Fearful Dogs

Teaching your dog to touch a target with their nose can be very beneficial.  Once they have mastered touching a target; you can utilize the behavior to distract them from fearful sounds, situations and people.  Some people have found touching a target to be very useful with a visit to the vet; often this a scary and fearful environment for many dogs.

Here are some guidelines to help you teach your dog to touch a target:

·         Begin by placing the back of your hand approximately six inches from their face; dogs seem to instinctively investigate the back of your hand with their nose.

·         As soon as their nose touches your hand give them verbal praise or a treat

·         If your dog does not touch your hand, try moving your hand to one side, touch your hand yourself, or place your hand behind your back and start all over.  (you should not physically move your dog’s head, they must do this on their own)

·         Repeat this training process several times; be sure to always praise with words or a treat when they touch the target.

·         Once they have mastered that, add the word “touch” to your training process; you may find that it will be like starting all over. Just be patient; they will catch on

·         After they have learned to touch your hand on command; move your hand further from their face and say “touch”.  With some dogs you will be able to move your hand six inches  and with others only an inch. 

·         Once they have mastered this; mix it up even more.  Offer your hand away from their face, switch hands, even try saying ‘touch” when you are in a different room from your dog. 

(provided by Brandykegs Saint Bernards)
Click here to view our other blog; Barrels and Bibs.

Fearful Dogs

If your dog is fearful of people, they may back away from people, they may turn and run off, or because of their fear they may snap at someone.  I have a female who is fearful of people; she was not always this way.  Something happened to her when I was not around.  It either happened at a breeder’s kennel or a dog show.  We tried to ignore it and not play in to her fear; she is no longer a show dog. We tried for two years to keep her socialized.  Her fear of people has only increased with time. I have observed her actually growling at people.

Some people recommend the training method of hand feeding food to help a dog overcome their fear of people.  Here are some suggestions on how to utilize the hand feeding training method:

·         You will need a quiet area with no distractions.

·         Keep the food on a table where you have easy access to it.

·         Place some food in your hand, make sure your dog sees that you have the food. Close your hand, wait for your dog to act calm and then open your hand so they can eat the food.

·         Offer more food, each time waiting for you dog to be totally calm before you offer the food to them.

·         Once this is mastered, the next step for them to receive the food is to be calm and to look at your face.  As soon as they look at your face; offer the food. It is very important that you are not staring at your dog; you should observe them with your peripheral vision.  Most dogs become fearful if they are stared at.

·         Continue this training and increase the time that they are looking at your face and remaining calm; before you offer the food to them.

·         The next step is to add a key word, once your dog can remain calm and focused on your face for 10 to 20 seconds, say “ok” and offer the food. 

·         Once your dog has mastered the hand feeding with you, include other family members with the hand feeding.  From there you would include people your dog knows and accepts and finally willing strangers. 

This training method to help the shy fearful dog will take a very long time, so be patient.  The whole idea is to get the dog to be more receptive and trusting of people. 

(provided by Brandykegs Saint Bernards)
Click here to view our other blog; Barrels and Bibs.

Fearful Dogs

Most often loud noises are the culprits for fear.  Thunder, vacuum cleaners, motorcycles, lawnmowers scare a lot of dogs.  Recording these sounds can be beneficial; this allows you to expose these sounds to your dog at reduced levels.  You would need to start exposure to the sound at a very low level and very gradually increase the sound levels.  This is not something you can accomplish within a day; it will take several weeks or months.

(provided by Brandykegs Saint Bernards)
Click here to view our other blog; Barrels and Bibs.

2012 SBCA NATIONAL BEST OF BREED

CH LASQUITES DENVER V ORLANDO

Pictured above is the 2012 Saint Bernard Club of America's National Show winner for Best of Breed.

Fearful Dogs

Before you actually start to help your dog with fear issues; determine that there are no underlying health issues.  Pain and illness can be manifested by fear.  Rescued or older dogs will be much more challenging with fear issues because the fear can be much more established.  If you see fear in your young puppy it should be considered a priority to help them overcome it and quickly.

To help your young puppy with fear; use distraction.  Bring out a favorite toy, move to another room(they will probably follow you); remember don’t coddle them when they are afraid.  Move on to a new activity to draw their interest and get them focused on something else.

(provided by Brandykegs Saint Bernards)
Click here to view our other blog; Barrels and Bibs.

Fearful Dogs

A fearful dog will not be a happy dog.  The fearful dog can become an irritant in your household with whimpering, whining, barking, and howling.  The fear can cause destructive behavior with chewing and digging; even urinating or defacating indoors can get out of hand.  The fearful dog can even become aggressive to others and even family members.  These are just a few reasons why it is so important to help your dog overcome fear. 

(provided by Brandykegs Saint Bernards)
Click here to view our other blog; Barrels and Bibs.

Fearful Dogs

Helping your fearful dog will take time and patience.  Our instincts tell us to comfort them when they exhibit fear; coddling and petting them is reinforcing their fear.  It will be difficult to not comfort them but it is essential if you want to help them.  Crating or punishing your dog when they are fearful are not good ideas either.  Instead try to get your dog focused on something else.

(provided by Brandykegs Saint Bernards)
Click here to view our other blog; Barrels and Bibs.

Charles Burton Barber Painting

A Scratch Pack

(provided by Brandykegs Saint Bernards)
Click here to view our other blog.

Charles Burton Barber Painting

Trust (1888)

(provided by Brandykegs Saint Bernards)
Click here to view our other blog.

Charles Burton Barber

Charles Burton Barber was an English painter; many of his paintings were of children and their pets.  He was born in Great Yarmouth Norfolk in 1845.  Charles Burton Barber's last commission was from Queen Victoria (depicting the Queen and her grandchildren in her pony carriage).  He died shortly after completing that painting in London in 1894.

Off to school (1883)

(provided by Brandykegs Saint Bernards)
Click here to view our other blog.