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Body Language and Your Dog

When you are interacting (or working!) with your dog keep a close eye on body language that can mean he is uncomfortable:

  1. “Whale eyes” – big eyes with large amount of whiles
  2. General body stiffness
  3. Staring
  4. Yawning
  5. Lip licking
  6. Avoiding you

Collar Sensitivity

  1. Have high value treats ready.
  2. Start with your body turned sideways, at her level or in a chair. Slowly begin by scratching her chest (as long as she is not touch sensitive to this area). Say good or click and reward the relaxed behavior.
  3. Next slowly move your hand up to the dog’s collar under her chin or on the side near her ear (do not reach overhead!) Say Gotcha as you take the collar and reward.
  4. As the dog becomes more and more relaxed during the sessions slowly progress to taking the collar more firmly, and slowly start to move to being able to reach over the dogs head. Always saying Gotcha and rewarding when she is calm.
  5. If she starts to stiffen at any time you are moving too fast. Go back to the last successful step and try again. Do not continue to work at the level that makes her uncomfortable.
  6. Never pick her up or grab her by the collar to move her. Do not corner her and reach out like you are going to grab her collar. If you need to move her get the leash, leash her up and move her that way.

Food Bowl Guarding

  1. Give the dog some regular food such as dry kibble. Have some treats ready (high value) and approach the bowl. As long as he does not behave aggressively (stiffening, hard stare, guarding the bowl), drop the treat in the bowl. If he shows any aggressive behavior wait until he finishes and try again (you can use small amounts of food several times to add up to the full meal amount to give you extra time to practice).
  2. After several repetitions he should start to lift his head when you approach the bowl, wait for this behavior (even a small head lift at first is progress) before dropping a treat in the bowl.
  3. When he begins to consistently lift his head begin to bend down slightly like you are going to take the bowl, and drop the treat in the bowl. Do not take the bowl yet! Monitor carefully for any stiffening or aggressive behavior. If you see any aggressive behavior go back to the last successful step.
  4. Continue to increase the amount you bend as he progresses.
  5. After several sessions of bending down and no signs of aggression take the bowl and reward with something better. Once the dog finishes his treat give the bowl back and allow him to finish.
  6. Work for a few minutes at each meal time.
  7. Hand feed or provide half the meal in a treat toy.
  8. Be sure the dog is getting adequate exercise.
  9. Teach him to sit calmly and wait for his bowl. Ask him to sit and start to bend to place the bowl. If he stands up or moves toward the bowl stand back up with the bowl. Try again until he is sitting until the bowl hits the ground.
  10. These same activities can be done with dogs who guard toys or chews. Start with a low value toy or chew and progress through the steps above until you can take the item from the dog.
  11. If he gets something he shouldn’t have that you need to take grab a high value treat or toy and get his attention with it. Toss it away from the item you are taking and pick it up when he goes to the treat you tossed.

Look Behavior

  1. Have high value treats ready.
  2. Say the dog’s name, “look” and reward when she looks at you, even if just a brief glance.
  3. If she doesn’t know her name start by saying her name and giving a treat 5 times. Then go back to step 2.
  4. As she improves ask her to hold eye contact first for just a second, increasing the time you ask her to hold before rewarding.

Touch Sensitivity

  1. Have various treats ready. Reserve the highest value treats for the areas the dog is most sensitive to being touched.
  2. With your body turned sideways, crouched at her level or in a chair, begin by touching her in an area she is not sensitive. Say good or click and reward for relaxed behavior.
  3. As the dog becomes more and more relaxed during the sessions slowly progress to the more sensitive touch areas, always rewarding when she is calm during the touch.
  4. If she starts to stiffen at any time you are moving too fast. Go back to the last successful step and try again. Do not continue to work at the level that makes her uncomfortable.
  5. If introducing to strangers tell them her favorite places they are allowed to pet, do not allow them to touch the sensitive areas.
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