A recent phone call from a client really got me thinking, so I decided to write a blog about this common subject…
What happens when our dogs meet the wildlife and go AWOL?
Or in the case of my client, coming across woolly magicians ( sheep that appear unexpectedly! ).
So, what happened?...
Their encounter with the sheep led to a few heart stopping moments, but nothing serious! Thankfully, this tale has a happy ending with all animals and humans being safe and sound, except for a few extra grey hairs and frayed nerves for the owners! Now, any dog owner reading this is probably nodding their head and saying, "Been there, done that!", but being the responsible pet guardians they are, they didn't waste any time in giving me a call and asking for advice.
With seven Labradors under our roof, each with their own quirky personality, there's one trait they all embrace: a love of exploration and running free! There's a kind of magic in watching your dog run wild, lost in a world of scents and sights. Imagine it: happy dogs running through tall grasses on a summer day, chasing tails and dreams alike, living their best lives in the very essence of the moment. Sounds poetic, doesn't it?
But... our pleasure at watching our dogs explore can instantly turn to panic when those recall cues, which they nailed so well in class, suddenly seem forgotten as they continue to disappear over the horizon. The rush of anxiety when they bolt after an irresistible scent can be simply awful. The flood of relief, occasionally mixed with a dash of "What were you thinking?!" frustration, when they finally come back is all too familiar for many of us.
Understanding the Canine Mind
In new environments, dogs, especially young adolescents can easily become overexcited..
If dogs become too engrossed in environmental stimuli, such as deer scent, they might momentarily forget we exist. It isn't about them being stubborn, or lack of respect; it's simply over arousal, combined with a rush of hormones. Adrenaline, cortisol, and dopamine flood their nervous system. Cortisol, a stress hormone, can take some time, think hours, or longer to leave the system, and this can leave our dog feeling unsettled for the rest of the day. This is another good reason to keep a close eye on the arousal levels of our dogs. Think about building in plenty of recovery time if things go south on a walk! ( Plus that G&T for human end of the lead! ) It is worth noting that some dogs recover more quickly than others, and this is something to bear in mind.
Structured Freedom: The Way Forward
An effective method works with a holistic blend of structured freedom and gradual exposure to novel stimuli. It's essential to operate well within your dog’s threshold, where they can process information, and learning can take place. This is also sometimes referred to as our “dogs learning zone”. In such controlled settings, we can introduce alternate behaviours, for example rewarding the tiniest disengagement from the scent, or capture your dogs glance away from the animal in question – deer or sheep for example. We are shaping new behaviours through using positive reinforcement. This method doesn't stifle their natural urges but offers a much safer outlet.
The Power of the Nose..
Never underestimate a dog's desire to sniff, they have an incredible sense of smell and there are loads of benefits for our dogs. Letting them sniff is deeply satisfying and therapeutic.
Scentwork not only challenges them mentally but also provides a physical outlet..
Scent work and sniffing games strengthen our bond with our dogs. During walks, initiate scent-based games. Use cues like "find it" to encourage them to locate hidden smelly treats. The “sausage game” is a particular favourite of mine, where I hide chunks of hotdog in a fallen tree trunk and encourage my dogs to sniff them out. Engaging and fun all round!
Balancing Exploration with Safety
To achieve this balance, some tips to consider..
Guided Adventures: Start with a longer lead, ideally attached to a harness. A 3m lead provides ample freedom for our dogs to sniff, while safeguarding both your pet and the wildlife around. Take it slow, give your dog plenty of time to absorb the sights and sounds around them.
Understanding Your Dog's Thresholds: Visualize their arousal levels from 1 to 10. With 1 being asleep. Some arousal is necessary, but we are aiming to keep our dogs at the lower end of the scale. Remember, the goal is to keep your dog well within their individual “Learning Zone”. Observing their body language can help gauge when they're nearing overexcitement and manage appropriately. While we can teach dogs to manage their arousal levels through games, that is for another day. Helping our dogs habituate to new, and possibly stimulating situations is more about keeping our dogs well below threshold.
Implement Structured Freedom: Design exploration sessions within specific boundaries, adjusting them based on your dog's responses. In new areas I prefer to come back the same way, so my dog is able to sniff a more familiar area, versus a circular route where everything is new.
Gradual Exposure to Environmental Stimuli: Introduce them to different distractions slowly, bearing in mind that distance from the stimuli (sheep, deer, sneaky squirrel...) is important – if your dog appears to struggle to disengage, you are probably too close. If they seem overly eager or anxious, put more space between the stimuli and your dog, don’t try and “work” through it, just ‘get out of dodge’ as quickly as possible.
Engage in Sniffing: Try some search games on your next walk. Simply scatter a few treats to
start with and encourage your dog to search with a "find it” cue. You are looking for your dog to sniff treats, not “see” them. Hiding smelly treats such as pieces of hotdog in fallen tree trunks or scattering them in long grass is a great start!
In wrapping up, it's all about finding the right balance. Our dogs thrive on exploration. Our role is to ensure their adventures are safe yet fulfilling and reduce the risk of our own grey hairs on their next encounter with woolly magicians or other wildlife surprises!
Regarding the client's holiday adventure?
I’m happy to report that following our chat, the remainder of their holiday was much less exciting than the beginning! They spent time working at a distance from the sheep and their dog was content just to watch and chill. Well done!
Kate
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