Comments on: Be Calm To Keep Your Dog Calm

By: Groovy Goldendoodles

Groovy Goldendoodles — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 01:44:21 +0000

That is so true. Early on though I read a book that explained when all else fails, just breath aloud and on purpose. It really works for me.

By: Kimberly Gauthier

Kimberly Gauthier — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 05:11:04 +0000

It took me FOREVER to figure this one out. Now, the dogs can be driving me nuts, but I manage to stop, take a deep breath, and then direct them so they know what I’m asking them to do. It makes all of our lives easier 🙂

By: Elaine

Elaine — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 16:29:19 +0000

Your analogy with the toddler is spot on. Haley always looks at me when something out of the ordinary happens, to gauge my reaction. If I stay calm and don’t react in a stressful way, she normally stays calm as well.

Some of us have calm personality types and others are highly energetic or get stressed very easily, but dogs seem to respond better to calm energy.

By: Jan K

Jan K — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 14:56:44 +0000

I don’t like thunderstorms and neither do my dogs. Go figure. I try to be calm, and I’ve learned to just take the dogs and go downstairs where I feel more relaxed. But they are also fearful of things that I’m not, like wind, so at least it’s not ALL me. Sheba, my only dog who loves all other people and dogs, is fearful of odd inanimate objects (like boxes when I tried to do nosework games with her). At least those are easy for me to work with her on!

By: slimdoggy

slimdoggy — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 05:04:29 +0000

Good advice – we’ve learned this lesson well with our two…Jack can be anxious, so if I’m anxious his anxiety goes up and Maggie, our little fearful pup will just freeze at anything too scary…everything has to be more of a game for her…happy excited voices kind of rest her brain and she can move forward.

By: Donna O.

Donna O. — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 02:36:24 +0000

It is so true that dogs look to others for leadership. Unfortunately, in my house, Meadow looks at Leah, (who has always been noise phobic too), and when Leah reacts, so does Meadow. (What does that tell you about the leadership in our household?)

But I agree about trying not to react to triggers that we know our rescues came with, like cars on the road, noises, etc. I also try being calm when I want them to just calm down from excitement. Like settling into their spots at meal times. It definitely helps. It takes Toby a few dozen tries to REMAIN in his spot. But it helps. LOL!

As for having a puppy, that’s definitely the easiest time to instill these reactions (or lack of reactions), and you’ve obviously done a great job with Honey. In fact, I’ve always said that if I ever do breakdown and get a puppy, I think I should leave it at my friend’s house (who has three stable goldens), for the entire week surrounding the fourth of July, so the newbie wouldn’t learn fear from my dogs.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 23:21:35 +0000

In reply to houndstooth. Fireworks sound like gunfire. So it's a smart dog who finds them scary. Bunny's no fool.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 23:18:54 +0000

In reply to pesto. Sounds like you ended with the perfect pup for you. And being calm for her will be good for you.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 23:01:01 +0000

In reply to Emma. Yeah, calm can only do so much. But hysterical can certainly make things worse.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 22:54:54 +0000

In reply to Jodi. That's wonderful, Jodi. It's such a beautiful thing when we get in synch with our dogs during something that's tough (and walks are major distraction factories).