When most people have an interaction with dog trainers they aren't aware that the dog may be working at the time or have a different idea of how you should interact. Generally speaking when people run into me and a dog they will try to interact with the pup. Most people know the general things that will help like crouching or holding their hand out for an inspection but do you know how to maximize your interactions? I wanted to write this to help people who want a better connection with most dogs they meet. 

1. Interact with the human first. Dogs are usually comfortable meeting strangers but if they don't know you then they are going to take their first cue of your status by checking in with their parents. Dogs have been proven to read your facial expression 10 times more than you project it. If you rush up on someone and the dog sees that it makes their human uncomfortable you may be in for some trouble.                                                              What should I do? When approaching a dog and their human say hello first and make eye contact. Ask to pet their dog and by then you should have a general idea of how the dog will react because they were taking you in already and have decided if they like or will tolerate you. 
   
2. Forcing an interaction. Most of the times my dogs will interact with people and be happy about it but if someone is unusual to them they may not want to be petted by them. Sometimes my dogs don't want to play or to socialize with anyone and some people will take this to heart. Following the dog around or getting even more in their face will not change them being tired or cranky and not wanting to be bothered. In many respects they are the same as humans and this is one of them.                                                            What should I do? If you are trying to interact with a dog and they yawn or lick their lips over and over or stiffen up they are wanting to be left alone and the best thing to do is be nice and walk away.
3. Overreacting to a dog. When you meet a dog for the first time you may think about how the dog you have at home likes to play and try to draw a dog out by getting them excited. Some dogs are mistrustful of this sort of behavior. Often people come up and try to get my dog to play and are nonplussed when they don't respond. Usually when I have my dog with me either they are working or I am or both and even though this is not the case for everyone it can be very frustrating when someone amps up your dog and then walks away leaving you to deal with the aftermath. Some dogs will strike if they feel your play is dangerous or too unusual.               What should I do? If the dog isn't already playing then they are probably not in a position to. Assess the situation and don't push it if the dog growls or show aggression like fast head turns or staring.
4. Patting a dog on the head. Dogs DO Not Like This. When you approach a dog and pat them on the head and it's not something the owner does you immediately get a negative reaction. Because they don't understand why you would hit on them even playfully, some breeds will defend themselves against this type of behavior. Some dogs have undiagnosed  illnesses and it's not fun being the one to find it out.                                         What should I do? Being respectful goes a long way on this list and this is no different. If an owner treats a dog rough by patting them or aggressively rubbing them it's not an invitation for you too. If a dog is older then avoid rough interaction altogether even if they are well known to you, no need to be the one who finds out he pulled a hamstring when he nips you. 
5. Giving a stranger's dog commands. This a big pet peeve of mine. I train my dog to listen to my commands promptly and execute them with precision. I don't even allow my friends to command my dog. Usually I won't say anything but if someone continues to try to get my dog to do something for them and I'm trying to walk away I will explain it to them. Most people aren't as rabid about this as a trainer would be but it will still annoy someone working with their dog.                   What should I do? It's not a big deal to get a dog to sit by pestering him but beyond that you usually are pushing your luck. Ask the owner what they can do and allow them to demonstrate if they want to but don't try to get the dog to do it all yourself. When a dog doesn't know you they usually won't listen to you.

Most people will intuit a lot of this list by the interactions they have had in the past and if any of this fits you just try to be more respectful and you will have better interactions each time. You don't have to train only your dog you have to train yourself. 

Adam Madore 
professional dog trainer with Artisan 
dog training
Lexington / Nicholasville 

Dogs are social animals that appreciate being understood as much as anyone so sometimes when we are baffled by our pets behavior we may need to look at the basics again. I have a lot of clients who come to me with no way to communicate with their dogs and feel like it's the fault of the dog or the clients blame themselves. Instead of blaming yourself you simply improve you communication and you will see results right away. I've decided to write down some of my favorite ways to increase communication and improve your skills with simple exercises.

1.  Training. Most dogs need some amount of training or some kind of work so you can help them understand whats expected of them. Repeatedly showing them something builds their confidence in you and helps them understand your personal body language. Try setting aside 10-15 minutes a day to show your dog something or to improve a previous behavior. 
2. Body language. Dogs don't understand the English language, don't get me wrong with repetition any dog can learn a few words and phrases but your puppy doesn't have any spoken language to base it on. The next time you interact with your furry friend try miming what you want. While we may say "Just tell me what you want" a dog  would prefer you show them. Use no words besides sounds and lead them through what you are working on slowly and deliberately. You will notice a change in your interactions immediately.
3. Allow your dog to interact first. When you are introducing your dog to anything new be sure to watch them and allow them to follow your lead. If your pet is nervous or unsure about interacting with something or someone don't try to talk them through the interaction or explain it to them, instead try to position them so they can comfortably interact with the offending object or person . Allow them to take all the time they need to realize it's a trash can or mailbox, not an imminent threat. Avoid any aggressive or dominant dogs while doing this exercise and be sure not to stare at them as they are working on the problem or they may think you are trying to tell them something.
4. Protecting your dog. One of the major factors in everyday life for dogs is security. When they are worried about something for a prolonged period of time and you can't figure out why they are upset it could be because they feel unsafe. Usually this is fostered by poor communication and can be remedied handily. Whenever you practice the three exercises above be sure to watch for fear of something and use that chance to help your little pup by taking on the bad guy for them. Hexe my German Shepherd used to be defensive as a puppy but when we approached a badly behaving animal I would shift her position so she was behind me for just a moment while the offending pet was drug away from a safe distance. Overdoing this can cause anxiety but you will do this exercise the least than any on this list because of the very real opportunity that you will make your dog overly dependent on your protection. Another good example is motorcycles. Many times a client dog who grew up in the country will have little to no experience with loud bikes. I stand in front of them for a second and maintain rigid posture and very often a timid dog will start to build trust in me so when I force them to interact like in exercise 3 they are certain I won't let them get hurt. 
5. Use appropriate eye contact. When you are doing anything around your pet they may get very excited about something you are looking at or have an outsized reaction to you focusing on them. The short way to explain this is your dog may think you are addressing them when you look at them and try to discern what you want so if you are not interacting with your dog be sure not to stare at them for no reason. I used to catch dogs trying to do something for me while I was on the phone. I soon realized I tend to stare off while I'm on the phone giving my poor dogs the mistaken impression I was trying to say something. This is the easiest exercise on the list. If you notice your dog constantly begging and nuzzling your hand you may need to be more aware of your eye contact. Try to reduce your eye contact and don't give in for begging, not even a glance. 
   
   

I hope that you find the tips helpful. If I lost you at any time or you would like more instruction feel free to contact me. Thank you for taking the time to read this. 

Adam Madore 
professional dog trainer with Artisan 
dog training
Lexington / Nicholasville 

Many of my customers lately are asking about their dog having some social anxiety. If this sounds like you I have a few little tips for you. 

Does your dog go crazy as soon as you leave the house? Do they wait until you've been gone for a while? Do they have a lot of toys or things to keep them busy?

If you don't know for sure then you can leave a recorder or some kind of device and find out. If they are going crazy as soon as you leave then you will have to work on their anxiety. 

If your dog waits until you have been gone for a while then they may just not have enough to do! 

The last question is does your dog piddle in the kennel? it may be time to restrict water before bed. Place some scraps of paper under or in the kennel and see if they have been wet. Next time I will talk about helping your dog cope with anxiety.

Adam Madore 
professional dog trainer with Artisan dog training
 Lexington / Nicholasville