"Leave it" vs. "Drop it"

When your dog knows “drop it” or “aus,” fetch becomes a lot more fun for both of you (Photo: Golden Retriever holding a spiky blue ball in his mouth)

Do you know the difference between “leave it” and “drop it?” If you’re not sure, then you’ve come to the right place. After all, if you’re confused about which is which, then your dog may be confused too. 

These two commands, along with recall (teaching your dog to come to you no matter what) are three of the most important things you should teach your dog. 

Leave It communicates to your dog “don’t touch that with your mouth.” It could be toxic for your dog (joints, edibles, grapes, chocolate) or simply something you would like to enjoy later on yourself (like the steak on your countertop or the butter tarts on your kitchen table.) This same command applies to dead things on the ground, bunny poops, goose poops, and, you get the idea. 

“Leave it” allows you to pick up the ball, without your dog snatching it up and playing keep-away (Photo: Border Collie lying on the grass looking at a tennis ball a few feet away from her)

I’ve been working with a lot of people who have new puppies. They are walking behind a twelve-week-old puppy yelling “leave it” as the puppy investigates the leash, the shoe on the floor, and the children’s toys. 

When I ask: “Does she know what you mean? Have you taught her how to “leave it?” the answer is always, “Isn’t this how you do it?” 

In a word: no. 

If I were your piano teacher and you were a brand new student, it wouldn’t be very effective for me to yell at you when you begin to innocently press the keys. You didn’t even play a wrong note yet, but I’m yelling at you with all these big piano-genius words that you don’t understand. Not exactly an effective teaching style. 

If you would like to learn to teach your dog to “leave it,” I have three videos on TikTok right now to help you. Find us on TikTok @BeyondDogTraining. 

Side note on “leave it”: I have heard a lot of trainers using “leave it” for passing by a dog, cat, squirrel, or bunny as well. Personally, I use “on by,” but “leave it” seems quite effective for them. Choose your own adventure. 

You may wish to use “leave it” for squirrels as well. Whatever you choose, be consistent. (Photo: a black squirrel and a grey squirrel eating nuts on a lawn)

Drop It: Drop it, or Aus (which is German for drop it/out,) is the command you teach so that your dog knows to drop things out of her mouth when you ask. This could be a dead thing she picked up on a walk, your children’s toys, her ball (during fetch, so you can throw it again,) her bone, another dog’s toy, your remote control, etc.)

If your dog knows “leave it” and “drop it,” your cat and rooster will finally be able to play in peace (Photo: a calico cat and a rooster looking at a bb-8 droid toy on the kitchen tiles)

The earlier you teach these commands the better. It’s far easier to teach your dog to never touch steak on the counter from day one, than it is to train them not to once they’ve developed a habit of it (and get a very tasty reward of steak every time they do!) 

All dogs can learn these commands regardless of how old they are. It’s never too late to begin training your dog. I promise you, he’s smarter than you think. 

It’s never too late to teach your dog these life-saving commands (Photo: senior Collie holding a dirty tennis ball)

Have a wonderful weekend, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa 

Photos by: Elisa Kennemer @elisalou (Golden Retriever holding a spiky blue ball in his mouth,) Robin Jonathan Deutsch @rodeutsch (Border Collie lying on the grass looking at a tennis ball a few feet away from her,) Claudia McMahon @scmcmahon (a black squirrel and a grey squirrel eating nuts on a lawn,) Daniel Tuttle

@danieltuttle (a calico cat and a rooster looking at a bb-8 droid toy on the kitchen tiles,) Tadeusz Lakota

@tadekl (senior Collie holding a dirty tennis ball)

How Masks Might be Helping You and Your Dog

(Photo: Person wearing a face mask sitting on a bench. They are accompanied by two dogs on leashes)

Dogs are masters at reading human body language, but how well do we humans read the body language of our fellow humans? 

If you really pay attention, you’ll see body language cues everywhere. The easiest way to practice reading human body language is to turn on a television show with the volume off. You can tell right away if the people on the screen like each other or not, by the way they move. People who like each other may be smiling, moving toward each other, and touching each other as they laugh. People who are having an argument, on the other hand, gesture differently. They are stiff, make strong eye contact, and aggressively invade the other person’s space. 

Some signals we send each other on a day-to-day basis are so small, they fly under the radar: a small frown, the way someone’s lips flatten ever so slightly when they’re trying to keep something nasty from escaping their mouth, or a nostril flare. 

Now add a mask to those three. 

Can you still tell how those people are feeling? 

It’s more difficult, isn’t it?

Could wearing masks help humans to read body language cues more effectively? (Photo: people wearing masks)

While chatting with one of my clients, he mentioned how he finds it more difficult to read people when they have a mask on. He said “You really need to look at their eyes and their body language nowadays.” 

I was so excited at the thought of this. If people are being forced to look at human body language more, could this finally bring humans back to a more instinctual way of being? Could it allow us the opportunity to begin paying more attention to our dog’s body language as well? Could it also make us more in tune with the body language of the other owners around us? 

Humans miss a lot of subtle dog body language. For example, how many of you have heard someone say: “And then the dog bit me out of nowhere?” 

I’d wager all of you have heard someone say this phrase. Dogs don’t bite out of nowhere. They give plenty of warnings: stiff posture, avoiding eye contact by moving their head away, whale eye, curling their lip, raising their hackles, moving away from the person or dog who is making them uncomfortable, to name a few. The problem is that humans aren’t taught the subtle cues of dog body language and only notice there’s a problem when the dog is making lots of noise and exploding at the dog or person who continued to ignore the fact that they were asking for space. 

While we’re out walking our dogs, we humans tend to look at: 

-the person we’re walking with,

-cellphones, 

-and other people’s dogs.

When we do this we completely miss the body language of the person on the other end of the leash. 

I encourage you to observe the body language of your fellow dog walkers this week (A woman looking at her cellphone while walking through a train station)

We humans get very excited when we see puppies and dogs while we’re out walking our own dog. That excitement travels down the leash to our own dog, and over to the other dog/puppy as we say: “Awwww. Puppy!!!!” or “Oh my goodness, your dog is adorable!!!” 

We forget to notice: 

-how the other person is feeling about us approaching them with our dog

-the behaviour and body language of the puppy or dog (because humans tend to want to touch everything fuzzy regardless of whether or not that fuzzy thing actually wants to be touched by us) 

Some people are walking dogs who: 

-just had surgery

-have an underlying health issue that makes them quick to bite

-are in training

-are a brand new rescue who they themselves have no idea about (Does he like other dogs invading his space? Is he afraid of large dogs? They don’t know yet — they met a day ago!) 

-recently moved (this is a stressful event for people and also for dogs) 

-do not like other dogs  

Some people: 

-want to be left alone to train their dog in peace

-are stressed out because their dog is dog aggressive and you’re heading straight for them

-are freaking out because they’re trying to create space for their dog and you’re changing your trajectory and coming at them anyway

-are rehabilitating a rescue dog who is fearful of dogs and people 

-are walking a puppy who does not have all of his vaccinations yet 

I challenge you on your next walk to observe the body language of the other owners. Do they tense up when they see you coming? Begin wrapping the leash around and around their hand? Do they grab a harness handle? Are they pulling back on their dog? They don’t know it, but they are signalling to their dog that you are not to be trusted. They are making you and your dog a threat. This is your opportunity to give them space. 

Happy observing! Happy training! Happy Friday! 

Alyssa 

Photos by: Atoms @atoms (Person wearing a face mask sitting on a bench. They are accompanied by two dogs on leashes) Xingyue HUANG @stephanie_nese (people wearing masks,) Upsplash image (A woman looking at her cellphone while walking through a train station,)

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR DOG FOR FIREWORKS

Happy Canada Day! (Photo: fireworks in the sky about a city skyline)

Are you dreading Canada Day? Do fireworks go off in your neighbourhood throughout the day, and sometimes on the following day? Here are some tips to get you and your dog prepared. 

Physical Exercise: 

Tired dogs go into a resting and relaxed state far more easily than dogs who are not exercised. 

All dogs require daily exercise. Some require low-key walks, while others require hours of running, agility, and fetch to properly tire them out. In the days leading up to Canada Day, exercise your dog for an extra hour each day. On Canada Day, begin with a long walk before breakfast. After lunch, go for a nice long hike and explore nature with your pup. Make time for fetch, swimming, or a bike ride. 

Fulfilling your dog’s exercise needs is a great way to prepare for fireworks (Photo: person biking with an off-leash dog)

Mental Exercise: 

Dogs are intelligent animals who need mental stimulation. Searching for food, doing obedience, and having fun with new tricks are all ways of draining your dog’s mental energy. 

Why not teach your dog a few life-saving skills, like “come,” “leave it,” and “drop it?” Not only will these activities tire your pup out, they could save your pup’s life. 

Nosework is a great way to drain your dog’s mental energy (Photo: dachshund sniffing the sand at a beach)

Calmness: 

I quote former Navy SEAL, Dan Crenshaw, all the time for a reason: because this quotation sums up how to live with dogs — “Calm breeds calm. Panic breeds panic.” 

If you overreact to fireworks, your dog will overreact to fireworks. 

Your dog is looking to you for your reaction. If she looks at you and sees a worried pack leader, she will become worried too. 

Communicate calmness to your dog by acting calm and confident while the fireworks are going off. 

Exposure: 

If you have a new puppy, now is your chance to let them learn that fireworks are no big deal. If you’re out and about in the evening, keep moving and keep your own energy calm and confident. Your puppy is a master of reading your energy and your body language. Show your pup there’s nothing to fear. 

Do not stop and comfort your puppy as you would a young child. They are not human. If you join them in a soft state of mind and pet them while they’re acting fearful you will reward a fearful state of mind and teach them fireworks are to be feared. No baby talk. Just walk. 

If you’re outside, you’ll be allowing your puppy to learn in a way that is natural to her: nose, eyes, ears. She will be able to get used to the way the fireworks smell, how they look, and what they sound like. 

Teach your puppy to be calm around the things you wish them to be calm around as an adult (Photo: person walking a dog at sunset)

Prevention: 

Be sure to have your dog’s tags on, in case she runs away. Call your microchip company and ensure that they have your address up to date in their system. 

If you are reading this article several weeks prior to fireworks, you can begin to desensitize your dog to the sound by playing it at a low level prior to enjoyable activities, like going for a walk or eating a meal. Gradually increase the volume and remember to simply act calm and confident when you do this activity.

How to keep yourself calm? 

Tell yourself that this year’s fireworks are going to be the best ones ever for you and your dog. Mindset is so important. If you spend all day baby-talking to your dog and acting strangely, she will be on edge. If you cringe the moment you hear the first firework of the evening, you’re setting your dog up to be afraid. 

Exercise, breathe, and remind yourself that you can do this. 

Happy Canada Day, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa 

Happy Canada Day! (Photo: moose with mountains in the backdrop)

Photos by: maggie hung @maggie__1105 (fireworks in the sky about a city skyline,) Patrick Hendry

@worldsbetweenlines (person biking with an off-leash dog,) Emma Charles

@emmacharles (dachshund sniffing the sand at a beach,) Helen Cramer

@helencramer (person walking a dog at sunset) Cora Leach

@coramaureen (moose with mountains in the backdrop.)

How to Choose the Right Dog

Does the Pekingese suit your lifestyle? (Pekingese dog jogging on a dirt trail)

If you love dogs, you may have enjoyed watching the 145th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last weekend. 

Watching this show is a great way to become acquainted with many different dog breeds. Have you ever heard of a Biewer terrier? How about a Dogo Argentino? 

Before you adopt a Dogo Argentino (or any other type of dog,) research the breed (Photo: Dogo Argentino puppy standing on a sidewalk)

The announcers also provide information about breed need (what each breed requires in terms of physical exercise, mental stimulation, and training) so people can learn whether or not these breeds will fit in well with their current lifestyle.

If you’re interested in playing fetch, going on long hikes every day, obedience (and other dog sports,) hunting, and swimming, check out the sporting group. You’ll find dogs like the Golden Retriever, the Brittany, and this year’s sporting group winner, the German shorthaired pointer. 

If your lifestyle is better suited to a dog who requires shorter daily walks, indoor play, and likes doing tricks, the toy group may be more your cup of tea. Does this mean that the toys can’t participate in dog sports, like agility, obedience, and rally? Absolutely not. These little dogs are smart and capable, so long as they have a willing teacher. 

This year’s Best In Show was the winner of the toy group, Wasabi the Pekingese. For those of you who have never seen a Pekingese, picture an Ewok who has been taken into hair and makeup for several hours. Adorable! 

(Photo: Pekingese dog jogging on a dirt trail)

Pekingese are very calm dogs. They are known to be very independent and can also be very alert little watchdogs. 

It’s so important to research all of the breeds you are interested in before rushing out and adopting a puppy. I have worked with many clients who have adopted dogs whose energy requirements did not match their lifestyle. If you choose to adopt a breed who has very high energy and fail to meet their exercise needs, the result is a laundry list of behaviours you will not enjoy (like barking out the window all day, pulling on the leash, herding your children, counter surfing, and/or chewing baseboards, carpets, couches, and walls, just to name a few. 

If you do not provide enough exercise, training, and supervision this will become your reality (Photo: Weimaraner puppy gnawing on a couch)

Tips to help you find a dog who suits your lifestyle: 

-be honest with yourself about how much time you are willing to spend every day to exercise, train, and teach your dog right from wrong,

-narrow down the breeds you are interested in who will suit your lifestyle —ask people who own them what they are really like to live with on a day-to-day basis; ask them who their breeder was, 

-after finding a reputable breeder, interview them (and several others,) 

-select puppies from a litter based on the guidance of your breeder, as opposed to choosing the largest one, the runt (because you feel sorry for her,) the one with the nicest coat-colour, or the one you think chose you (biting you isn’t choosing you, it’s a sign you’re about to adopt a dog who will become your leader,) 

-find a rescue who specializes in the breed you are looking for, volunteer with them so you get to know if the breed is really for you before you adopt one (it’s a 12-15 year commitment, people — spend as much time on this decision as you did picking your life partner)  

Remember that some dog breeds you may be interested in in terms of activities you can enjoy together have grooming requirements you may not wish to undertake. 

For example, the Komondor’s coat can require up to seven hours to wash, rinse, and squeeze with towels…some breeders even use a shop vac to remove the excess water. After that, they have to lie in front of a fan for hours (think overnight!) to fully dry. 

There’s lots to consider when finding your perfect match. (Photo: a Pomeranian wearing a pink towel on her head is getting groomed)

What’s your favourite dog breed? Why do they suit your lifestyle? 

Post it in the comments below! 

Need help narrowing down your options? We love nothing more than helping responsible future dog owners like you! Let us help you figure out which breeds are best suited to your lifestyle. 

Click the Take Action button and schedule your FREE phone call today. 

Have a wonderful weekend, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa 

Photos by:Vianney CAHEN @number313 (Pekingese dog jogging on a dirt trail,) sultan esra şahin @sultanesra (Dogo Argentino puppy standing on a sidewalk,) Vianney CAHEN

@number313 (Pekingese dog jogging on a dirt trail,) Upsplash Image (Weimaraner puppy gnawing on a couch,) Henar Langa @henarlanga (a Pomeranian wearing a pink towel on her head is getting groomed.)

How “Place” Can Help Prevent Separation Anxiety

Place is the answer to: if you DON’T like what I’m doing, what should I do instead? (Photo: pitbull puppy sitting on a thick dog bed)

Are you worried that you’ll accidentally teach your new puppy to panic when he’s left alone? Scared that he’ll spend his day pacing, drooling, whining, barking, and getting into the garbage bins? No one wants their puppy to be miserable when left alone, so why not take the steps to prevent this? 

Crate training and placework are two amazing strategies to help your puppy learn to be calm and relaxed on his own.

Did you know that if your dog is always touching you, being touched by you, and allowed to follow you everywhere in your home that they can develop separation anxiety? 

It’s very natural for dogs to follow a leader. It’s also very natural for dogs to always be with their pack. Packs don’t separate, so dogs don’t have a lot of knowledge of how to live with humans who come and go to work, school, and social events. It is our job to teach our dogs how to be comfortable and calm when left alone. 

If your dog is always on your lap, being petted, chatted to, and allowed to follow you (even to the bathroom,) then don’t be surprised when they want to follow you every time you unlock a door, turn a doorknob, or open a door. 

This is what’s natural to your dog. You must teach them how to feel well on their own when you go to work, school, or out to socialize with friends. (Photo: Wolves following their leader through the snow)

Add in a bunch of words that your dog doesn’t understand, like “It’s okay baby. Mommy’s only going to the mailbox,” or “Love you! See you soon! You’re the best doggie!” and there’s a good chance your dog will be even more anxious when you leave the house. 

From your dog’s point of view: “She’s acting very strangely with that soft energy and now she’s going out into the big, bad world alone?!?! I don’t think so! She needs me to protect her. Let me try to follow her out the window, since she clearly forgot me here (by shutting the door in my face.)”

One of the easiest ways to teach your dog that you don’t need to be followed all over your house (and into the bathroom,) is to teach her the place command. 

The place command is really cool because it’s actually communicating all of this in only one word: 

-go over here

-lie down

-relax and be calm 

-no one will bother you here, it’s a safe zone

-stay here until I direct you to leave 

Isn’t that amazing?!

Not only will your dog love to hang out on her comfy cot, she’ll love how she feels — calmness is much more natural to dogs than being “on” all day (excited, overstimulated, no “off” switch.) 

Now that she’s not allowed to follow you everywhere, she can learn that she doesn’t always need to be right behind you, on your lap, or being petted to be okay. That way, you can rest assured that she’s feeling well when you’re out getting groceries, going to a friend’s backyard for a bevvy, or going to work. 

Calmness feels sooooo good (Photo: Golden Retriever relaxing on a dog bed)

It’s important that pet parents understand that just like any command, place needs to be worked on a few times a day, every day for a couple of weeks in order for your dog to be able to stay in place for any length of time. You don’t simply purchase an elevated dog bed, tell your dog “place,” and then expect to host a dinner party and have her lie there with all those distractions on day one. 

Always build up duration, distance, and distractions slowly. 

You’ll begin with very short sessions using a leash. You’ll gradually work toward being able to communicate to your dog that even if you set the leash down, they should remain in place. Then, you’ll work through being able to pick up the leash without your dog breaking place. Gradually you’ll be able to increase the distance (how far away you can move from the cot/your dog without your dog thinking she should follow you.) Gradually, you’ll add in distractions, like children running/dancing/playing with their toys; your partner vacuuming the stairs; or someone opening a bag of treats. It’s so important that you add these types of distractions gradually. 

Dogs learn through repetition and if you always make it too hard and they fail over and over again, they won’t get the chance to learn what you actually want from them. 

Just like you wouldn’t head to your first dance class tonight and be able to perform a two-minute dance routine after watching it only once, your dog needs time to learn all the steps. 

Training takes time and your dog is worth it. 

Will I still use my crate when I’m at work, though? 

Absolutely. I wouldn’t expect any dog to lie on place all day while you’re at work or school. Use the place command to encourage calmness throughout the day when you’re at home. 

You can also use place in your backyard while you’re having a bbq; when you’re relaxing at your campsite; or when you’d like your dogs to stop wrestling and have some downtime. 

Check out last week’s blog to learn more about the place command: https://beyonddogtraining.ca/news/what-is-the-place-command

Remember: You’ve gotta be calm to teach calm. And you can do this! 

Have a great weekend, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa 

Photos: Jordan Bigelow @jordanbigs (pitbull puppy sitting on a thick dog bed,) Upsplash (Wolves following their leader through the snow,) Ryan Walton @rwltn1 (Golden Retriever relaxing on a dog bed.)

What is the Place Command?

As long as all four feet are off the ground and your dog is calm, you’re teaching the place command properly (Photo: Labrador Retriever puppy lying on a dog bed)

If you’ve never heard of the place command, you’ve come to the right place…pun intended, since it made it past the editing stage. Sorry not sorry. 

When we live with dogs, we sometimes end up telling them to stop barking out the window, or stop chasing the cat, or stop stealing food off of the countertop. What we don’t do, is provide direction to our dog of what we would like them to do instead of that undesirable behaviour.

Sometimes, we do ask our dog to do something else. How many of you have asked your dog to lie down on the floor or their dog bed, only to find they get up two seconds later and head straight back to that undesirable behaviour they were doing before?

We’ve all been there. 

Didn’t I just tell you to go lie down?!?!? What are you eating? (Photo: black pug licks a mat on the floor while a toddler wanders in the background)

Your dog’s state of mind is more important than you think. When you only address the dog’s body position, “Go lie down,” they lie down, but it doesn’t last because they are not in the right state of mind — calm. They are often still fixated on the noise they hear outside, or rip-roarin’-ready to chase the kids up the stairs again. As soon as you walk away or sit back down on the couch, they’re off like a rocket. It can be very frustrating. 

Ready for some good news? Once you properly teach the place command, this “getting up and heading straight back to business” won’t happen anymore.

Why? 

Because place is an implied down-stay that your dog has to be released from. No more strolling away to pester the cat, searching for shoes to chew on, or stealing the kid’s socks. You’re giving her a job: stay here until I say so. Read on to find out why that job actually feels good to your dog. 

Here’s how it works. 

The place command provides your dog a safe, quiet place to go and relax. It’s very natural for dogs to be calm. It feels good to them, so your dog will actually want to hang out there. In fact, sometimes they’ll go to place all on their own and take a nap. 

The easiest way to teach place to your dog is on an elevated dog cot. Because it is raised off the floor, it creates a clear boundary to your dog. 

You can use an elevated dog cot, or a nice thick bed like this one (Photo: pitbull puppy sitting on a thick dog bed)

The elevated dog cots prevent this — your pup’s feet shouldn’t be touching the ground while teaching place (Photo: terrier on a dog bed with his two front feet touching the floor)

You can use the place command: 

-to greet guests at your front door (your dog stays in place, and no one gets jumped on or nipped —YAY!) 

-to add structure to your regular day — send them to relax on place after mealtimes and after training sessions

-to keep your dog safe — if you break a glass in the kitchen, send them to place while you clean up the pieces

Next week, we’ll talk about other ways that the place command can help you and your dog on your path to wellness. 

To learn more about place, head to Instagram and check out our highlighted stories: https://www.instagram.com/gobeyonddogtraining/

Happy training, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa 

Photos by: Taylor Kopel @taylorkopel (Labrador Retriever puppy lying on a dog bed,) Charles Deluvio

@charlesdeluvio (black pug licks a mat on the floor while a toddler wanders in the background) Jordan Bigelow @jordanbigs (pitbull puppy sitting on a thick dog bed) Mitchell Orr

@mitchorr (terrier on a dog bed with his two front feet touching the floor.)

OTHER PEOPLE’S OFF-LEASH DOGS

Ready or not, here we come! (Photo: Two large off-leash dogs barrelling toward the camera lens)

Sometimes you do everything right and other people’s off-leash dogs still manage to throw a wrinkle into your on-leash walk. 

You’ve studied dog body language, you’re aware of your surroundings while out walking, your own energy is confident and calm, your dog listens to your commands around distractions, you’ve stepped up and told dogs to “Go!” and have been amazed at the results. What’s next? 

Here’s the final puzzle piece we’re going to tackle before moving on to other topics next week: what to do when you’re with other people and other dogs (walking with friends and family members) and you’re approached by off-leash dogs. This time, your own well-behaved dogs who have awesome recall are off-leash and under your control. 

Can your dog perform this behaviour outside and around distractions (like off-leash dogs?) (Photo: a dog doing a down-stay on his bed for a treat)

I thought this was a no-brainer. Pointing and saying “Go!” was working so well for me — until this happened: 

I was walking off-leash with Magic, a friend, and her one-year-old whippet mix. We were strolling across a wide open sports field, when two German Shepherds came gunning at us with no owner in sight. They were really far away, so I was surprised that they even cared we existed, but they very much did. As they approached, I assessed their behaviour as excited. Excited dogs can definitely start fights. They rush into other dog’s personal space (usually their face), ignore social cues (turning of the head, stiff body posture, lip curls,) and when your dog gets snappy (because the rude dog ignored the subtle cues of “give me space”) the other dog responds by snapping back. This can obviously escalate to a fight, especially when the humans get tense and nervous. 

As the dogs barrelled toward us, my friend was super nervous and leashed her dog. I stepped up in the front (way in front) and guess what happened? The dogs decided not to mess with me. One sprinted past on my right, the other on my left, and went straight to the rest of my pack like a magnet. I spun around as one of the dogs jumped on my nervous friend and Magic corrected it. I directed Magic to leave it. She did. I told her calmly that that was “Good.” 

I stepped in front of my friend and her dog again. This time, the dogs backed down and ran away. 

All before the owner was even in view! 

When she did stroll by she was staring down at her phone, completely oblivious that her dogs were causing other people drama. 

If your dogs are off-leash in a public place, this shouldn’t be you (Photo: woman staring down at her cellphone)

We all got off lucky that day. The German Shepherds’ greeting was very rude and had we not owned well-trained, balanced, and well-socialized dogs, there would have been a very ugly fight. 

This next story surprised me even more! Ready? 

My partner and I were playing fetch with Magic in a very spacious park. As usual, we were out in the open, so that we can be aware of on-coming doggie traffic and calmly assess. We are the type of polite people who leash our dog when we see on-leash dogs, even at a distance. 

Two off-leash dogs were approaching from quite far away. Their humans were pushing a stroller. They were so far away, I honestly didn’t think they would bother us, but I was wrong (again!) The standard poodle started sprinting straight at us. This is incredibly rude behaviour, and yelling “he’s friendly” is not acceptable, by the way. You’re too far away to do ANYTHING about your dog, and my dog could be fearful, aggressive, just got home from surgery, etc. 

Now, these people didn’t even yell “he’s friendly” and they certainly didn’t even TRY to recall him. I turned to my husband and simply said “you’ve got her?” He had her favourite ball, so he was pretty sure he could keep her attention on him. 

I turned my back on them and walked confidently toward the sprinting poodle, pointed, and yelled, “GO!” 

The poodle did go. I had a moment of “YAY! This is really working!” Just a moment. 

Bye, Mr. Poodle! (Photo: black standard poodle running)

My partner didn’t have a chance to leash up Magic. Like most people, he was kind of standing there, aghast that this poodle was gunning for us in the first place. He was also amazed (like I was) that me pointing and directing it to get lost actually worked. So he wasn’t looking at Magic anymore or telling her what to do. 

As I happily watched the poodle turn and run away, all of a sudden, Magic sprinted after it. I didn’t need back-up, but I certainly got it. 

Now, it’s the other people getting a taste of their own medicine. They are picking up the Boston Terrier and watching in horror at the Rottweiler coming after their poodle. Not only do they have a stroller with them, the woman has an infant in a sling. 

They don’t know what I know. 

That’s not just any Rottweiler. 

Magic is a wonderful canine citizen who wouldn’t hurt a fly. And Magic has incredible recall.

One “leave it” and “come” and Magic turned and ran back to me before ever reaching the family, or catching up with the poodle.

They were extremely lucky their dog didn’t stir up the wrong hornet’s nest, because there’s a lot of unbalanced dogs out there with zero recall who would have made their morning very, very ugly. 

After that incident, I was on the hunt for information. I hadn’t accounted for the variable of walking with friends who are nervous around off-leash dogs. I hadn’t accounted for walking with other people, period. 

I found a great solution from a colleague in the States. Here’s what they advise: Have a discussion with the people you will be walking with before you head out for the walk. Who will stay calm and confident and take control of your pack? This person can ask for down-stays and calmness. Which one of you will step up and tell the off-leash dog(s) to “Go!” Bonus points for carrying an extra leash and simply returning the dog to their owner. 

Having a conversation beforehand is a complete game-changer. 

When you and the person you’re walking with have a strategy in place, you’re far more likely to succeed, because now, you’re a functioning pack. You’ve communicated. You have a solid relationship as a group. You can handle anything. 

This conversation also helps ease your nervous friend’s mind, because now there’s a plan. Just like an athlete, when you’ve mentally prepared for what game-time is going to look like, you’re much better able to perform well, keep a level head, and achieve your goal. 

I hope this helps you as much as it helped me. 

Have a wonderful weekend, Dog Leaders! Happy training! 

Alyssa 

Photos by: Patrick Hendry @worldsbetweenlines (Two large off-leash dogs barrelling toward the camera lens,)Honest Paws @honestpaws (a dog doing a down-stay on his bed for a treat,) Daria Nepriakhina @epicantus (woman staring down at her cellphone,) Kieran Wood @kieran_wood (black standard poodle running,)

Off-Leash Dogs Approaching my On-Leash Dog: HELP!

How most dog owners feel when an off-leash dog approaches them while walking their own dog on a leash (Photo: wolf laying down showing her teeth)

Welcome to Week 3 of “What to do when off-leash dogs approach me and my on-leash dog.” Phew! That’s an appropriate mouthful for such a vast topic. 

Be sure to read through all three blog posts in order, so that you can begin to understand all of the important components for how to deal with this sticky situation. 

Here are the links: 

Week 1: https://beyonddogtraining.ca/news/prevention-is-the-best-medicine-for-encounters-with-off-leash-dogs

Week 2: https://beyonddogtraining.ca/news/who-is-protecting-whom

Now that you’ve read the first two blog posts, you’re ready to go through your checklist: 

You’ve built a solid relationship with your dog. Check.

Your dog knows how to follow you on leash. Check. 

Your dog listens to your commands both inside and outside the home. Check. 

You’ve studied dog body language. Check. 

You’re practicing being aware of your surroundings while on walks to AVOID confrontations from even happening. Check. 

You’re no longer hitting the panic button when you see an off-leash dog. Check. 

You’re working hard in areas where there are no off-leash dogs because you know your own dog needs to be rehabilitated first, before being expected to handle confrontation from an off-leash dog. Check. 

But sometimes, life happens. 

Sometimes life happens (Photo: Malinois running through the grass)

You’re walking on a narrow trail with your non-reactive dog, who heels on leash, listens well, and is good with other dogs when an off-leash dog pops out of the woods right beside you. Now what? 

You stay calm. You assess the other dog’s body language as “excited.” Excited is not “happy,” by the way. Excited dogs can start fights by rushing into another dog’s intimate space. Face-to-face greetings with excited dogs can cause fights as well, especially when one or both dogs is on a tense leash. 

While staying calm, you’re going to step in front of your dog with confidence and you’re going to point and say “GO!” By stepping toward the off-leash dog and giving eye contact, you are now forcing the excited dog to make a choice. Most often, the dog will choose not to approach you. Dogs want to avoid conflict wherever possible. It’s in their DNA. Wolves and feral dogs don’t want to get into unnecessary fights, because those can lead to life-threatening injuries. 

If you have a bit more time, you can put your own dog into a down-stay. I like to add a “head down” command to this as well, so that my own dog is in a relaxed body position. When the body is in a relaxed position, the mind will follow. 

In order for this to work, you need to practice down-stays frequently with your dog around distractions. Build up slowly. For example, teach the down-stay in your kitchen. Then practice down-stays in your hallway, on your balcony, in your car, and in your backyard. Once your dog’s down-stay is solid, add distractions. Try down-stays while out on your walks. Try down-stays OUTSIDE your neighbourhood dog park (far away at first, and then try moving closer.) If your dog can’t listen to you beside off-leash dogs in a dog park running and playing, then how will she be able to listen to you around random off-leash dogs while you’re out hiking? 

Practice like you play. Yes, everything I learned about life I learned from my soccer coaches. It applies here. If you don’t practice keeping yourself calm under pressure and your dog calm around pressure, then game day (random off-leash dogs) will continue to be…unpredictable with varying results — sometimes your dog will get bit, sometimes you will, sometimes the other dog will. But you CAN work toward a better life with your dog and improve game day anytime you wish. Today is a new day! 

Practice like you play (Photo: Border Collie laying down in a forest)

By showing your dog that you will advocate for his space, you are showing him “you have his back.” This allows your relationship with your own dog to flourish. This builds trust. 

Some people feel more empowered carrying compressed air, a tennis racquet, or a walking stick. I shuddered the first time I read that a walking stick is a good way to keep off-leash dogs at bay. I don’t want to hit a dog with a stick. That said, if an aggressive dog is about to attack you or your dog, do you really want to: 

-try to separate a dog fight by yourself and get bitten and spend the day in the emergency room (specially during a pandemic)? 

-have your dog ripped open and spend the day at the veterinarian’s clinic?

-allow your dog to DIE at the hands of this aggressive dog?   

-or end up in a combination of #1 and #2…where you’re in the ER and your dog is at the vet in surgery? 

Personally, I use myself (stepping in front of my dog and pointing and telling the other dog “GO!” I do not carry any tools, though I have been considering the compressed air lately (there are way more untrained off-leash dogs lately and I know many clients have had their own dogs attacked while walking on trails and in their own neighbourhoods.) 

If I have time (i.e. the dogs are approaching from a distance, and I am in the middle of an open field) I have Magic in a down-stay with “head down.” I then step up, point, and give the “GO!” command to the other dog. 

To this day, the best tool in my toolbox has been being aware of my environment at all times. I have avoided many off-leash dogs by simply being aware of them well ahead of time and creating distance between them and my pack. 

A recent example of that: 

Magic and I were walking on a residential street. As we approached a house where there is often a dog tied out, I saw that she was not tied up. She began to mix it up with an on-leash Border Collie. The woman walking the Border Collie was suddenly thrust into a situation where her dog was on a tense leash and very stressed out. You could see that (understandably) the woman was also very stressed out. The other dog’s owners were nowhere to be seen. 

There were still parked cars impeding Magic’s ability from seeing this brewing. I stayed calm and did a 180 degree turn, which we practice all the time, and we left. Had we continued, the off-leash excited dog would certainly have bounded over to us, crossing an intersection to do so. I kept that dog safe, and my own. Win-win. 

A lot of people get really bent out of shape when they have to change their walking route. Here’s something that helps me choose joy over feeling annoyed. 

Remember: It’s not about you. It never has been and it never will be. I had a choice: be annoyed that I had to change my walking route that day, or keep my dog safe. I will choose the second one every single time. Who cares where we walk, what route we take? My priorities when I am out with my dog are to have fun, enjoy the outdoors, to feel relaxed, to work on training skills, to build our relationship, to fulfill Magic’s canine needs (to follow, to exercise physically and mentally, to explore the environment with her nose,) and above all else, to keep my girl safe. 

Hopefully you will find these strategies helpful for you and your dog. I’m not here to tell you what to do. I’m here to provide you with all of the information I’ve gathered over my years of research, so that you can find what works best for you.  

Next week, I’ll cover a couple of examples that were trickier to navigate, the strategies that helped in the moment, and how those experiences better prepared me for the future. 

Thanks for reading! 

Have you encountered off-leash dogs while walking your own dog on-leash? Please share your story with us, either in the comments or reach out in an email. We would love to hear from you! 

Happy training!

Alyssa 

Photos by: Jessy Hoffmann @jessreporter (wolf laying down showing her teeth,) Upsplash image (Malinois running through the grass,) Tadeusz Lakota @tadekl (Border Collie laying down in a forest,)

Who is Protecting Whom?

Even if your dog is trained in bite-work or other protection sports, it’s not his job to keep other dogs away from you while you’re out and about in public. That’s your job. (Photo: A mastiff who is likely working on bite-work with a man and a woman)

This week, we’re continuing on our journey to learn more about what to do when walking our own dog on a leash and we come across off-leash dogs. 

As you know from reading last week’s post, dog ownership is a massive responsibility and there’s a LOT we need to learn as responsible dog owners. 

We need to learn how to see the world from our dog’s point of view, to better fulfill their needs. We need to understand dog body language, so we can assess situations and stay calm while doing so. We need to learn to provide leadership to our dogs, so they can trust that WE are capable of being charge when perceived threats (like off-leash dogs) are heading our way. 

The more information you have, the better prepared you’ll be. The stronger your relationship with your OWN dog, the better prepared you’ll be. 

If your dog is currently reacting to other on-leash dogs by: 

-standing in front of you

-barking and growling

-lunging on leash

-yanking you off your feet

then he currently sees it as his job to protect you. This will certainly cause problems if an off-leash dog heads toward you. 

Are you pulling back on the leash? This is sending your dog a clear signal that the other dog is a threat. All dogs have what is called opposition reflex — when someone pulls back on their leash, they automatically pull forward. This is put to good use with police canines who are taught to bite the person wearing the super padded “bad guy suit.” The police hold the dog’s harness, which stimulates that opposition reflex, allowing their working dog to get fired up at the “bad guy” before letting go. 

See how it works? 

The way most people open their front door. Just sayin’. (Photo: Person wearing army fatigues holding the collar of a German Shepherd, creating opposition reflex)

Are you accidentally sending your dog the wrong message? Are you pulling him back, telling him to get fired up at dogs, bikes, and strangers? 

Do you also get nervous when you see dogs in the neighbourhood and think: “Here we go again,”? 

Your dog will pick up on your nervous energy and act accordingly to keep the other dogs away from you. We don’t want that. It’s no fun to feel nervous all the time, and it’s super stressful for your dog to live on edge like that too. 

So, if your dog shouldn’t be in front of you pulling on the leash, where should he be? 

Great question. 

In our popular culture, we think it’s amazing when our dogs step up in front of us and protect us. In fact, a growing number of my clients have selected dogs based on wanting to feel protected. The issue is that a dog who is not bred and trained to be a protection dog isn’t happy doing this job. Oftentimes, the dogs I work with are anxious (whine almost all of the time) and are much more confident and happy when they learn that their humans are in charge (inside and outside of the home, including on walks.) 

When we invite a dog to live in our home and in the human world, it is our job to show them how to feel safe and protected. It’s our job to show them that garbage trucks are not scary, bicycles are not out to get them, and that other dogs in the neighbourhood are not threats to us. 

So, where should your dog be when there’s a perceived threat?  

Hint: The opposite of this…(Photo: A dog walks in front of her owner on a tense leash)

Behind you. 

Like this while you’re walking…(Photo: A dog heeling beside his owner, looking up at his owner while moving forward.)

Getting closer…but this picture has too much leash tension. (A person stands in the snow with their dog behind their knees. The dog is wearing a halti and there is tension on the leash.)

More like this. (Photo: a person wearing a backpack standing on a tree stump looking off into the mist. There is a dog standing behind them in a heel position. The dog is looking up to them for direction.)

It’s your job as pack leader to deal with perceived threats. Perceived threats to one dog may be strangers reaching into their personal space to pet them. To another dog, a perceived threat is the delivery person who walks onto what your dog perceives as THEIR territory. To another dog, it’s a strange object, like construction equipment, a bag of yard waste, or Christmas decorations that move and make noise. Your job is to be in front of your dog to advocate for his space and to keep danger away. 

My first opportunity to learn this lesson was a couple of decades ago. I had not yet heard of dog psychology. I was an accidental leader for my first rescue dog, because I just did what felt natural. I exercised him every day and I provided structure and boundaries and rules. Looking back, there were a lot of things I could have done better, had I known dog psychology, but Brooklyn and I did pretty well. Keep in mind, that when I owned Brooklyn, I lived, breathed, and sometimes even slept with dogs while working as a technician at the University of Guelph. I not only worked with dogs every day, I walked them in my spare time (during my lunch breaks.) Despite being surrounded by dogs 24-7, there were still LOTS of things I needed to learn. 

The first time Brooklyn stepped behind me when faced with an aggressive dog, I thought it was because he was afraid of her. I also wrongly thought: “Wow. He doesn’t want to protect me. What have I done wrong? He must not love me at all.”

I now know what it means when a dog steps behind you in the face of danger. 

What I didn’t realize back then was that I had earned Brooklyn’s TRUST and his RESPECT. When you have trust, respect, AND love, you have a balanced pack. You have harmony. And you’re actually way safer out in public, because the human is in the driver’s seat. Humans make wayyyyy better decisions than dogs. Dogs make quick, instinctual decisions to defend themselves. Hopefully after reading this, you’ll realize it’s your job to defend THEM, not the other way around. 

Brooklyn and I lived in a big house divided into five apartments. One of the apartments was home to a vet student and her newly adopted two-year-old pitbull. This beautiful, grey pit was the leader of her human. She pulled her everywhere she wanted to go and she was walked on a flexi-leash that could snap at any time. This “pull my human everywhere I want” relationship combined with leash tension created leash frustration, reactivity, and eventually aggression.

Brooklyn and I came across them on neutral territory. We were strolling down the sidewalk, and they were in a small playground. They had higher ground and were partially blocked by the play structure, so we didn’t notice them right away. The pit took one look at us and went straight into the red zone. She shot straight for us (faster than anyone could have said a prayer to the God of flexi-leashes,) barking and snarling. 

Brooklyn stepped behind my legs. I held my breath (because I didn’t have the knowledge I have now - breathe, friends, breathe!) 

The flexi-leash held, jerking the poor dog backward, and unfortunately teaching her nothing except how to be more frustrated on the leash. She stood on her hind legs snarling, growling, and barking while her owner held on for dear life. 

I’m grateful that Brooklyn believed I could handle that threat while holding nothing but a Kong-on-a-rope. He believed in me long before I believed in myself. 

Brooklyn wasn’t a chicken. He wasn’t throwing me under the bus. And there was nothing “wrong” with our relationship. Brooklyn was letting me do what I did naturally for him every day: lead. 

Brooklyn living his best life (Photo: author’s first rescue dog, Brooklyn, leaps off a dock after a ball)

A few tips so that you can lead your dog, so they can trust you in all of life’s tough situations: 

-provide exercise every day (not as much as you feel like giving them, but the amount they actually need to be mentally and physically fulfilled every day)

-teach them a structured walk (from your dog’s point of view, if you are walking in the back, you are the follower. They need a leader.) 

-wait for natural eye contact before going through doorways, up a set of stairs, and before giving any food

-build a strong foundation in the home, before falling into the “too much freedom too fast” trap 

-acknowledge the effect your own energy has on your dog

-learn everything you possibly can about the way your dog sees the world (dog psychology) 

If your dog isn’t trained as a personal protection dog (by a professional who knows what they are doing,) then it is not your dog’s job to protect you and your family. 

Will they step up in the middle of the night to an intruder? Of course they will. But should they have to feel as though they need to defend you from oncoming dogs on the street: no. 

You need to: 

-protect

-direct

-love 

Did this week stray wildly off-topic? The pitbull wasn’t off-leash, you say? 

Flexi-leads snap all the time. Leashes fly out of people’s hands all the time. A dog can go from on-leash to off-leash in an instant. There was a post in our local online dog forum this week about a dog slipping out of his collar and attacking an on-leash dog. The dog who was attacked required veterinary care. Sidebar: The dog who attacked the other dog was a Golden Retriever. I feel the need to mention this as people so often believe that certain breeds are aggressive and others are not. No dog is born aggressive. Any dog can become aggressive. Always look at the human behind the dog. 

The lessons for this week:

-It is your job to provide protection to your dog, not the other way around. 

-You should stand in front of your dog to let them know you’re in charge (and if they already know you are their leader, they will step behind you.) 

Next week: How to let an off-leash dog know they shouldn’t bother approaching you. 

Have a safe and happy weekend, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa 

Photos by: Upsplash (A mastiff who is likely working on bite-work with a man and a woman), Altino Dantas @altinodantas (Person wearing army fatigues holding the collar of a German Shepherd, creating opposition reflex.) Upsplash (A dog walks in front of her owner on a tense leash,) Upsplash (Photo: A dog heeling beside his owner, looking up at his owner while moving forward,) Upsplash (a person wearing a backpack standing on a tree stump looking off into the mist. There is a dog standing behind them in a heel position. The dog is looking up to them for direction.) Alyssa Foulkes ( author’s first rescue dog, Brooklyn, leaps off a dock after a ball.)

Prevention is the Best Medicine for Encounters With Off-Leash Dogs

If you can read dog body language, you’ll know that this dog is feeling unsure (Photo: brown, terrier-mix lifts a front paw)

You’re walking down the sidewalk with your (on-leash) reactive rescue dog. There’s an off-leash dog up ahead. What do you do? 

Just reading that may have caused your heart to leap into your throat. For many dog owners, it’s one of their biggest fears (right after: afraid my dog will bite someone and I’ll have to put her to sleep.) 

Hop on any dog forum and you’ll see that there’s more and more people encountering off-leash dogs while walking their own dog on-leash. There’s pictures of the aftermath (I’ll spare you the bloody details) and stories about fights. 

This is a much broader topic than I ever imagined when I sat down to summarize “what to do when you come across an off-leash dog while walking your dog on-leash.” It’s so vast, that I’m actually going to break it down over several weeks. 

So, where to begin…

Straight from “The Sound of Music,” we’re going to “start at the very beginning. It’s a very good place to start.”

Now that you have a happy tune in your head, let’s begin with prevention. 

A dog who doesn’t listen to you inside your own home, will not listen to you outside the home (Weimaraner puppy gnawing on the corner of a bed,)

Prevention begins with your relationship with your dog in the home paired with your understanding of dog body language and dog psychology. Remember: if your own dog doesn’t listen to you inside your own home, it will be extremely difficult for her to listen to your direction when you’re faced with a perceived threat (like an off-leash dog coming toward you.) 

Prevention also begins with you. Being calm requires daily practice. Being a leader to your dog, requires daily practice. There are no shortcuts to a relationship built on trust, respect, and love. If you don’t have all three components, you’re going to struggle when you see an off-leash dog. 

As a dog owner, you must learn how to read dog body language. Your dog is fluent in human body language, so it’s the least you can to to understand hers. Your dog’s body language is going to tell you the intent of the off-leash dog, but don’t rely on that alone. Learn to read the body language of other breeds of dog. Some have hidden eyes, some have floppy ears, some have no tail. It’s a bigger job than you think, but when armed with how to read dog body language, you’ll figure out pretty quickly whether an off-leash dog means harm, or is simply curious. 

Becoming fluent in dog body language is the least we can do for our dogs who give us so much (Photo: Off-leash beagle with erect tail)

The first tip I can give you when you come across an off-leash dog while walking your own dog on-leash, is that you need to remain calm and assess the situation. A lot of people immediately assume the worst: this dog is gonna kill us! That thought causes panic to ripple through you, down the leash, and tells your dog there’s a threat. Most of time, that off-leash dog is simply lost. Most of the time, that dog was bored being left alone in its yard all day, and it escaped to explore the world. 

Not all dogs you come across who are off-leash want to cause harm. 

Not all off-leash dogs mean any harm (Photo: A Malamute looking like a menacing wolf)

Over the years, I’ve helped lots of off-leash, wandering pups find their way back home while out with my own dog. If I’m close enough to home, I typically return my dog to safety first, and then head back to the off-leash dog to see if I can find its home/owner. Other times, the dog has simply followed me (and my dog) home. At that time, I put my own dog inside (calmly,) and hang out with the new friend outside while I locate her owners. 

If you own a reactive dog, I’ve got you. I know what you’re thinking when I say: Not all dogs you come across who are off-leash want to cause harm. 

You’re thinking: It doesn’t matter what kind of dog is coming at me and my reactive dog, MY DOG ATTACKS EVERY DOG, no questions asked. 

The answer to this isn’t simple, because nothing about dog behaviour is simple and there are no quick fixes.

In some cases, teaching your dog to love wearing a basket muzzle can make you, the owner, feel safe because at least you know that your dog can’t cause any damage. Now you can feel more confident on your walks and you’ve at least removed ONE variable from the equation. 

You can be proactive if you have a reactive dog and work to rehabilitate them slowly in areas where there are sure to be no off-leash dogs. 

Where is this magical place? The first place is inside your home. Teach your dog how to follow you on-leash. Pulling you on-leash is a HUGE part of the reactivity you’re experiencing. The second dog-free place is your own backyard. The third place: empty parking lots. Stop setting your dog up for failure by taking her to places where you always see off-leash dogs (even if it’s not designated as off-leash, there’s always that one: “Don’t worry, she’s friendly” person. 

If you have a dog who you KNOW will not react well to off-leash dogs approaching, work to rehabilitate them in areas with no dogs. (Photo: a Frenchie in a parking lot wearing…a black and gold jacket and a tag that reads: L’il Man)

Next week, we’ll talk more about prevention, but in the meantime, be sure to read this blogpost: https://beyonddogtraining.ca/news/timing

This post talks about scanning your environment and being aware of your surroundings as you’re out and about. Everything is connected, friends. Dog leadership is an enormous and beautiful mosaic made up of hundreds of little things that MATTER. Your relationship with your dog matters. Dogs crave balanced leadership. You CAN be the balanced leader that they need. When you rise to the occasion of being a calm and balanced leader for your dog, you will be AMAZED at how WONDERFUL you feel in your day-to-day life. 

The ripple effect of adding more calmness and balance to your life is extraordinary. 

Have an awesome weekend, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa 

Photos by: Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum (brown, terrier-mix lifts a front paw,) Upsplash Image (Weimaraner puppy gnawing on the corner of a bed,) Adnan Puzić @adnanpuzic (Off-leash beagle with erect tail,) Upsplash Image (A Malamute looking like a menacing wolf), Karsten Winegeart @karsten116 (a Frenchie in a parking lot/loading dock wearing…a black and gold jacket and a tag that reads: L’il Man.)