the recipe that they can apply to their dog, for example, to get the constant jumping, barking or leash aggression under control. Therefore, the question arises whether there are generally valid rules to prevent undesirable behavior from the beginning or to correct existing ones through general training.
Quite sweepingly can be said probably generally: If the dog is balanced and lives in harmony with its environment, he will not show any undesirable behavior. Quite simple.
🙂 Well said; and how can this be corrected?

Well said; and how can this be implemented?

PUPPIES NEED TO LEARN RULES – BUT SO DO HUMANS!

If you have chosen a puppy, every day will be exciting for you and filled with many new challenges. This little ball of fur will investigate everything with its big curious eyes and clumsily make its explorations. There’s just something cute about this furball.

Keep in mind that puppies need to learn rules! BUT … certain RULES apply to you too!

Remember, we can’t expect a puppy to behave like an adult dog from the start, one that has already learned a few things. You have taken a “baby”, a “toddler” into your care, to whom you must show and explain the world in small steps. Focus first on a good and positive trust relationship and on an optimal socialization!
Like any other dog, your puppy will learn sit, down and stay by itself. Try in the first weeks to promote the closeness to your dog, instead of constantly pointing him to his place or sorting him away by any commands and “no’s”! Especially in the first few weeks, it’s so important that you get to know and trust each other. Let him be a part of your life and integrate him into your daily routines! This is much more important than being able to “stay on the blanket”.

If you attend a puppy group, make sure you have certain criteria in place so that things don’t go wrong in dog school right from the start.
Don’t leave it up to the trainer alone to decide on the training choice and stop an exercise immediately if you have a bad feeling about it!

Be patient and loving – the puppy mom would be too!