Man’s best friend is the tag accorded to dogs, though at times, these friendly animals can prove rather difficult to handle. One such behavior is reactivity; this is the ability to allow your dog to become reactive in many ways, whether it is barking, lunging or aggressive actions towards other dogs, people or even an object.
Knowledge on reactive dogs and occasions when it is best to hire a reactive dog trainer is very helpful in enhancing your dog’s behavior. This article is aimed at revealing the major characteristics of reactive dogs, the advantages of the professional dog training, and the stages in the hiring process of the trainer.
Reactive dogs as defined refer to dogs that are easily stressed by anything new, have trouble relaxing or have difficulties in socializing.
In regard to dogs, reactivity is the term that is often used to cover the concept of over- threshold response to certain stimuli. It can be other animals, persons, sounds or certain areas that the owner of the house does not wish for the animal to have interaction with.
Reactivity is not as similar to aggression, because the latter is usually motivated by the desire to inflict a negative action on someone or something, while the former is generally based on being threatened or stressed out. A reactive dog will vocalize such as barking, growling, lunging, or show any other unfavorable body response when presented with a stimulus.
There are numerous causes as to why a dog becomes reactive. Hereditary factors are also involved, some dog breeds being more likely to react that way or to be excitable. You can click here to learn more. Reactivity can also be caused by social isolation during the periods of development as well as traumatic experiences that one has faced in the past. Understanding the cause of your dog’s reactivity is very important if you want to resolve the issue competently.
There Are Many Advantages of Employing a Reactive Dog Trainer
The advantages of enlisting the services of a reactive dog trainer are many and they include; the first is the actual professional characteristics of a trainer who possesses certain levels of knowledge and has a corresponding amount of experience in training processes. Reactive dog trainers focus on these causes and can create a training program that is completely specialized for your particular dog.
A reactive dog trainer can also offer options that you must use to control your dog and alter his or her behavior accordingly. This includes showing you how to identify the event that causes your dog to react, what to do after your dog reacts, and about how desensitization is counter-conditioning with your dog. You can click the link: https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/counter-conditioning-and-desensitization to learn more about this technique.
On the same note, the recruitment of a reactive dog trainer is good for you and your dog since you get an opportunity to interact with your dog more. Understanding the accessible training sessions, it is essential to mention that each of them is aimed at making the members of the team work as a single unit and enhance mutual trust and cooperation within the framework of effective communication. This could in turn result in better understanding and hence improving the relationship with your dog.
Knowing when to hire a reactive dog trainer is sometimes quite difficult, but there are some important signs that may mean that it is the right time to call a professional. If you are facing issues like your dog growling and/or lunging at other canines or people, it is advisable to seek help. Security should never be compromised and it remains the responsibility of a professional trainer to reduce the risk and recommend on how to address any instances.
The other sign is when the reactions of your dog affect your routine life or the lives of the people who are close to you. This can be inability to give walks, social interaction or being around certain places because of the dog’s behavior. If you realize that every day you are stressing or tensing up about how to deal with your dog then you need the assistance of a professional.
In most cases, when you hire a reactive dog trainer, the first thing that is done is an interview and assessment. In this session, the trainer will be identifying your dog’s problem behaviors, issues of concern or concern and history and any stimuli related to your dog. This assessment then helps the trainer come up with a training program that will be suitable for you and your dog.
Sessions may be done at your home, at a training venue, or environments your dog is likely to be a trigger in. The trainer will for example avoid negative reprimanding and instead, reward desirable actions that your dog takes and then gradually expose the dog to the stimulus in a controlled environment.
As a form of dog training, one will realize that timely and minimal forced training or compulsion is used in the process. Change is not always immediate and it is recommended to adhere to the trainer’s instructions and consistently work on the acquired techniques. Professionals like the ones at Sit Means Sit can help you implement tips into your everyday life. Feedback during and after the training will be given by the trainer and modifications will be made to the training if necessary to help increase effectiveness.
It is necessary to mention that reactive dogs are rather difficult to handle but problems they cause can be solved with the help of an experienced specialist and appropriate actions. Separating the symptoms of reactivity, assessing the advantages of professional training for a reactive dog, and knowing the time when it is necessary to turn to specialists are the critical actions that lead to the positive changes in the behavior of the dog.
Thus, by opting for professional training of your pet, you guarantee that he will be happy, healthy, and you will substantially improve the relations between you and your pet.
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