Learning life skills
Are you having issues with reactive dog behaviour? Is your dog fearful or aggressive or do they just respond poorly in new situations? At PAWS Darwin dog training classes we can help with some of these issues and help you to be able to manage your dogs social interactions.
For some of our dogs resolution is as simple as changing our comminication styles and learning how better to manage our own responses.
For others learning to manage the triggers is what it take to reduce stress and change the behaviour patterns.
Some dogs are genuinely aggressive and need management support and you may need help to get your dog to focus on you instead of on who ever is in the environment.
If you need help our team is there to support you, here are some of our stories:
Annabelle
Annabelle was a fearful shelter dog who lucked out with her new Mum and Dad, they fostered her for a year before they adopted her because of her behaviour. In the year that they fostered they bought Annabelle to classes and worked on her accepting other dogs. We thought it would never happen but eventually Annabelle began to play with some of the other regular attenders, now although Annabelle is still cautious of new comers she has a group of friends she plays with. She focuses on her Mum, and can even join in the games at classes. Annabelles mum even joined our dog training Team, where her experience with a difficult dog helps her to help others. Annabelle loves classes and knows when it is Saturday, she is very disappointed if she doesn’t get to come to classes.
Sam
Sam is a mischievous and full on working dog breed mix who was getting into all sorts of mischief when his family came for their first class. Mum cried and was so worried that she wouldn’t be able to keep him. Sam was a favorite at classes with his easy going nature and happy attitude, later when he got home of course his energy was a different story. Over a period of time His family crate trained Sam and came regularly to classes, now Sam is expecting a two legged baby to add to his family and while he will never be a boring dog, Sam is a much different dog with his energy redirected more positively
Sparkie
Sparkie is a full on Koolie with a comic attitude but get him around other dogs and he can turn into a bit of a demon. He likes to bark and lunge on his lead until he has met every other dog, he is not gentle about it. Sharing treats can be a big issue even if its the other dogs owner and treats. He is a work in process, and will be for a while to come, what we can do though is harness his strengths, he loves People, dogs and Kids and he is very clever, he attends school visits and performs for the kids. At classes now he has become calmer, play quietly with his friends and we have taught him to go to a hot zone where he gets rewards if he is too overwhelmed.
What we have learnt is that none of us have the perfect dog but if we work with in the dogs abilities and experiences then we can help them to be the next best thing. If you want to live better with your dog come on down to class and meet our less than perfect dogs who make our lives full. Let us help you take the stress our of dog ownership
