These parents reached out to me because they were concerned with their dogs’ behaviors around their three-year old daughter and with their daughter’s behaviors towards the dogs. When their daughter eats, their coon hound was putting her paws on the table to take their daughter’s food. When she moves quickly using her loud voice, the dogs would amp up. While nothing happened yet, there was also concern that their daughter’s frustration could cause her to do something that potentially could provoke a dog bite.
A big problem was that they could not put their dogs behind a barrier (a gate). Having that separation would cause their coon hound to destroy furniture and anything within her reach.
Good for them for being pro-active and reaching out to me for dog training support!
Creating Safety Between Their Toddler And Their Family Dogs
An important consideration has been helping them to provide their dogs more opportunities for doing what activities their dogs enjoy most. Within the scope of this family’s lifestyle, we looked at what of their dogs’ natural instincts can be engaged to more fulfillment.
We have also been teaching their dogs behaviors that can help everyone have success in different situations such as settling at their side.
Incorporating Success Stations
A success station (coined by Family Paws, of whom I am a licensed educator) is a management tool, a place for your dog to be safely, that prevents problems, such as with young kids and other pets.
Some examples are behind a gate, on a bed, or in a crate.
Their problem, that is a common issue actually, was that being separated by a gate created a lot of stress for their dogs. Many dogs need to be taught to feel good about being on the other side of a gate.
This is why the time to begin using a gate is not when you need it for management. It is important to practice teaching a positive association with your dog’s success station often. You can give your dog something of value to do while at the station, or teach your dog to settle there. The more you rehearse the more your dog will feel good about hanging out there.
THIS IS ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT. Never have your dog stay in his success station when something very scary and aversive is happening too close for comfort. That can create a huge amount of success for your dog. If your dog is in an enclosed space like a crate, he can feel trapped. His ability to escape has been removed. In addition to creating stress, it can create a safety issue as your dog may need to escalate his communication…that may include a bite.
For this family, the combination of providing their dogs with lots of enrichment and investing the time to teach their dogs to lay down on the other side of their gates has made a huge impact on everyone’s safety and quality of life.
