My teenage dog runs away when I get the harness out

Sound familiar?

This is something that more than ever I am getting messages via email about at the moment. So much so that I did a webinar on the topic last month (go check that out here ). However if you’re more interested in reading than watching a webinar then you’re in the right place.

Rachel doing some harness preparation with Beryl the French Bull Dog

This blog post is all about sensitivity to touch and what to do to help your dog with this. Read on to find out:

• 5 signs that your dog is sensitive to touch 
• How to make bath time and grooming fun again 
• Consent touching and a NEW position to teach your dog

So how do you know if your dog is sensitive to touch?

5 Signs your dog is sensitive to touch

• Your dog runs away when you get their harness, collar or coat out to put on them.
• They don’t choose to sit with you as much as before.
• Every time you go to pet your dog they roll on their back for a tummy tickle . . .
• Don’t want to be groomed, bathed or dried with a towel.
• When you or someone else does stroke them they get REALLY excited. Jumping up like crazy, running away and running back jumping up repeatedly.

Have no fear, I am here to help!

Read on to find out what you can do to build up their confidence again.

Make bath time and grooming fun again.

The Bucket Game –

The Game of Choice Giving them a Voice

This game is easy to introduce to any dog and is designed to enable them to give consent and actively participate in their handling, grooming and vet care. By creating an environment where your dog has a choice and can communicate its desire to participate makes for a stress-free and fun activity.

The bucket game was designed and brought to the world by Chirag Patel. 

This game uses shaping, targeting, stationing and many other behavioural principles in a way that makes it fun for both you and your dog.

The Bucket Game gives animals the ability to tell us:

• When they are ready to start
• When they need to take a break
• When they want to stop
• When we need to slow down

What you will need:

• A bucket (size appropriate for your dog)
• Rewards (high-value food or toys)
• A bed/mat or safe place
• Access to water

Step 1: Teach manners around the bucket

• Start by holding the bucket out to the side (with your rewards in the bucket).
• When your dog looks at the bucket but maintains some distance from it (20-50cm) say ‘yes’ then take a piece of food from the “Bucket” and deliver it to their mouth.
• You can then put the bucket on the ground/chair and reward your dog for looking at it but not jumping in it.
• It doesn’t matter what position your dog is in (sit/down/stand). What you are rewarding is looking at the bucket and not trying to eat from it.
• Start rewarding your dog when they maintain eye contact with the bucket for longer durations. Don’t increase the time too soon or quickly as this may cause your dog to get frustrated.

Your dog is allowed to look around between focusing on the bucket – remember this is a game of choice and a conversation between you and them. No need to call them or shake the bucket. Let your dog decide whether they want to play or not. Allowing access to a bed/mat and water – will give your dog confidence that they can take a break as needed.

Step 2: You can use the Bucket Game for bathing or can use the following licking version of the game of choice too.

For this example, we are going to bathe our dog.

We love using suction Lickimats stuck to the bathtub, and a non-slip mat lining the tub too, to prevent slipping.

• Load up the  Lickimat with cream cheese, peanut butter or coconut oil, when your dog is licking you can turn the shower head-on, if your dog stops licking you stop what you are doing and reset yourself.
• If they continue to lick you can put the shower onto their legs and work up to their back and neck, always remembering to stop as soon as they stop licking.
• You can add the shampoo, rinse it off and conditioner if needed all using the same method.
• Be prepared to stop the bath if they ask to by not going back to licking. You can use the same set-up for towelling them down or grooming after too.

Don’t forget Nose To Trail Clients can get 10% off LickiMats at www.nofussfill.com when using code NoseToTrail at the checkout.

Teaching a Middle can make all the difference

If your dog is practised in jumping up when people approach, whether at home or out teaching a middle can be your saving grace.

1. Lure your dog from in front of you facing you around to your right-hand side say ‘yes’ and give them the treat where they are.
2. Lure from there to behind you with your legs hip-width or more apart, say ‘yes’ and give them the treat.
3. Lure them from in front of you, to your right and then with your other hand (with a treat in it) lure them between your legs say ‘yes’ and give them three pieces of food, alternating the hand you give it from each time. Finished by throwing a treat in front of you, so they can run through your legs. Once your dog is doing this on one lure, you can add the cue of ‘middle’, by saying it just before you lure them to the position.
4. Say ‘middle’ and without the food in your hand, do the same hand signal as if you had it in there, say ‘yes’ and give three treats when they are between your legs.

The 5 Second Rule – Consent to Be Touched

1. Hold your hand down by your side and wiggle your fingers.
2. If your dog wants to be petted, this is enough of an invitation.
3. Start by stroking with the back of your hand on their chest and working your way slowly up to their shoulder.
4. After no more than 5-seconds remove your hand and place it by your side again.
5. If your dog wants to be petted they will move into you to ask for more, if they don’t RESPECT them and leave them be. They will ask for more when they are ready to.

That’s all for this time but I hope you take some time to try these things out with your dogs.

If you have a dog between 5 months – 2 years old and would like more help like this then take a look at the Teenage Tearaways course which starts this month (September 2021). There’s a day time slot (Tuesdays at 11am) and an evening slot (Wednesday 6:30pm) but both are booking fast so don’t leave it too late to book!

 Book Online (nosetotrail.co.uk)